| April 22, 2021 |
| California Families, Federal Exclusions & How the State Can Step in Now: Did you know undocumented and mixed status California families have been excluded from thousands of dollars in federal aid during the pandemic, even though they are deeply integrated into our communities, workplaces, and schools? Undocumented Californians are also shut out of most other supports, including the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and unemployment benefits. This leaves families with fewer resources to pay for food, rent, or other expenses State policymakers can step in now with support for undocumented Californians. California’s Golden State Stimulus replaced only a portion of the federal aid undocumented and mixed status families were denied. State leaders could provide much more support to these families using federal American Rescue Plan dollars designated for household economic relief, and help undocumented children, families, and communities. |
Category: Poverty
Bills to support right now in Food and Farming:
SB 464 (Hurtado) – Food for All – Would expand the CalFresh benefits available to undocumented immigrants in California (While these folks are not eligible for the federal SNAP program, California has funding through a parallel program to CalFresh that provides food assistance for people ineligible due to documentation status – this program needs further development, outreach, and funding to meet the needs of Californians. This bill is in committee process. (Long-term relief bill)
AB 221 (Santiago) – Emergency Food Assistance during COVID-19 to Undocumented Immigrants and their families. This bill was amended in the Assembly om March 30, 2021 (short term relief bill).
Quick facts to share: – These bills affect food, labor, agriculture, and public health organizations alike, i.e. our neighbors. Approximately 57% of farmworkers are unauthorized to work in the United States. Undocumented immigrant restaurant workers are 25 percent more likely to experience food insecurity. We know that farmers of color are undercounted and many undocumented. populations are currently ineligible for any food assistance beyond foodbanks. Access to our state food assistance program (SB 464) and immediate food dollars (AB 221) is a public health benefit.
Ask your members of Congress to be an original co-sponsor of the EATS Act that will permanently rescind the college student SNAP rule.
- The deadline is tomorrow 3/11 to be an original co-sponsor.
- Members can sign on after tomorrow so please keep that drumbeat going in visits next week – this will be a priority bill. If you need any staff contacts please let me know.
- Already co-sponsors & do not need contact: Costa, Khanna, Lowenthal, Swalwell, Takano. 29 CA members co-sponsored in the last Congress.
- Reps. Gomez, Harder, and Panetta will reintroduce next week, so be ready to amplify on social media.
Please consider attending Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD)! This is an annual national gathering of Christian advocates and activists. We worship, delve deeply into the pressing issues of the day, and lift our voices by speaking truth to power on Capitol Hill. The 2021 theme is ““Imagine! God’s Earth and People Restored.” EAD 2021 is an opportunity to support this global movement centered on and led by the people and communities most vulnerable to climate impacts due to historic racial and colonial inequities. Together, we will passionately advocate and reimagine a world that lives out the values of justice, equity and the beloved community. EAD 2021 will be a virtual gathering, to be held April 18-21, 2021. Register now!
Great news: LOPP-CA is now a part of First 5 California. We have a seat on their round table
Nicole Newell is back with LOPP-CA! She will be coordinating Lutheran Lobby Day. Lobby Day will be virtual and held on Wednesday, May 19th. The keynote speaker will be announced soon.
This legislative session LOPP-CA along with Bread for the World will be watching the movement and focusing on these three bills:
• SB 107 CalFresh: Simple for Seniors, which makes it easier for seniors to access healthy public food assistance
• SB 364 End Child Hunger, which establishes universal school meals for all kids in public schools and creates a stopgap nutrition program for school breaks and when campuses are closed
• AB 221 Emergency Food for All, which grants food assistance access to immigrants, regardless of status.
Others may be added later.
You can research the progress of any state bill by going to https://legiscan.com/CA/legislation and searching for the bill by bill number or key words.
Consider signing up for Chase Tibb’s podcast Faith and Capital at: https://faithandcapital.buzzsprout.com/
Write a letter to your state senator and/or assemblyperson stating that as Christians we affirm the Right to Food for all people – access, nutrition, food security, and dignity. In 2021 Californians will be speaking up about the Right to Food. Please personalize your letter and use your own words when possible. Be sure to include the bill numbers and names. Urge them to support the following hunger related bills:
• SB 107 CalFresh: Simple for Seniors, which makes it easier for seniors to access healthy public food assistance
• SB 364 End Child Hunger, which establishes universal school meals for all kids in public schools and creates a stopgap nutrition program for school breaks and when campuses are closed
• AB 221 Emergency Food for All, which grants food assistance access to immigrants, regardless of status.
Let your pastor and congregation know by an announcement in church or a newsletter article that these are some important bills that Lutheran Office of Public Policy-CA will be working on this year.
SB 108, as introduced, Hurtado. State Healthy Food Access Policy. This bill would declare that it is the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to access sufficient healthy food.
AB 221, as introduced, Santiago. Emergency Food Assistance for all. The State Department of Social Services shall provide a food assistance benefit statewide to low-income California residents, regardless of their immigration status.
AB 614 (Eggman)—“Farm to Food Bank” Tax Credit
Overview: This bill would increase access to the food donation tax credit for agricultural growers by expanding the list of qualified donation items to food banks and other non-profit organizations by including other fresh food items not currently in statute, as well as various shelf-stable dietary staples.
Emergency food and diapers bill. (no number yet)
State Action
AB 3073 is waiting to be scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Human Services Committee. With 5 weeks left in the session and many bills to consider, Senators need to hear from you to know that this bill is important and must be heard!
LOPPCA is a sponsor of this bill alongside Bread for the World. This bill allows people exiting the criminal justice system to enroll in CalFresh benefits prior to leaving prison, supporting successful reintegration into civic life.
Federal Action
Tell Congress: Make food access a priority. As negotiations continue through the week, we urge California’s lawmakers to lift up responsible and real solutions to the hardship millions are facing. The next recovery package must include:
- a 15% boost to SNAP benefits,
- an extension of Pandemic EBT,
- an extension of WIC waivers,
- and more significant fiscal relief for states and people with low and moderate-incomes–including ALL immigrant households.
Call & Email Your Members of Congress.
Your voice is critical. Urge your members not to leave D.C. without boosting SNAP benefits and enacting other key anti-hunger provisions in the next recovery package.
Sample Script & Contact Info