Testimony

While providing testimony to legislative bodies, the Food Bank For New York City is able to present information from our research to key decision makers. Such opportunities are instrumental in our efforts to affect legislative and procedural changes that can have a positive impact on the lives of New Yorkers in need. Browse the Food Bank's past testimony below.

2012

Supporting Breakfast in the Classroom
June 20: Food Bank testified to the New York City Council Committee on Education supporting Resolution 910-A which calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation supporting breakfast in the classroom in every school in New York City and Resolution 911-A calling upon the New York City Department of Education to support breakfast in the classroom in every school in New York City.
Full Testimony

Farm Bill
May 21: The Food Bank provided testimony to the New York City Council Health Committee in support of a Resolution calling on the United States Congress to reauthorize an adequately funded Farm Bill that creates a strong and healthy food system.
Full Testimony

2011

EFAP Food Procurement Policy
February 28: Food Bank presented testimony to the New York City Council Committee on Contracts regarding legislation to change the City’s food procurement policies to maximize the purchase of New York State and regional food, as well as to encourage more environmentally sustainable practices, while providing needed food to low-income New Yorkers.
Full Testimony

School and Summer Meals

February 8: Food Bank provided testimony for New York City Council Education Committee in support of expanding access to school and summer meals as a critical component to ending food poverty.
Full Testimony

2010

Threats and Opportunities in the Fight Against Hunger in NYC
November 23:  Food Bank testified to the New York City Council General Welfare Committee on fighting hunger in New York City - in light of three years of recession - which requires support, not cuts, to services like emergency food, SNAP, and school meals.
Full Testimony

New York City's Executive Budget - Fiscal Year 2011
May 18: The Food Bank provided testimony to the New York City Council Committees on Finance and General Welfare. The testimony described the current analysis of food poverty in the city and highlighted the critical need for the 2011 budget to provide sufficient emergency food assistance to meet growing demand.
Full Testimony 

Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act
May 3: The Food Bank provided testimony to the New York City Council Committee on State and Federal Legislation, calling on the United States Congress to renew and strengthen the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act.
Full Testimony

New York City's Preliminary Budget - Fiscal Year 2011
March 8: The Food Bank provided testimony to the New York City Council Committee on General Welfare. The Food Bank asked that the City Council focus on three priorities for 2011: increasing funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP); fighting state cuts to the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) and other nutrition assistance supports; and expanding City Council funding for food stamp outreach and education efforts (SNAP and SNAP-Ed).
Full Testimony

Impact of the Federal Economic Stimulus Package in New York City
March 1: The Food Bank provided testimony to the New York City Council Committee on General Welfare, focusing on how the federal economic stimulus package affected New York City's social services. The Food Bank urged City government to follow the federal government's example with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) by temporarily increasing support and funding for food assistance services to keep up with rising demand, rather than cutting funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP).
Full Testimony 

Opposing the Proposed Soda Tax in New York State
January 22: The Food Bank provided testimony at a Food Policy Hearing before the New York State Senate Committee on Health. Specifically, the testimony expressed our opposition to a proposed soda tax, addressing the impact such a tax could have on New York City's most vulnerable residents and suggesting alternative food policies to fight obesity and diet-related disease in low-income communities.
Full Testimony

2009

Food Retail Expansion to Support Health (FRESH) - Special Regulations
August 5: The Food Bank provided testimony to the City Planning Commission of the City of New York in support of Food Retail Expansion to Support Health (FRESH), a zoning change that would provide incentives to food stores that locate in underserved areas. The testimony described some of the impacts that lack of access to fresh, affordable food has on low-income communities, and the need to increase access to fresh food in a retail environment that allows low-income New Yorkers to redeem their food stamp and WIC benefits.
Full Testimony

Ending Childhood Hunger by 2015
November 24: The Food Bank provided testimony to the New York City Council Committee on General Welfare on strategies for achieving President Obama's goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015.
Full Testimony

Food Retail Expansion to Support Health (FRESH)
October 26: The Food Bank offered testimony to the New York City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises in support of FRESH. To ensure these businesses remain viable and this initiative's full potential to expand local access to affordable, nutritious food is reached, the Food Bank also called for the acceptance of WIC, food stamp (SNAP) and EBT benefits at all food stores receiving government incentives.
Full Testimony

2007

The Impact of Hunger on the City's Senior Population
December 13: The Food Bank provided testimony at a New York City Council Oversight Hearing on the extent of hunger among New York City senior citizens and the challenges faced by this vulnerable population.
Full Testimony

Fighting Hunger in New York City
November 20: The Food Bank provided testimony at a New York City Council Oversight Hearing on the status of hunger and the needs of low-income New Yorkers throughout the city. The testimony provides a brief overview of recent research findings demonstrating the magnitude of hunger in New York City, myriad contributing socioeconomic factors and the challenges currently faced by the emergency food network.
Full Testimony

2006

Trans Fat Ban
October 30: The Food Bank provided testimony at a New York City Council Oversight Hearing regarding the proposal to add §81.08 to Article 81 of the New York City Health Code. The amendment — intended to improve the nutritional content of food served in all city food-service establishments by phasing out artificial trans fat — may inadvertently lead to an increase in the percentage of food containing trans fat entering the emergency food system.
Full Testimony

Summer Meals
June 27: The Food Bank provided testimony at a New York City Council Oversight Hearing on Exploring Summer Meal Programs for NYC Youth. Check back for the full testimony.

Obesity
June 21: The Food Bank provided testimony at a New York City Council Oversight Hearing on New York City's Response to the Obesity Epidemic.
Full Testimony