8.14.2017 Support for SNAP was echoed in Salinas during the second of two U.S. House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill listening sessions that took place in California last week. Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) hosted the August 10th listening session at Hartnell College. Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) and Ranking Member Peterson (MN-7) were also in attendance.
The listening session was a continuation of “The Next Farm Bill, Conversations in the Field,” held at Modesto Junior College on August 5th. Similar to the Modesto listening session, anti-hunger advocates were well represented in Salinas and provided powerful testimonies to communicate the benefits of SNAP, the program’s reach and impact, and its role as an economic driver. Melissa Kendrick, Executive Director of Food Bank for Monterey County was one of several anti-hunger advocates who urged Panetta, Costa, and Peterson to support SNAP, reminding them “We could not do this without you.”
Thank you again to everyone who made it out to Salinas on Thursday and provided testimony. Your tireless work is necessary and acknowledged. A big thank you to the following attendees who provided comments during the hearing on behalf of the millions of low-income Californians who were not able to attend: Jessica Bartholow, Western Center on Law and Poverty; Andrew Cheyne, the California Association of Food Banks, Claribel Chavez, Second Harvest Community Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo County; Chris Moss; Cheryl Camany, Salinas Unified Elementary School District; Kristal Caballero, California Food Policy Advocates; Melissa Kendrick Food Bank for Monterey County; and Kenneth Hecht, Nutrition Policy Institute. Many other advocates were also in attendance, but due to time limitations were not able to speak directly to committee members during the listening session.
As additional opportunities unfold we intend to keep you abreast. Stay tuned for further calls to action by signing up for CFPA’s Nutrition Action Alerts. link
Questions?
Contact: Melissa Cannon at 510.433.1122 ext 102 or Jared Call at 213.482.8200 ext 201
