Advocacy

Farm Bill

The Farm Bill is the centerpiece federal legislation for food and farming, and it impacts access to nutritious food for the millions of people in America struggling with hunger—including our neighbors across Nebraska and western Iowa. It provides an opportunity for policymakers to comprehensively and periodically address agricultural and food issues. In addition to developing and enacting farm legislation, Congress is involved in overseeing its implementation. The Farm Bill typically is renewed about every five years.

Read more about the Farm Bill here. Learn how the Farm Bill is helping reduce hunger on Feeding America’s website. Feeding America continues to work to protect and strengthen key federal nutrition programs. Some of their priority issues in the bill include: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and Food Rescue.

Food Bank for the Heartland staff joins Food Bank of Lincoln and Feeding America on the Hill

As the lame-duck session continues into December, staff members from Food Bank for the Heartland and Food Bank of Lincoln joined Feeding America lobbyists on the hill to discuss important issues in fighting food insecurity across our service area. Funding for programs like TEFAP and SNAP are top of mind, both in the waning days of this session as well as preparation for the new Congress to convene in January. Sharing data concerning the changing landscape of hunger and how federal programs impact everyday citizens in our service area provides context to our delegation members.

White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

On September 28, 2022, for the first time in over 50 years, the Biden-Harris Administration hosted a conference aimed at influencing the country’s food policies, including those affecting our neighbors in Nebraska and western Iowa. This aligns with the administration’s goal of ending hunger and reducing diet-related disease through the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity in the U.S. by 2030.

The conference featured five pillars:

1. Improve food access and affordability
2. Integrate nutrition and health
3. Empower all consumers to make and have access to healthy choices
4. Support activity for all
5. Enhance nutrition and food security research

These pillars align with the Food Bank’s mission of eliminating hunger in the Heartland by ensuring consistent access to healthy foods through community partnerships.

Click here to learn more about the conference. View the Biden-Harris National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health here. Watch panel sessions for each of the five pillars of the National Strategy here. 

In addition to the White House’s resources, USDA released “Leveraging the White House Conference to Promote and Elevate Nutrition Security: The Role of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)” to highlight ways FNS is supporting—and will continue to support—the President’s goal and to leverage the momentum of the Conference.

Other ways to make your voice heard

To make progress toward ending hunger in Nebraska and western Iowa, we need to make sure our lawmakers in Washington are fighting for those struggling here in the Heartland. Federal nutrition programs matter here at home. You can help make sure our representatives see how great the need is—call on Nebraska and Iowa lawmakers in Washington D.C. to make ending hunger a priority.

Advocate for a hunger-free America. Click here to learn more about federal nutrition programs and how you can lend your support. Reach out to Congress today and stand up for families struggling with food insecurity. Click here to send a message to your local Congress representative to protect programs like SNAP, which helps millions of Americans.

American rescue plan act (arpa) update — Nebraska

Food Bank for the Heartland is beyond grateful to be awarded the first nine months allotment of ARPA funding intended for food banks. This award is a result of American Rescue Plan Act legislation passed by the Nebraska Legislature in April of 2022 and will allow us to better serve our Nebraska neighbors—who continue to navigate the rising costs of everyday essentials—through the purchase and distribution of nutritious food.

The Food Bank staff is working closely with DHHS to to receive and administer this much-needed funding.

LB 763 – Adopt the Emergency Food Assistance Act (INTRODUCER: SENATOR Wendy DeBoer) — NEBRASKA

This bill proposes $10 million in general fund appropriations each year of the biennium ($20M total) to DHHS to distribute to non-profit organizations that distribute food in 10 or more counties and qualifies for TEFAP by USDA. Eligible expenditures include purchase and distribution of food; infrastructure; food storage; equipment; and, construction for increased capacity.

