The Farm Bill is federal legislation passed by the United States Congress every five years. The legislation addresses a range of agricultural and food-related policies, including farm insurance, conservation, and nutrition assistance. The next Farm Bill has the power to protect New Yorkers – and people across the nation – from hunger. Right now, we have an important opportunity to make our voices heard for a Strong Farm Bill For NYC! Originally enacted in 1933 as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “New Deal” to relieve struggling farmers, the Farm Bill became an omnibus, multiyear law that that has governed an array of agricultural and food programs for nearly 100 years. Since the addition of the Nutrition Title in 1973, the Farm Bill has also included the re-authorization of funding for food assistance programs, most notably the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), originally known as the Food Stamp Program. The 1980s and 1990s were a time of increasing social and financial inequality, and the programs within the Nutrition Title suffered major cutbacks. As social safety net programs were cut, community food assistance programs like food pantries and community kitchens became the backstop against hunger. 90% of Food Banks in the United States were established after 1981. Food Bank For New York City and our partners across the food assistance network rely on federal Farm Bill programs like The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) to fulfill our mission of empowering New Yorkers to achieve food security for good. Additionally, millions of New Yorkers including families with children, older adults, and people with disabilities, rely on Farm Bill programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to afford the nutritious food they need to thrive. 1.8 million New York City residents participate in SNAP, making up 60 percent of all New York State residents participating in this program. TEFAP provided over 32 million meals to New York last year alone, about half of the food Food Bank For New York City. Over 35,000 older adults in New York State rely on food from CSFP to meet their nutritional needs each month. Food Bank For New York City distributes over 2 million pounds of food through CSFP. Reauthorization for the 2023 Farm Bill is happening now, and we need your help to protect vital programs and make this a strong bill for a stronger NYC. Text “Food Bank” to 44654 Check out our Farm Bill Campaign events and activations. Watch our CEO Leslie Gordon’s NY1 interview discussing how the Farm Bil reauthorization will impact New Yorkers. Read FBNYC CEO Leslie Gordon’s remarks on the importance of the Farm Bill in the fight against hunger.
Farm Bill Reauthorization
About the Farm Bill
Background
Impact
Call Your Representatives
Take Action
Get updates on your phone
Amplify on Social
Food Bank in Action
Leslie Gordon's NY1 Interview
Elevating Voices
Watch our Farm Bill 101 Webinar from 9/20!
‘The Farm Bill’: Op Ed from CEOs of FBNYC, City Harvest & UWNY
