<h3>Every five years, Congress has the opportunity to pass a farm bill that addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing Americans today, including food security, employment access, and farmer protections. Lawmakers worked to reauthorize the farm bill last Congress, but were ultimately unable to pass a reauthorization before the new Administration and Congress began. Now, members are juggling multiple priorities including budget reconciliation which could include provisions that negatively impact the farm bill.<br><br>Our communities need Congress to prioritize a bipartisan deal that ensures robust support for farmers and families in need, while removing barriers to accessing nutrition and job training assistance.<br><br>Two critical pieces of legislation—the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3087" target="_blank">Training &amp; Nutrition Stability Act</a> (H.R.2974 / S.1789) and the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3479" target="_blank">RESTORE Act of 2023</a> (H.R.3479 / S.1753)—are key to achieving these goals.&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>Tell Congress to act now!&nbsp;</h3>


CONGRESS MUST PASS A COMPREHENSIVE, BIPARTISAN FARM BILL!

I hope this email finds you well. As one of your constituents, I write today to respectfully urge you and other lawmakers to advance and pass a comprehensive bipartisan farm bill this Congress and protect access to SNAP and SNAP Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) in the current budget reconciliation process. 

There was a commendable commitment to bipartisanship and reauthorization discussions that prioritize providing support to farmers, addressing the challenges impacting agricultural communities, and expanding access to food security and workforce development for underserved populations last Congress in both the House and the Senate. However, Congress was unable to reauthorize a comprehensive farm bill in time and our communities are still in need of a swift, updated, and bipartisan full five-year farm bill that creates an updated farm safety net, ensures families can put food on the table, and encourages individual self-sufficiency by growing our workforce.

A letter from over 300 farm groups to Agriculture Committee leadership last Congress, warned “a simple extension of current law would leave thousands of family farms with no options to continue producing for this nation in 2025 and beyond.” Further, new legislation that protect food security for underserved populations received strong bipartisan support and are receiving similar support this Congress as well. These bills include the Training & Nutrition Stability Act (H.R.2974 and S.1789) that strengthens access to immediate food security and training opportunities and is supported by over 120 organizations nationwide, as well as the RESTORE Act of 2023  (H.R.3479 and S.1753) which would remove the national lifetime ban from SNAP for individuals with felony drug convictions. 

Our communities need lawmakers to protect access to SNAP and SNAP E&T for those who need them most. I respectfully urge you to reject the state cost-share requirements for SNAP in the budget reconciliation mark up. These requirements could result in significantly less access to SNAP and SNAP E&T and lead states to reduce investments in employment training. We are also concerned that these changes will make it difficult for Congress to work towards a bipartisan farm bill that ensures robust security for farmers and families in need of farm and food security and addresses barriers to accessing nutrition and training assistance. 

Thank you for your consideration of this matter and your ongoing leadership,

Tell Congress to act now!

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