Legislative

The 2012 legislative Session began January 9th and is scheduled to conclude March 8th. The budget issues of 2011 have carried over to the New Year and our legislators are hard at work balancing the state’s budget. Below, I have detailed the legislative priorities of the Greater Seattle Dietetic Association:

Preserve State Funds for Farmers Market Nutrition Programs for WIC and Seniors
This program provides food assistance to low-income mothers, children and seniors in vouchers to be used at farmers markets in communities all over the state of Washington. In addition to providing fresh, healthy food to families, the WIC FMNP also provides economic support for Washington farmers (767 participated in famers markets in 2010). To prevent elimination of FMNP, the state must provide match funds of $100,000 to ensure federal funding continues. These funds will secure federal funding and ensure the state has the capacity to administer the program on behalf of seniors and WIC families. Though due to reduced state dollars a reduction of up to 70% in FMNP benefits will be endured. Without those funds, the program will be eliminated altogether.

Maintain Funding for School Meals
Last year, the state legislature cut $6 million from child nutrition programs at a time when over one million children benefitted from reduced or free school meals. Further reductions could eliminate state co-pays to school districts for reduced priced breakfast and lunch, and place free meals in jeopardy. Reduced funding directly and indirectly impacts school meals at the same time Congress has approved new legislation to improve school meals. Help to maintain funding for school meals in Washington State to help our children healthy and eager to learn.

Maintain the State Food Assistance Program for All Currently Eligible Recipients
Last year the legislature approved cutting food stamp benefits for legal immigrants by 50% . This year the Governor proposed to eliminate the program altogether – cutting $13.8 million from DSHS’ budget. Eliminating this program would worsen hunger in Washington. Causing 14,000 individuals to lose these benefits and deplete $105 million of economic activity in the state over the next two years, impacting hungry families as well as business owners. State Food Assistance benefits go directly into the community grocery stores, making $9 local economic impact for every $5 in benefits spent on food, according to the USDA.

Continue Strong Support of the WSDA Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP)
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) provides crucial funding to local food banks around the state. Food banks depend on EFAP to pay for food, transportation and operational costs. 325 food banks statewide receive EFAP funding to provide the vital service of distributing unprepared food to households who can’t afford to put food on their tables. Unemployment today hovers around 9% in the state, and is over 10 % in rural counties. In addition to contract cuts to EFAP, the other in WSDA’s Food Assistance Programs are seeing a reduction of about 50% from current levels of federal support over the next two years, placing a greater strain on local food bank resources. As other basic safety net programs continue to be cut or eliminated, more people continue to rely on their local food banks for assistance and food banks must be able to respond to these needs.

Support a Balanced Approach to the State Budget
In just the past three years, our legislature has already cut $10 billion from all programs including hunger-relief assistance, education, healthcare and other essential services. We urge the legislature to take a balanced approach to addressing our state budget that includes new sources of revenue and by reviews and reforms our current tax exemptions and expenditures. Additional revenue is needed to help preserve these programs and to ensure all residents in the Children, families, and adults in the State of Washington have access to the food and basic needs to be healthy, productive members of our community.

Please contact your legislature before and during the special session. Preservation of funds for these programs are a priority of the Greater Seattle Dietetic Association. To help those in your community continue to put food on their tables contact your legislators and let them know that you want them to support anti-hunger and nutrition programs.

Find your legislators contact information through the State of Washington Legislature website.