Effie Craven, the State Advocacy and Public Policy Director for the Oklahoma Food Banks, is on a work assignment in Washington, D.C. for the next few months. Effie will be working with Feeding America on network advocacy engagement for the upcoming Farm Bill and other federal priorities. In Effie's absence, Ellen Pogemiller will be covering all policy & advocacy work for the Oklahoma Food Banks. Each month we'll feature an update from Effie in the nation's capital!
Effie Goes to Washington:
Hello! I've spent my first few weeks in Washington getting up to speed on the many policy priorities Feeding America is working to advance. As Congress gears up for the next Farm Bill, we'll be looking to engage the nationwide network of food banks to ensure fighting hunger is a key part of any legislation. The Feeding America network serves people in every Congressional district in the country, and we have a unique opportunity to demonstrate collective strength to Members of Congress throughout the next year.
The current Farm Bill will expire in September 2018, and the next one is being drafted now. Oklahoma has several Members of Congress including Congressman Lucas and Congressman Cole, whom will be critical in protecting anti-hunger programs in the coming months.
If there's anything I've taken to heart in my first few weeks in Washington, it's that advocacy by the Oklahoma Food Banks, our partner agencies across the state and advocates like you couldn't be more important. When you receive an Action Alert, it's because your voice is needed on a critical issue which may impact our network or the people we serve. Take action, share those alerts, and join colleagues and partners across the country calling for public policies to address the many factors contributing to hunger.
Thanks!
State Advocacy and Public Policy Director
Legislative Updates:
The U.S. House Budget Committee passed its FY 2018 budget resolution along party lines on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. The resolution includes at least $203 billion in cuts to mandatory programs, many of which are critical to low-income individuals and our work to ensure they have the nutrition they need to thrive.
The committee specifically calls for $10 billion in cuts directed at agriculture, with reports suggesting those cuts would come primarily from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), with an additional $150 billion in suggested cuts from dramatic downsizing and restructuring of the program. In Oklahoma, SNAP is a critical tool to working families, helping them bridge the gap between food needs and available resources.
The House will delay a floor vote on the FY18 budget until after August recess (
Politco Story). A vote is likely in September. Be on the lookout for Action Alerts focused on the budget!