While the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act introduced by Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Stabenow (D-MI) strengthens agriculture and family safety nets, invests in rural communities, and protects workers, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and passed by the committee on May 24th, proposes progress such as repealing ban on those with drug felony convictions for SNAP access, at the cost of limiting SNAP benefits and discouraging climate-smart agricultural practices. The Center on Budget and Priorities Office estimates that the House Farm Bill proposal would cut 30 billion in SNAP benefits over the next decade, resulting in a loss of $610 million in food assistance for Washington households just in the period of fiscal year 2027-2033.

Now is an important time to build more equitable and sustainable food systems in the US and abroad. Find more information about the Farm Bill and its impacts on these web pages:

• Northwest Harvest
• ELCA Advocacy
• Mazon
• Bread for the World
• Food Research and Action Center

Our priority asks for the Farm Bill includes advancing anti-hunger programs such as SNAP, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), in which 84% of the bill's budget covers; protecting rural and farming communities including BIPOC and seasonal migrant workers; and expanding just access to food abroad.  Especially SNAP is one of the most effective cornerstones of the bill in reducing hunger and food insecurity, helping approximately 42 million participants with low incomes each month. More and more populations find such nutrition programs as essential as the changing market continues to increase the cost of a healthy diet. After the Covid-19 emergency programs have ended, food access disparity and food insecurity have again deepened.
The next farm bill can also play a significant role in combatting climate change through the conservation and energy titles which protect soil, water, and other natural resources and limits the environmental impact of production on private lands.

Faith communities and local social service organizations work with passion to meet the needs of people in their communities. However, they cannot address the bigger issues of entrenched food insecurity and injustice in food systems. Congress can. Reauthorizing the Farm Bill is an opportunity for our federal government to advance the common good nationally and globally.

Take action today to ask Congress to write a new Farm Bill that achieves more just farm programs, food policy, conservation initiatives, and rural development that correspond to current conditions.