Resend: FEDERAL + STATE food policy update

Advancing Greenwich’s food security initiatives by strengthening

& leveraging relationships, knowledge and networks

Greenwich Food Alliance is a program of The Foodshed Network.

 
FEDERAL + STATE
FOOD POLICY
advocacy updates
 

 
As you likely know by now, the USDA canceled several nutrition security programs, including farm to schools and farm to pantries, both of which impact Greenwich. 
 
In addition to state advocacy alerts we will do our best to keep you informed around what is happening on a federal level. We hope the following, although a lot of information, will bring you up to date and offer context. 
 
We are on the precipice of a food insecurity crisis, please try to send messages 
to our representatives - 1 min = short + simple - advocating for these programs.

 
- Share this post with your network, use this link.
- Follow status updates, GFA Food + Ag Policy webpage.
 
- Contacts for the federal delegation.
Senator Richard Blumenthal - 860 258 6940
Senator Chris Murphy - 860 549 8463
Representative Jim Himes - 203 333 6600
 

 
CANCELED 
FEDERAL NUTRITION & 
FARM TO SCHOOL
 PROGRAMS
 

 
1. On March 7, 2025 the USDA's 1 billion dollar budget cut canceled two critical nutrition security programs: Local Food For Schools Program (LFSP) and Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) 
Learn more here: The Implications of Cancelling Local Food Funding for Schools and Pantries by Ali Ghiorse + Karen Saggese.
2. On March 24, 2025 the USDA announced the cancellation of the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program. Many organizations around the state including the CT Farm To School Institute and Yellow Farmhouse received notice that their applications have been canceled. 
About the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program here.
Thoughts from Dawn Crayco, FoodCorps Northeast Regional Policy Director - advocacy steps with emphasis on CT Grown CT Kids Grant here.
Full list: federal food and farm  program cuts + cancelations here.
3. PLEASE SUPPORT Farm To School efforts in Connecticut: Raised Bill 7013 An Act Concerning Enhancements To The Local Food For Schools Incentive Program + The CT Grown For CT Kids Grant Programs.
 
ADVOCACY STEP: HERE
Context around the bill: HERE
 

 
PENDING 
THREATS

 
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a key program within the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). The CEP allows schools and local educational agencies (LEAs) in high-poverty areas to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, without the need for individual household applications. Schools with a sufficient percentage of "identified students" (those automatically eligible for free meals) can participate. Currently, the minimum Identified Student Percentage (ISP) is 25 percent.  The current threat is that this minimum percentage will increase to 60 percent. In Greenwich, New Lebanon, currently a CEP school, would no longer qualify at the increased percentage. 
 
Learn more here. 
Take action here.
 
Verification of school district eligibility for federal child nutrition programs, like the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), is anticipated to increase from 3% to 100%, having profound implications.  This will exclude almost all schools and impose a huge administrative burden on families and school administrators.  It is important to note that qualification for the free and reduced meals program is automatically certified through relevant programs, such as SNAP and Medicaid.  Any cuts to those programs, would result in a complex ripple effect through all of these programs.
 
Summer meals programs, like SFSP,  are crucial for ensuring that children have access to nutritious food during the summer months when school is not in session.  It is anticipated that summer meals sites will be eliminated, except for those sites serving students enrolled in a summer program.  This would severely limit access, as this is currently an open eligibility program, requiring no paperwork.
 
Changes to SNAP eligibility are anticipated, which would result in fewer families qualifying for SNAP benefits.  This change would also mean that fewer students would be automatically eligible for free school meals.

Anticipated cuts to SNAP and Medicaid would directly result in an increase in food insecurity across school districts.

 
WHY SCHOOL BREAKFAST
IN CONNECTICUT MATTERS

 
 
‼️ We anticipate that an estimated 2.6 million fewer total breakfasts will be served by the end of this school year than last.
 
🍎 Why is this so much more important this year?
With the anticipated policy changes to the USDA’s nutrition budget, our school districts and their students will be left without access to healthy school meals
Many districts and schools will lose Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) status*
100% of families will be required to fill out applications (a near impossibility and an administrative nightmare)
Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid will not only increase food insecurity among families but also make fewer children automatically eligible for school meals
🍊 What we need to feed all Connecticut kids breakfast:
FY 26 and FY 27 - $13 million PLUS estimated $4 million to make CEP districts whole
🍌 Think this is a lot of money? Consider this:
This amounts to just half of 1% of the annual budget of over $26 Billion
Every dollar spent on school meals produces a $9 value** in return, which is reinvested into our local economies!
 
- Contacts for the Greenwich delegation.
Senator Fazio - Education + Finance Committee - email here
Rep Tina Courpas - Education + Appropriations Committee - email here
Rep Steve Meskers Chair, Commerce Committee - email here
Rep Hector Arzeno Environment + Education Committee - email here
 

 
“Food is our most intimate and powerful connection to each other, our cultures and to the earth. To transform our food system is to heal our bodies, transform our economy & protect our environment.” 
 
HEAL Food Alliance