Anti-hunger advocates across Texas urged state lawmakers on Wednesday to reject proposed food bank funding cuts and prevent the reduction of twenty million pounds of produce destined for hungry Texans' dinner tables.
“This is the worst possible time to reduce assistance for Texans in need,” said Celia Cola, CEO of Feeding Texas. “Bolstering the nutrition of families who have been pushed into poverty by this pandemic is a critical investment for our state, and a basic test of our values as Texans.”
Last year, food banks distributed nearly one billion pounds to Texas families as hunger spiked, according to Feeding Texas records. In response to the Governor’s request to all state agencies to propose a 5% reduction in their budgets this year, the Texas Department of Agriculture proposed cutting the annual budget for the Surplus Agriculture Grant, a program that helps food banks procure fresh produce from farmers.
SB1, the Texas Senate's first draft of a state budget for the coming biennium, funds the program at 100%, indicating a strong level of bipartisan support.
"State legislators understand the value of food banks every year, but particularly when so many of their constituents are facing food insecurity," said Cole.
Advocates hope the Texas House will likewise fully fund the program moving forward, and that state leaders will find a way to prevent the current cut from taking effect.
“Texans helping Texans is how we will get through this challenging time,” said Cole. “We look forward to working with a broad coalition of elected leaders to make sure every Texan has the resources to feed themselves and their families.”
Feeding Texas leads a unified effort for a hunger-free Texas. www.feedingtexas.org