Every five years, Congress has the opportunity to pass a strong Farm Bill that makes investments in the critical federal programs that help individuals and families keep food on the table. This legislation can strengthen almost every federal nutrition program that helps ease the strain and stress of hunger in communities across the country.  

 The Farm Bill is the centerpiece federal legislation for food and farming, impacting access to nutritious food for the millions of people in the United States facing hunger. The Farm Bill reauthorization process, which typically occurs every five years, provides an opportunity to improve and strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other food support programs.  

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) is our nation’s most significant anti-hunger program and promotes economic security, health, and well-being. SNAP responds effectively and efficiently to changes in need, whether due to economic downturns, natural disasters, or other disruptions. More recently, it has proven to be a crucial tool for mitigating food hardship and supporting local economies during the pandemic.  

United Way asks Congress to prioritize protecting and strengthening the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is vital to putting food on the table and improving food security for those who are hungry, especially children and families. SNAP has and continues to stabilize families when their assets and incomes are limited and ensures that babies, mothers, children, and families have access to nutritious food in tough times, and must be protected and strengthened, as too many American kids and families continue to struggle with hunger. 

It is clear that, despite the work United Ways and other nonprofits are doing to address hunger at the local level, the non-governmental sector cannot do this work alone. Federal policy supports are paramount and remain a critical lever in addressing hunger. We commend Congress for taking early steps to engage partners on the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization. We ask Congress to strengthen and protect these vital anti-hunger programs and look for innovative ways to ensure children and families have the food and nutrition needed to thrive.