Salinas, Panetta Introduce Bill to Connect Local Farmers with Food Banks, Keep Families Fed
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 caused higher rates of food insecurity in Oregon and across the country, and food banks have struggled to keep up with the increased demand,” said Rep. Salinas. “The Farmers Feeding America Act will address this problem by providing more funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program, ensuring our local food banks are fully stocked. Furthermore, this legislation will support local farms by giving USDA more resources to purchase food directly from producers. I’m proud to introduce this bill today because it will connect farmers with our communities and help families put food on the table this holiday season.”
“Rising food insecurity around the country has put a strain on community food banks tirelessly working to meet the needs of some of our most vulnerable families,” said Rep. Panetta. “The Farmers Feeding America Act tackles this pressing issue by doubling assistance to our local food banks and better supporting partnerships with local producers. California’s 19th Congressional District is blessed with immense bounty, and as families share in our harvest over the holidays, this legislation would help us combat hunger throughout the year.”
Last year, 49 million people – or one in six Americans – received some form of food assistance. However, as higher prices continue to impact working families’ ability to afford food and basic necessities, local food banks are often unable to meet supply and demand needs in their communities.
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.
In addition to Reps. Salinas and Panetta, the Farmers Feeding America Act is supported by the following organizations: Feeding America, Alliance to End Hunger, Oregon Food Bank, Marion Polk Food Share, California Association of Food Banks, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, Share Our Strength, DoorDash, and the CEA Alliance.
“In every community across the U.S., people are working hard to provide for themselves and their families. Yet in 2022, 44 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. Feeding America food banks have seen a 48% decline in TEFAP foods over the last two years. 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 final 2023 Farm Bill,” said Vince Hall, Chief Government Relations Officer, Feeding America.
“The recently reported increase in U.S. food insecurity shows what food banks have been keenly aware of—food demand continues to be extraordinarily high. It is time to substantially increase our nation’s investment in TEFAP to ensure community residents in need can access this vital support,” said Minerva Delgado, Director of Coalitions & Advocacy, Alliance to End Hunger.
"Between rising food and housing prices and sharp reductions in federal support, far too many families are finding it hard to keep food on the table. The Farmers Feeding America Act is crucial to our efforts to meet the heightened need for food assistance here in Oregon and nationwide," said Oregon Food Bank President Susannah Morgan. “With increased funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program and new resources for food distribution and storage, this legislation will help our communities procure fresh produce and dairy products and address food deserts — especially in under-resourced and remote areas. No one should be hungry, and this investment will have resounding impact for millions of people facing food insecurity.”
“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.
“With the price of food continuing to climb and over one in five households in California experiencing food insecurity, food banks across the state are working nonstop to meet their communities’ needs. TEFAP is the backbone of food banks’ distributions, helping them to provide a steady variety of grocery staples. We are grateful to Rep. Panetta and Rep. Salinas for introducing this bill that will ensure robust funding for TEFAP, empowering food banks to prevent hunger for millions more people across the country,” said Stacia Hill Levenfeld, Chief Executive Officer, California Association of Food Banks.
"Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, like so many food banks across the country, is serving almost the same number of people as during the height of the pandemic, but without the same level of community and government support,” said Leslie Bacho, Chief Executive Officer, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. “With inflation in food and gas prices, and reductions in government benefits, many families are struggling to meet their basic needs and are turning to food banks to help close the gap. This additional TEFAP funding is crucial to support food banks in providing our communities with the food they need to thrive."
"Congressman Panetta's visionary leadership and this groundbreaking legislation are crucial for Central Coast food banks. In the wake of the pandemic's aftermath and the relentless surge in inflation, the demand for supplemental nutrition has soared. This bill would not just be a win; it would be a lifeline, bridging our agricultural partners to the tables of community members fighting food insecurity every single day," said Erica Padilla-Chavez, Chief Executive Officer, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County.
To read the full text of this legislation, click here.
###