State Update

The process is still underway to hammer out funding for the FY25 NYS budget, and therefore funding for our priorities around HPNAP, Nourish NY, NOEP, school meals, and increasing the SNAP minimum benefit. One-house bills are expected this Friday, where the Senate and the Assembly release their versions of the budget. At that point, it goes to further negotiating between the two chambers and the Governor’s office to finalize, then to the chambers to vote on and pass the budget before April 1. Please continue to share out and encourage folks to complete the advocacy actions below! Please keep an eye out for additional communication from me as we reach the homestretch as there may be urgent advocacy actions needed. 

Federal Update

I finally have some positive news to share about the FY24 budget. Congress passed a six-bill funding package last week, and the President signed it into law, just in time to avoid a partial government shutdown. The FY24 agriculture appropriations bill largely protects funding for federal nutrition programs, increases program funding to meet expected participation, and does not include harmful policy changes to nutrition programs.

The remaining six appropriations bills must be passed by Friday, March 22.

For a deeper dive on the package that passed last week:

This package included the following funding bills:

• Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
• Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies;
• Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies;
• Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies;
• Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and
• Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

Nutrition program highlights:

SNAP

• Provides about $122.4 billion in mandatory funding for SNAP

WIC

• Funds WIC at the administration’s requested level of $7 billion, an increase of more than $1 billion from the FY23 enacted level
• This increase was requested to meet the growing caseload of the program and to avoid implementing wait lists

TEFAP

• Appropriates $463.8 million, the full amount authorized by the farm bill, for mandatory TEFAP food purchases
• Appropriates $80 million for TEFAP administration, also known as storage and distribution funds. This is a $12 million decrease from the FY23 enacted level