Since 2022, Food for the Spirit has worked alongside several partner organizations on a New York State farm bill campaign, and on April 19 we co-hosted “Power of Narrative”, a virtual farm bill film screening uplifting the stories of Black farmers and food actors.
In 2023, we also joined over 110 organizations led by the Union of Concerned Scientists on a nationwide campaign urging Congress to support a transformational farm bill. The transformational farm bill campaign urges the Biden administration to course correct our unjust food and farming systems, and as such, it identifies dozens of marker bills aligned with the values of our organizations. The campaign letter, which can be read here, was well-received by the champions of the marker bills included. Campaign organizers met with the White House and asked the President to advocate alongside us.
Despite our collective efforts, last week the House Agriculture Committee approved a farm bill that would cut food assistance by $30 billion and impact critical conservation programs.
That said, the fight is not over…
The recent House Agriculture Committee decision is not the final step in the legislative process. There are still opportunities to engage in advocacy.
Here are three ways that you can get involved and help push forward a more equitable and just farm bill:
- Share our stories – view and share the stories of Black farmers and food actors from New York State.
- Write today – tell your legislators that we must protect food and farmworkers across the country.
- Learn the basics – get to know farm bill basics from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.