Reps. Salinas and Panetta Reintroduce the Farmers Feeding America Act
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) introduced the Farmers Feeding America Act, a bill that would help food banks meet demand and ensure families stay fed and healthy by expanding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ability to purchase food directly from producers, including Oregon’s small family farms.
“The pandemic, lingering inflation, and the Trump Administration’s disastrous policies have all made it harder for working families to make ends meet in recent years, and food banks have struggled to keep up with record demand,” said Rep. Salinas. “Now, Republicans are trying to force through partisan legislation that would threaten food assistance for over 800,000 Oregonians. I voted against that bill, and I’m proud to introduce the Farmers Feeding America Act to expand The Emergency Food Assistance Program. This bill will ensure our local food banks are fully stocked, support local farmers, and help families put food on the table.”
“Many working families across my congressional district and throughout the country rely on food banks to put food on the table,” said Rep. Panetta. “The Farmers Feeding America Act would strengthen working families, and by allowing the USDA to purchase food directly from local farmers for food banks, the bill would also bolster our communities. At a time when there are politicians who want to cut these types of essential benefits, we are working hard to fight hunger by supporting agriculture and ensuring that working families have access to healthy food.”
In 2023, 13.5 percent of Americans — or 18 million households — were food insecure. However, as higher prices continue to impact working families’ ability to afford food and basic necessities, local food banks are often unable to meet the need in their communities. Meanwhile, Republicans are pushing ahead with legislation to attack core nutrition benefits, taking food assistance away from at least 3 million Americans.
The Farmers Feeding America Act would significantly increase funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). TEFAP provides commodities like fruits and vegetables, as well as monetary support, to food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other types of emergency feeding organizations. In addition to serving individuals, TEFAP supports local agriculture by enabling USDA to purchase food directly from producers.
Along with Reps. Salinas and Panetta, the legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Becca Balint (VT-AL), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Troy Carter (LA-02), Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05), Jim Costa (CA-21), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Christopher Deluzio (PA-17), Cleo Fields (LA-06), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Juan Vargas (CA-52).
The bill is also endorsed by the following organizations, in alphabetical order: Alliance to End Hunger, Door Dash, Feeding America, Marion Polk Food Share, Second Harvest of Santa Cruz County, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.
“With food prices and food insecurity on the rise, this necessary investment will help struggling families put nutritious food on the table,” said Minerva Delgado, Director of Coalitions & Advocacy, Alliance to End Hunger.
“In every community across the U.S., people are working hard to provide for themselves and their families. Yet in 2023, 47 million people—1 in 7 people—experienced food insecurity in the U.S., according to the USDA. The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP, helps bridge the food gap for millions of families and individuals by moving nutritious foods from U.S. farmers to local food banks. But in recent years, TEFAP support has decreased as demand for food assistance has increased. TEFAP and additional USDA foods received by the Feeding America network have dropped by more than 50% from 2020-2023—dropping from 3 billion pounds to less than 1.4 billion pounds per year. The Farmers Feeding America Act introduced by Reps. Andrea Salinas and Jimmy Panetta would strengthen TEFAP, a cornerstone of the charitable food system, and ensure equitable access to the program for noncontiguous states. We urge Congress to ease the strain on our nation’s food banks by including this crucial provision in the upcoming Farm Bill,” said Vince Hall, Chief Government Relations Officer, Feeding America.
“Families and children are facing tough times right now. More than ever, our community needs the Farmers Feeding America Act to make sure children and families have the food they need to thrive,” said Rick Gaupo, President & CEO, Marion Polk Food Share.
Second Harvest Santa Cruz County CEO Erica Padilla Chavez: “With food insecurity on the rise in our community and food prices continuing to climb, the need to support the Farmers Feeding America Act has never been more urgent. It is critical that our federal government not only address hunger but also sustains our local agriculture – an essential part of both our economy and our hunger relief efforts.”
Leslie Bacho, CEO, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley: “The Farmers Feeding America Act is a practical solution that bridges communities—connecting local farmers with families in need and strengthening our food system. In Silicon Valley, where the cost of living is among the highest in the nation and 1 in 6 of our neighbors turn to Second Harvest of Silicon Valley for food assistance, we see this urgent need firsthand every day. At a time when the need for food assistance touches every community, this legislation affirms a shared commitment to ensuring no one goes hungry. Investing in TEFAP is not just about feeding families; it's about reinforcing the resilience and well-being of all our communities.”
To read the full text of this legislation, click here.
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