April 14, 2010
THE 2010 LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAS COME TO AN END!
On April 13 at 1:00 am, the State Special Session came to an end. After many deliberations, the House and the Senate came to an agreement on the budget and revenue package. Tough choices had to be made in determining where to make cuts and where to raise new revenue. Ultimately, the Legislature approved $757 million in new revenue to help bridge gaps in the budget during this difficult economic time.
How did the 2010 Legislative Session impact hunger relief in Washington State?
Below is an overview of what areas were affected by decisions made during this year’s session:
Funding for key hunger relief programs: Funds for EFAP, WIC, and school and summer meals were all protected. The full funding of these programs was an important victory that will help safeguard resources for low income families during this time of need.
Washington Grown Fruits and Veggies Program: This program brought fresh, locally grown snacks to students in low-income schools. Unfortunately, funding was completely eliminated for the program.
EFAP to Department of Agriculture: The Legislature approved the move of the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Agriculture. This move will help enhance the relationship between farms and food banks and meal programs.
Though difficult decisions had to be made, the addition of $757 million in new revenue helped limit the amount of cuts that were made to vital services. As these new changes are implemented, we will continue to work with lawmakers to ensure that the needs of the community are met.
Thank your legislators today!
Take a minute to call your legislators and thank them for protecting hunger relief programs and taking bold steps to find new sources of funding.
Contact all three of your legislators by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000!
Sample Message: Thank you for prioritizing hungry families and protecting funding for key programs like EFAP. By finding new sources of revenue, you have helped protect services low income families when they are needed most. Thank you for putting people first!
Want to be more involved in advocacy? Contact Maria Roselle via email or by calling 206-432-3625.