FINAL DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE NOW!
Take Action Today in Support of Equitable Food Access for All Californians
Overview
Last week, the Assembly and Senate announced their joint 2024-25 budget package. The plan rejects many of Governor Newsom’s proposals to cut or delay key investments needed to address the level of hunger, poverty, and inequity faced by Californians with low and moderate income. Your support and advocacy made the difference. Thank you.
We applaud the Legislature for their approach that continues to invest in programs and services that foster equity and make California a state for ALL. We call on Governor Newsom to follow the Legislature’s lead and include funding for vital safety net programs in the final state budget.
Below are a number of highlights from the Legislature’s budget proposal with respect to Food and Nutrition.
Food and Nutrition
Food4All/CFAP Expansion – Accepts Proposed Delay to 2027-28, With Continued Funding for Automation
The Legislature’s plan approves the Governor’s proposed delay of the CFAP expansion to October 2027. However, they also approved the reallocation of unused funds from the 2023-2024 state budget to the 2024-2025 state budget to continue the necessary automation for the expansion. We must now tell the Governor stand firm in his commitment to Food4All by rejecting all delays AND ensure that progress toward the expansion will continue to be funded.
Nourish California, the California Immigrant Policy Center, and the Food4All Coalition urge the Governor to get the implementation timeline back on track to ensure access to CFAP benefits for Californians of all ages, regardless of immigration status, begins as soon as possible.
Take Action: Contact the Governor today! Tell him to reject any delay to expanding CFAP to income-eligible Californians of all ages, regardless of immigration status. No exception, No exclusions, No delays. Here is an easy guide to help you.
CalFresh Minimum Benefit Pilot
The Legislature rejects the Governor’s proposal to cancel the CalFresh Minimum Nutrition Benefit Pilot, which will ensure participating households receive no less than $50 per month in CalFresh benefits. We applaud the Legislature for restoring funding to this vital pilot program.
Take Action! Please contact the Governor today to tell him to accept the Legislature’s proposal and restore funding for the CalFresh Minimum Nutrition Benefit Pilot. See below for instructions.
CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable EBT Pilot
The Legislature’s plan does not include funding to continue to operate the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable EBT Pilot. Without additional funding, this successful pilot projects will expire prematurely. That means participants will see a cut of $50 – $60 per month in the already inadequate CalFresh benefit allotments.
Take Action! Join us in calling on the Legislature and Governor to provide the necessary bridge funding to ensure no pilot participants see a cut to their vital food assistance. See below for instructions.
CalFresh Safe Drinking Water Pilot
The Legislature proposes trailer bill language that would effectively extend the pilot through March 2026. This means 3,000 households in Kern County that do not have potable water will continue to receive an additional $50 per month in CalFresh to help defray the extra cost of drinking water. We applaud the Legislature for proposing this extension and urge the Governor to accept this simple no-cost solution.
Take Action! Join us in calling on the Governor to accetp the Legislature’s proposal. See below for instructions.
California Nutrition Incentive Program
The Legislature rejects the Governor’s proposal to cut $33.2 million from the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP). The funding supports “Market Match” and other successful programs that provide matching funds to CalFresh shoppers at local farmers’ markets. We urge the Governor to accept the Legislature’s proposal and fully fund CNIP as provided in the 2024-25 budget.
There are no other proposed investments in CalFresh despite the rising rates of hunger and inadequate CalFresh benefit allotments. Join us in calling on the Governor to make CalFresh easier to enroll in and ensure benefit amounts are enough to last through the month.
Early Care Nutrition
Neither plan includes funding for an equitable state meal reimbursement in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). We are disappointed that once again Family Child Care providers will continue to be shortchanged by the state for serving healthy meals to kids in their care. Nourish California and the Child Care Food Roundtable will continue our efforts to enact an equitable state meal reimbursement for CACFP. We invite you to join us.
Take Action! Join the Food with Care 2024 Campaign to ensure healthy meals for our youngest learners and full reimbursement for child care providers.
What’s Next?
The Legislature has until June 15 to pass a budget bill. The Governor then has twelve days to sign and enact the final budget. The Governor may also use his line-item veto power — or “blue pencil” — to veto specific provisions of the Budget Act.
How Can I Help?
Contact the Governor! Tell him to fund anti-hunger and anti-poverty priorities in the final budget.
- Go to the Governor’s website here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/
- Scroll down to where it says “By Email”
- Where it says, “What is your request or comment about?” – select “Budget May Revision 2024-25”
- Select the “Leave a Comment” bubble, and then click “Next”
- Where it says, “If applicable, what is your stance on this topic?” – select “Con”
- Use the template below, copy and paste into the comment box, and then click “Next”
- Input your name & email address, and then click “Submit” – and you’re done!
Dear Governor Newsom,
[A few sentences about why you or your organization care about hunger and poverty in California]
We urge you to ensure the final 2024-25 State Budget includes:
- On-time implementation of the expansion of CFAP to older adults, regardless of immigration status
- Full funding for the CalFresh Minimum Nutrition Benefit Pilot, to allow California to take its important first step towards raising the minimum benefit from the current and inadequate $23 per month to $50
- Trailer bill language to extend the CalFresh Safe Drinking Water Pilot
- $30 million one-time funding to extend the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable EBT Pilot
- $33 million one-time funding for the California Nutrition Incentive Program
Take Action! Join the Campaign to Boost CalFresh Benefits by extending successful supplemental benefit programs.
The state budget reflects our collective values and priorities. Your advocacy can shape the state budget. Please contact the Governor, share with your contacts, and join our campaign actions and stay up to date by visiting our action center: act.nourishca.org. Together we can achieve Food for All.
For more information, contact Jared Call at jared@nourishca.org.
