House Farm Bill Fails to Pass

The House of Representatives rejected H.R. 2, the 2018 Farm Bill, by a vote of 198-213 when it was brought to a vote on May 18. California Association of Food Banks didn’t support the bill due to its dramatic cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Act and our feeling that it would increase hunger in California (read our statement here). While there isn’t consensus on the exact process the House will take next, Speaker Ryan has called for a second vote tentatively scheduled for June 22.

• The California Report interviewed Community Food Bank about the importance of SNAP in their community
• Director of Government Relations Andrew Cheyne spoke to Capitol Public Radio about the need for a good Farm Bill

Your food bank is encouraged to continue advocating for a better Farm Bill by contacting your representative and encouraging grassroots engagement from your supporters and volunteers. The Senate is also close to releasing their version of the Bill, and those electeds will also need to hear from the food banks in their district.

• Visit the CAFB Federal Resource Page for tools and action steps
• We’re on Slack! Sign-up for our workspace and follow #farmbillcomms for real-time updates and resources
• Need help navigating federal policy waters? Contact Rachel Tucker for help with sign-on letters and office visits and contact Daniela Ogden for help with digital organizing and public relations