Legislative Priorities
Our 2022 priorities in Olympia
Research conducted by UW and WSU since the pandemic began shows that as many as half of all low income households surveyed struggled with food insecurity. Low income families with children, people of color, and seniors were most at risk. Each year, our Coalition members identify smart policies and bold ideas to fight hunger and poverty for our state legislative agenda - and it's never been more urgent than now.
Our priorities are grounded in community experiences and policy expertise: our members know what works to solve hunger.
Our Coalition’s 2022 priorities to fight hunger will expand access to free school meals, support food banks, and feed hungry seniors. Our ideas to fight poverty will improve TANF for very low income families with children, provide job training opportunities to immigrants with food stamps, and ensure DSHS services are available to all who need help.
Expand Free School Meals for WA Kids
During the pandemic, nearly 1 in 3 Washington families have struggled to put food on the table, and households with children have been among the most at risk for hunger. Washington can continue serving free school meals to thousands of students by expanding participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) in all high need, high poverty schools eligible to participate. This bill would ensure that all schools eligible to use CEP are adequately funded to serve healthy, free school meals to all their students.
Extend Funding for Food Banks & Community-based Orgs Feeding Hungry People
Research by UW and WSU shows 27% of Washingtonians have been food insecure since COVID began. Our food banks and community-based hunger responses to this crisis continue to face unprecedented need from people in need, as well as pressures from skyrocketing food prices, supply chain disruptions, fewer food donations. Fund WSDA’s Food Assistance programs to ensure food banks and community organizations have enough food and sufficient capacity to meet needs.
Improve Access to School Meal Applications & Income Forms
The pandemic has made it clear that low income families in all schools need a single family-friendly, multilingual, online option to apply for school meals – or to provide family income data in schools that don’t require meal applications. This data is critical because it is used to provide a wide array of federal, state and local education resources to low-income students and their schools. Fund OSPI to create a simple, accessible, flexible tool for families and schools.
Expand Farmers Market Nutrition Program for Seniors
Gov's budget includes $400,000 to add 7,100 seniors
Low income seniors are at high risk for hunger and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides hungry seniors with up to $40/season to purchase local, healthy produce at farmers markets. Our state hasn’t increased funding for this program in years and the program can’t meet the overwhelming demand. Adding funding feeds hungry seniors and supports local farmers and farmers markets.
Extend Basic Food Education & Training to immigrants receiving food stamps
Gov's budget includes $560,000
Washington’s nationally-recognized Basic Food Education and Training program provides job training, support services and education opportunities for people who receive federally-funded SNAP benefits. Eligible immigrants who receive state-funded Food Assistance should have equal access to these supports that help lift families out of poverty and into living wage jobs.
Strengthen TANF for Families with Children Living in Deep Poverty
Several bills are designed to roll back punitive policies enacted in the Great Recession to cut the TANF budget - resulting in significant numbers of children living in deep poverty.
HB 2048: End harsh time limits
SB 5785: Provide Transitional Food Assistance to families leaving TANF
HB 1947/SB 5838: Provide diaper benefit for TANF families with babies
In addition to our specific priorities each year, AHNC’s ongoing commitments for our legislative advocacy are:
Sustainable Revenue for a Healthy, Hunger-free Washington
Create a more fair and balanced state tax system by closing outdated tax loopholes, increasing transparency in tax breaks, and finding new and sustainable sources of revenue to ensure services are available to help people out of poverty and to invest in the foundations of a healthy, prosperous and hunger-free Washington.
Protect Investments in Nutrition, Health & Economic Stability for People in Need
Our state has created innovative programs and proactive policies that help fight hunger and poverty in our communities. Our Coalition is committed to protect and strengthen basic needs, anti-hunger, and anti-poverty programs for low-income people so these programs continue to fight hunger and build stable pathways out of poverty.