FEDERAL PRIORITIES

With nearly three million New Yorkers experiencing hunger and food insecurity, Feeding New York State recognizes that public policy must address both the immediate needs of struggling families as well as root causes that contribute to hunger.

Healthy food is a basic human right.

Our association calls on the president and federal government to:

STRENGTHEN FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS

ENHANCE SNAP BENEFITS

  • Calculate SNAP monthly benefits based on the USDA’s Low Cost Food Plan instead of the Thrifty Food Plan, increasing SNAP benefits by an average of $125 a month per household. 
  • Allow all SNAP participants to purchase hot food and prepared meals with their benefits. 
  • Increase federal investments in the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), which supports New York’s Double Up Food Bucks program.

EXPAND ACCESS & ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO SNAP

  • Eliminate existing barriers to participation in SNAP for seniors, college students, able-bodied childless adults, immigrants, and individuals with prior convictions.
  • Eliminate asset limits and arbitrary eligibility limits for participation in SNAP.
  • Expand SNAP benefits to U.S. territories.

INVEST IN THE HEALTH & WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES

  • Guarantee school breakfast, lunch, after school and summer meals for all children nationwide.
  • Provide adequate funding to ensure all eligible households can participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
  • Increase funding for the Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFPCGP), which supports community-led solutions that advance food justice and urban agriculture.

SUPPORT THE NATION'S CHARITABLE FOOD SYSTEM

FUND THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TEFAP)

  • Increase federal investments in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in response to the unprecedented demand for hunger relief.
  • Fully fund the shelf-stable and cold storage infrastructure, transportation, and distribution capacity of food banks through TEFAP’s Administrative Grants account.
  • Increase the availability of culturally relevant foods, including halal and kosher, through TEFAP.

BUILD AN ECONOMY THAT EMPOWERS AND UPLIFTS LOW-INCOME AMERICANS

REDUCE POVERTY NATIONWIDE

  • Raise the federal minimum wage to a living wage of $17 per hour, tie future increases to the rate of inflation, and phase out subminimum wages for tipped workers, workers with a disability, and teenagers.
  • Restore the expanded Child Tax Credit – which had cut the child poverty rate by over 40% – and expand the Earned Income Tax Credit. 
  • Evaluate whether key metrics such as the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) are accurately measuring the poverty rate in 2025.

ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF FOOD INSECURITY

  • Enable all eligible households to obtain rental assistance, repeal the Faircloth Amendment of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998, and invest in our public housing infrastructure. 
  • Reduce the cost of child care and move towards a universal child care system. 
  • Implement policies that equitably reduce the cost of healthcare, housing, education, transportation, and food.