by Kimberely Chin, Director, Maryland Hunger SolutionsThis has been an incredibly exciting week. The Farm Bill passed in the House and the Senate with veto proof majorities in both!
With rising prices for food, fuel and housing, this is a great victory for everyone in this country who is just struggling to put food on the table.
The Farm Bill increases the minimum food stamp benefits; updates the food stamp asset rules; ties the asset limits to inflation; and allows families to continue to save for retirement and their children’s education without jeopardizing their eligibility for the program.
This week, in support of the Farm Bill, I also had a wonderful opportunity to speak at a press conference on the Hill on Wednesday, May 14th. Click here for more pictures of the event. Congressional Majority Leader Steny Hoyer from Maryland organized the event with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus to highlight how the increased nutrition benefits in the Farm Bill will benefit their communities. I was honored to be invited by Majority Leader Hoyer to represent the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) as the only non-congressional speaker at the event. Click here to see a copy of my statement (pdf).
Photo courtesy of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus's photostream on Flickr.