The hearing date for LB 763 is Friday, March 24, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. before the Appropriations Committee. We encourage you to support this bill by submitting a comment on the Nebraska Legislature website here. The deadline to submit and verify a comment for the hearing record for LB 763 was Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. Otherwise, please reach out to your state senator and share your support for LB 763.

LB 661 SNAP – Innovation grants for non-profits fighting food insecurity (INTRODUCER: SENATOR Teresa Ibach) — NEBRASKA

This bill proposes $2.25 million in general fund appropriations to DHHS to distribute to non-profits focusing on programs or projects to fight food insecurity.

The hearing date for LB 661 was Wednesday, February 15, 2023 before the Health and Human Services Committee.

LB 84 SNAP – CLIFF EFFECT/GROSS ELIGIBILITY (INTRODUCER: SENATOR JEN DAY) — NEBRASKA

This bill can help Nebraskans continue to put food on the table as they advance in the workplace, effectively incentivizing Nebraska workers to continue to strive for self-sufficiency and providing a pathway out of government assistance. The cliff effect is considered among the greatest barriers to self-sufficiency for low-income families, as it results in pay raises being rejected, more hours being worked and fewer people pursuing educational opportunities that may also result in an increase in income.

The hearing date for LB 84 was Thursday, March 2, 2023 before the Health and Human Services Committee.

LB 88 SNAP – DRUG FELONY (INTRODUCER: SENATOR MEGAN HUNT) — NEBRASKA

This bill can help Nebraskans in some of their most vulnerable times. When someone has a conviction on their record it can greatly impact their ability to find work, housing, and other essential resources. Food is vital for self-support, sustainability, and successful integration into society. The limitations that currently exist around nutrition assistance for those with drug felonies are cumbersome and confusing for those with dated convictions while simultaneously denying a stable food source for those re-entering the community.

The hearing date for LB 88 was Wednesday, March 15, 2023 before the Health and Human Services Committee.

LB 524 SNAP – TAX CREDIT FOR DONATIONS OF FOOD (INTRODUCER: SENATOR JOHN FREDRICKSON) — NEBRASKA

This bill proposes a tax credit for businesses that donate food to pantries, food banks, and food rescue organizations. 

The hearing date for LB 524 was Wednesday, March 22, 2023 before the Revenue Committee.

HF 3 AND SSB 1105 — IOWA

The Iowa Senate advanced their bill SSB 494 (was SSB 1105) along a party-line vote on March 22, 2023.

SNAP provides a critical lifeline for Iowans. Proposals to restrict access to this resource—such as those included within bills introduced by the Iowa House (HF 3) and Senate (SSB 1105)—will harm families, and undermine community, state, and national efforts to address food insecurity.

According to Feeding America, 1 in 14 Iowans—including 1 in 9 children—is facing hunger. 

“We must protect SNAP and its ability to effectively fight hunger in every Iowa community.” — Brian Barks

Please reach out to your elected officials at the state level and ask them to oppose any legislation that attempts to cut SNAP assistance that is needed now, more than ever. Click here to read Brian Barks’ full op-ed from February 2023. Find and contact your Iowa state legislator here.

Thank you for your support!

Many issues impacting hunger relief can be remedied through state level actions—whether legislative or administrative measures. Contact your state legislator and encourage your representative to support Food Bank for the Heartland’s efforts to ensure those who need food can access it. Find your Nebraska state senator or Iowa state senator or representative today.

Local level

Local elected officials are oftentimes closest to the issues we face on a daily basis. Food insecurity is no different. Make your voice heard by connecting with your local officials at the county and city level.

Educate

You can play a vital role in educating the people around you and encouraging them to rethink some of their preconceived notions about food insecurity and the vital programs that are helping to feed people in your community.

How can you do this? Inform your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers about the issues involved in food insecurity in your community, tell them about the importance of programs like SNAP, child nutrition and other programs, and show them the positive impact Food Bank for the Heartland’s efforts are having on your community. Utilize our advocacy resources to learn more and help spread the word.