5.26.2017 Thanks to you and a broad coalition of supporters, we are closer to having a strong ‘tool in the toolbox’ to fight hunger, promote health and mitigate poverty in California. AB 164 moves to the Assembly Floor next week, after passing out of Appropriations today! AB 164 creates a pathway to provide state CalFresh food assistance when federal assistance is unavailable or inadequate.
We are grateful to Assemblymember Arambula for his strong leadership in this effort to improve the state’s ability to respond to residents in need. We couldn’t have gotten this far without our community partners and coalitions who have provided support, from letters, to phone calls, and testimony of the great need for our state to be prepared to fight hunger effectively when federal assistance is not enough.
For 25 years, CFPA has advocated for state policy that fights hunger and supports public health. CalFresh EBT is the state’s most effective means to do that for millions of residents. While CalFresh is primarily a federal program, California has a history of stepping up as a state. Twenty years ago, CFPA co-sponsored legislation with the California Immigrant Policy Center that created the California Food Assistance Program for Immigrants for lawfully-present immigrants shut out of the food stamp program by welfare reform. At that time, we successfully reacted to harmful federal changes. AB 164 provides a way to be proactive, and improve the CalFresh system’s ability to step up in times of need, now and in the future.
Some Californians face unique challenges. AB 164 creates a pathway to mitigate the harm of inequities. For example, the mechanism established by AB 164 could provide supplemental nutrition benefits to thousands of residents living without safe drinking water. PDF
As the 2017-18 State Budget gets finalized, we are fighting to secure funding to provide supplemental CalFresh assistance to households who have been living without safe water for years. The trailer bill attached to this Safe Water with CalFresh initiative would make significant progress towards the goals of AB 164. If you support AB 164, please voice your support for the Safe Water for CalFresh Initiative too! link
ACT NOW TO LET YOUR ASSEMBLY MEMBER KNOW YOU SUPPORT AB 164!
1. Email or fax a customized floor alert to your Assemblymember doc
2. Send in an updated letter of support doc
3. Call, email or tweet your support link
To learn more, visit CFPA’s AB 164 page.
Sign-up to receive AB 164 legislative updates. link
Questions: Contact Tracey Patterson at 510.433.1122 ext 101, or tracey@cfpa.net
