ANTI-HUNGER ADVOCACY

ANTI-HUNGER ADVOCACY

To end hunger for good, we need strong public policy. Raising our voice together today will impact the lives of our neighbors facing hunger for generations to come.

Our Anti-Hunger Advocacy Efforts

The San Antonio Food Bank leads anti-hunger advocacy efforts in San Antonio and our 29-county region of Southwest Texas.

  • We identify and promote policy priorities to end food insecurity and advance the work of the San Antonio Food Bank.
  • We build and sustain relationships with elected and government officials at the local, state, and federal level to improve the nutrition, health, and well-being of community members.
  • We educate and mobilize elected officials and community members to support legislative solutions to end food insecurity.

Why We Advocate

We advocate for policies that protect individuals and families from hunger. To end hunger for good, we need strong public policy. We are committed to advancing policy solutions that promote equitable food access and create opportunities for our neighbors to thrive.

Our FY24 Policy Priorities

Our federal advocacy efforts focus on strengthening federal nutrition programs.

  • We support the passage of a Farm Bill that fully funds and strengthens nutrition programs and removes barriers for those seeking assistance, including:
    • Improving the adequacy of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits
      • Basing it on the USDA’s Low-Cost Food Plan rather than the Thrifty Food Plan
      • Allowing SNAP benefits for online and mobile purchases, for hot meals and prepared foods and at farmers markets.
    • Removing barriers to financial security for SNAP participants
      • Eliminating the state option to consider certain household assets like vehicles when determining SNAP eligibility.
      • Improving access to SNAP for college students
      • Bolster support for charitable food response
    • We support the passage of a fiscal year 2024 agriculture appropriations bill that fully funds critical nutrition assistance programs, specifically:
      • Providing full funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) storage and distribution at the authorized level of $100 million to help food banks offset the rising costs of commodity storage and distribution and meet growing community need.

Our state advocacy efforts focus on improving access to healthy, nutritious food and nutrition programs, strengthening workforce development and job skills training, and ensuring that disaster and emergency food assistance align with community need.

During the 2023 legislative session, the Texas Legislature enacted four important policies that will benefit Texans experiencing food insecurity:

  • A $10.2M increase in funding for the Surplus Ag Grant, bringing total funding for the FY24-25 biennium to $20.4M
  • HB 1287 (by Rep. Guillen / sponsored by Sen. Blanco): this bill increases the limits used for the SNAP Vehicle Asset Test to $22.5K for the first car (from $15K) and $8.7K for additional vehicles (from $4,650).
  • HB 1743 (by Rep. Leach / sponsored by Sen. West): this bill establishes a pre-enrollment process for SNAP for people exiting the criminal justice system.
  • HB 3599 (by Rep. Thierry / sponsored by Sen. Hinojosa): this bill exempts Food Banks from paying fuel taxes and registration fees for their fleets.

Our local advocacy efforts include fostering partnerships that allow us to procure and distribute food efficiently in the communities we serve and identifying opportunities collaboratively address the root causes of food insecurity by supporting housing, education, and employment initiatives.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS &
POLICY INITIATIVES

No family should lose their ability to put food on the table because of inflation in the car market. Tell your representatives that Texas must modernize the SNAP Vehicle Asset Test by applying an inflationary adjustment to the current limits.

Feeding Texas Announces 2023 State Legislative Priorities. Learn how you can help advocate for your neighbors in need.

Tell your Congress Member to support the passage of a federal Farm Bill that strengthens and protects the resources we have to fight hunger.

Mapping the Meal Gap

The San Antonio Food Bank serves across Southwest Texas with a 29 county service area. It is imperative that the gaps in our map are continually assessed to better serve our communities, and this information is vital for you to better advocate for your neighbors!

The COVID-19 Pandemic has also drastically changed the landscape of food insecurity all across the nation. Feeding America has researched how this is impacting and will continue to impact counties all across Texas.

Connect with us to affect change!

Visit Feeding America and the Food Action Research Center (FRAC) to learn more about hunger issues and advocacy efforts.

For questions regarding advocacy, please contact:

MARIO OBLEDO
Chief of Government & Public Affairs
210.431.8501
mobledo@safoodbank.org