Three weeks into state Senate Republicans walkout from the Oregon Legislature, concern is growing the move could sink action on important issues such as addressing hunger in the state. Susannah Morgan, CEO of Oregon Food Bank, said rates of hunger are still above pre-pandemic levels, and it is anticipated the food assistance system in the state will serve more than a million people this year. "This is a crisis that so many of us need help feeding our families," Morgan pointed out. " .
Rural immigrant communities could benefit greatly from legislation known as Food for All Oregonians, anti-hunger groups say. Senate Bill 610 would eliminate an exclusion for people who are undocumented from receiving federal food aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Hilda Leon is leadership coordinator for the Latino Community Association of Central Oregon in Madras and Redmond. .
More than 17,000 Kentuckians could lose food assistance when pre-pandemic SNAP work requirements go back into effect this summer, for adults between ages 18 and 49. That s on top of a proposal House Republicans are pushing in the debt-ceiling bill in Congress that would implement work requirements for people up to age 55. Groups working to fight hunger say the combination could trigger a food insecurity crisis. .
Groups working to fight hunger in California are praising Gov. Gavin Newsom s proposed changes to the state budget regarding food assistance for undocumented people, but say they do not go far enough. The governor s "May Revise" would allow undocumented immigrants over age 55 to participate in food assistance programs two years earlier than planned, starting in 2025 instead of 2027. .