Food Insecurity and Advocacy Opportunities Farm Bill 2018: Food Insecurity and Advocacy Opportunities

Hunger in the United States One in six households with children are food insecure Food insecurity hurts a person’s health, the ability to learn, productivity, and the nation’s economic strength. Food insecurity is higher among households with children, in Black and Hispanic households, in rural communities, and in the Southern region of the USA.

Hunger and Poverty in MO As of 2016, there were just over 6,000,000 people in Missouri and over 825,000 individuals were living in poverty. Over 14% of households were living in poverty in 2016 and child poverty is even higher with 19.2% of children are living in poverty. Over 590,000 students took part in the National School Lunch Program and over 280,000 students took part in the School Breakfast Program ( 2016). ** www.frac.org/wp-content/uploads/sos-mo.pdf ** http://www.communityaction.org/2018-poverty-report/

Hunger is addressed through both Private charitable organizations And Government funded nutrition programs (SNAP, WIC, School Lunch)

Charity can’t do it alone

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP) Nation’s first line of defense against hunger Helps over 41 million low-income individuals put food on the table

SNAP in Missouri In Missouri, SNAP reaches 350,000 households with 750,000 individuals in an average month (Nov 2017). SNAP helps 1 in 6 rural and small town households, and 1 in 8 households in metro areas afford healthy, nutritious meals. More than three-quarters (77%) had at least one working member in the past 12 months. Sources: MO DSS- Monthly Management Reports American Community Survey 2015 five-year estimates (2011-2015)

SNAP and the economy - 97% of SNAP benefits are utilized in the month received, boosting economic well-being of farmers, grocers, and others - Every $1 of SNAP benefits generates nearly double that amount in local economic activity.

Farm Bill Primer What is the Farm Bill? The federal piece of legislation that regulates and directs the SNAP program, other food commodity programs (TEFAP, FDPIR, CSFP), and lots of agriculture programs It must be Re-Authorized about every five years House/Senate Committees with Jurisdiction Senate: Senate Agriculture Committee House: House Agriculture Committee Timeline of the Farm Bill? Now through September 2018 ( Unless they vote on an extension)

Who do these programs help? For Low-income Americans broadly: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamps The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) For Seniors: Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Seniors Farmers’ Markets For Children and Low Income Families: USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program Community Food Project Grants

The Nutrition Title is the majority of the Farm Bill:

2018 Farm Bill - House Draft released and voted on by the House Agriculture Committee in April 2018 was a harsh and partisan bill (passed along party lines) Could cut two million individuals off SNAP (tens of thousands in Missouri) Increased bureaucracy through stringent work-hour tracking (and the Employment & Training portion is drastically underfunded - $30 per person per month) U.S. House voted it down 198-213 on May 18 U.S. House passed it on June 21 213-211 (with four representatives not voting)

2018 Farm Bill-Senate On June 13, on a vote of 20-1, the Senate Agriculture Committee approved a strong, bipartisan Senate Farm Bill (S. 3042) Highlights: No harmful cuts or changes to SNAP No expanded work-tracking requirements Strengthens the relationship between employers and SNAP employment and training Strengthens program integrity Increases funding for innovative SNAP E&T programs aimed at connecting participants to employment On June 28, S. 3042 passed 86-11. Both of our U.S. senators were yes votes, and we thank them.

Reasons We Support The Senate Version Reason # 1: the bipartisan Roberts-Stabenow farm bill protects and Strengthens SNAP The bill does not take away food assistance from eligible households. The bill strengthens SNAP by testing new tools to help the program run more smoothly, supporting state that want to try innovative solutions to help SNAP participants get and keep a job, and enhancing states’ ability to check if applicants are enrolled in more than one state. It builds on the strong history of SNAP supporting work by allowing more states to participate in employment and training pilots set up in the last bipartisan farm bill and dedicating more funding to the pilot program. Benefit savings come from a reasonable program integrity provision, and other cuts are outside of SNAP benefits 3. These changes will help ensure that the investments we make in job training are evidence based and proven to work before they are expected on a larger scale.

Why we support the Senate Version, cont’d Reason # 2: SNAP works SNAP has long been one of our nation’s most powerful and effective poverty-reduction programs. When you are able to cover basic needs like putting food on the table, you are able to get back on your feet more quickly. SNAP’S impact on children can last a lifetime. SNAP is a first responder. SNAP helps many stay employed by giving families more stability. That’s how SNAP keeps more than eight million people out of poverty including 4 million children Research shows that adults who received food stamps as young children are more likely to graduate from high school and less likely to suffer long-term health problems like obesity and heart disease. Individuals who participate in SNAP have lower overall health care costs. SNAP is designed to help people make it through economic downturns and natural disasters, providing critical food assistance to people suddenly in crisis It fills the gaps for workers with low wages and unsteady hours and helps workers weather tough periods in between jobs. The more a worker earns while they’re on SNAP, the smaller their benefits get.

Why we support the Senate Version, cont’d Reason # 3: The partisan House farm bill is the wrong approach for SNAP; House members should reject it again The House farm bill would take away food assistance from 2 million struggling Americans, including children, seniors, and veterans. The bill cuts SNAP benefits by nearly $19 billion and diverts much of that money to a risky new scheme of ineffective work programs and unforgiving penalties that would take away food assistance from those who don’t prove every month that they work enough hours or qualify for an exemption. Missouri would have to spend millions to implement the program, so it is an unfunded mandate. This underfunded proposal will likely fail to help people find jobs but is guaranteed to take food assistance from struggling families.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler has been named to the conference committee Rep. Vicky Hartzler has been named to the conference committee. Find contact info at: https://hartzler.house.gov/ (Offices in DC, Columbia, Harrisonville, Lebanon)

Advocacy Opportunities Contact Missouri’s Federal Delegation: Senator McCaskill: 573-651-0964 Senator Blunt: 202-224-5721 And your U.S. Representative Ask: Support the Senate Farm Bill (S. 3042). It protects and strengthens nutrition programs. Reject the partisan provisions of the House version (H.R. 2). It would be an unfunded mandate, requiring Missouri to invest millions to meet federal regulations.

Call to Action – see: www.FoodforMO.org

Thank You! Jeanette Mott Oxford, M. Div. Empower Missouri jeanette@empowermissouri.org Connect with Empower Missouri: @empowermissouri www.empowermissouri.org

2018 Annual Conference 117th ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Save the Date: November 17, 2018 | Columbia, MO Empower Missouri is dedicating the 2018 Annual Conference to the impact of affordable housing. Check our website for updates on program, registration, and sponsors. Now accepting workshop proposals and sponsors.