Legislative Updates:
Congress recently passed a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government through April 2017. The continuing resolution allows funding to continue Summer EBT pilots as part of the Summer Food Service Program, and made no cuts to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) or the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).
 
On January 3, 2017 the 115^th Congress was sworn in and immediately began working on an aggressive legislative agenda. With a single party controlling both chambers and the White House, proposals to significantly cut SNAP as part of the upcoming Farm Bill discussions are expected. The National Anti-Hunger Organizations are calling on Congress to protect and support the federal nutrition safety net rather than making cuts, and are inviting organizations across the nation to sign a letter demonstrating support for these critical programs.
 
USDA released the 2016 edition of their “Rural America At A Glance” report, outlining topics like unemployment, median income, and population stability. Read it here.

Hunger Action Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol is scheduled for February 15, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Advocates from across the state will come together to talk with state legislators about the issue of hunger in Oklahoma, and to encourage policy decisions that address the many factors that contribute to food insecurity. Register here. The deadline to RSVP is February 3rd. 

 

Organizations: Join Feeding America, FRAC, the Oklahoma Food Banks, and partners across the nation in signing a letter of support for the federal nutrition safety net. The deadline to sign is March 1st.
 

Did You Know?
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a program that serves food insecure individuals and households through food banks, soup kitchens, and other charitable and emergency feeding organizations. More than $4 million in TEFAP funds were allocated to Oklahoma during FY16.
 

Working together to end hunger in Oklahoma,

Effie Craven, MPH, MPA
State Advocacy and Public Policy Director
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma | Oklahoma City
Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma | Tulsa
405-600-3129 | ecraven@regionalfoodbank.org