2.3.17 Assembly Member Dr. Joaquin Arambula (Fresno) has introduced Assembly Bill 164- California Leads to Meet Food Needs. CFPA is proud to be sponsoring AB 164, which would create a flexible and adaptable framework for California Food Assistance that could effectively respond to Californians’ food needs.
California has long led the nation in innovative policy solutions. We should now lead the fight against hunger. Food assistance, like CalFresh, is one of the most effective tools to reduce poverty, prevent hunger and improve health. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, in 2013 CalFresh moved roughly 890,000 Californians out of poverty. This lowered the state poverty rate by 2.4 percentage points, the largest amount among social safety net programs.
While CalFresh is primarily a federal program (SNAP), the CalFresh EBT system and state resources have also been utilized to address specific food needs. The California Food Assistance Program for Immigrants (CFAP) successfully responded to 1996 welfare reform that stripped benefits from many lawfully-present immigrant residents. The Work Incentive Nutritional Supplement (WINS) provides supplemental support for working families. We know how to utilize the CalFresh system to make a real impact in the lives of those struggling to put healthy food on the table.
Now is the time for California to be proactive. AB 164 would enable the State to effectively and efficiently respond with nutrition assistance such as supplemental benefits to address health disparities or inequities, or to respond to vulnerable populations that are ineligible for federal benefits. For example, AB 164 can provide a pathway for supplemental assistance for food-insecure households without safe water, due to failing public water systems. PDF
California Food Assistance should be flexible and responsive so that we can step up if federal assistance does not fully meet California’s needs.
To learn more, visit CFPA’s AB 164 page.
Learn more about budget advocacy for households without safe drinking water link
Learn more about CalFresh link
Sign-up to receive AB 164 legislative updates. link
Questions: Contact Tracey Patterson at 510.433.1122 ext 101, or tracey@cfpa.net
