CoP follow up + ACTION ALERT: CT + FEDERAL food policy

Advancing Greenwich’s food security initiatives by

strengthening & leveraging relationships, knowledge and networks

Greenwich Foodshed Alliance is a program of The Foodshed Network.

 
Community of Practice 
(CoP)

 
Thank you Lilian Ruiz for presenting at our CoP on Friday. Lilian is doing excellent work in her role as Executive Director of the CT Council on Soil and Water Conservation and we look forward to continuing the
conversation!
 
- Lilian's slide presentation: see here. 
- Greenwich Foodshed Alliance's mid-year status update: see slides here.
- Meeting notes: see here.
- GFA's next CoP on Friday, July 25th from 9:00 - 10:15am.
 
IMPORTANT information on SNAP.
Please see below.
 

 
STATE BILLS 
Status Update

In the final days of the legislative session, the Governor and legislators are negotiating their respective budgets. There is still time for language to be added or deleted and funding can be allocated or removed.

H.B. 7013 An Act Concerning Enhancements To The Local Food For Schools Incentive Program And The CT Grown For CT Kids Grant Program

The Senate can still cut this funding!

Advocacy video: here.

ACTIONS

1. Email Rep Arzeno, Rep Meskers and Rep Courpas and thank them for voting in favor of H.B. 7013.

- Cut and paste thank you email: here

- Rep Courpas - here. Rep Meskers - here. Rep Arzeno - here.

2. Email Senator Ryan Fazio and ask him to ask them to take action on Substitute for H.B. 7013 (calendar number 577)

- Cut and paste email here.

- Senator Fazio's email here.

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H.B. No. 6864 An Act Concerning The State Budget For The Biennium Ending June Thirtieth, 2027, And Making Appropriations Therefor

Universal Breakfast

Appropriations allocated less than what the Governor proposed, with $750,000 to pay for free and reduced lunch with no funding for breakfast.

New York passed Universal Meals marking it as the 9th state to do so after MA, ME and VT and others. We need to put pressure on Connecticut to follow and build on the momentum.

ACTION

Please email the Greenwich delegation and let them know you are disappointed that the Appropriations Committee removed funding for Universal Breakfast from the Governor's budget and to please advocate that the funding be put back. We need school meals, bottom line!

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H.B. 6917 Act Concerning the Management of Solid Waste.

It is critical to get HB 6917 over the finish line. This bill isn’t just about waste reduction – it’s about protecting what we love in Connecticut:

- Less food waste in our landfills

- Increased food security in our communities

- Cleaner communities with stronger enforcement

- Support for composting & recycling infrastructure

- Real steps to reduce plastic and polystyrene pollution

Please email the Greenwich delegation and urge them to vote YES to increase food security, safeguard public health and the environment and combat escalating costs for trash disposal!

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Email addresses for the Greenwich delegation:

Senator Fazio - email here

Rep Tina Courpas - email here

Rep Steve Meskers - email here

Rep Hector Arzeno - email here

 
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
(SNAP) 
Status Update
 

On May 22, 2025 the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget reconciliation bill (215-214) which would strip $300 Billion in funding from the SNAP over the next 10 years and fully de-fund SNAP-Ed ($500M)

Their proposal includes shifting the cost of SNAP benefits onto states for the first time in the program’s history. This is a cost most states cannot cover.

We must act and support our neighbors who depend on this critical resource and thank our federal delegation for their steadfast support of SNAP and other nutrition programs.

Food and Research Action Center's call to action: read + sign here.
Highly recommended videos on the value of SNAP: not only as the largest food security safety-net in the country but as a huge economic driver as well.
- SNAP/SNAP-Ed Storytelling Advocacy webinar here.
- About SNAP here.

Call Senator Murphy's office + Senator Blumenthal's office and ask them to vote against the budget reconciliation bill and safeguard SNAP. Senator Richard Blumenthal - 860 258 6940, Senator Chris Murphy - 860 549 8463.

Call Rep Jim Himes and thank him for voting against the budget reconciliation bill! Rep Jim Himes - 203 333 6600.

BREAKDOWN OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES

Changes to SNAP policy:

- Limiting Thrifty Food Plan updates to every 5 years

- Expand time limits and instilling work requirement (20 hours per week) for people 64 and older

- Restricting caregiving and parent exemptions (only children under 7 and under would be considered dependent)

- Eliminating utility deductions for everyone except elderly and disabled

Timeline:

- The bill has moved to the Senate.

- Focus on members of the Senate and continue to advocate for SNAP and SNAP-Ed and how it brings vital resources into our community.

- Budget reconciliation rules allow it to pass with a simple majority (51 votes needed) rather than the usual 60 votes. With a 53-47 Republican majority, near-unanimous GOP support is required for passage.

- The Senate is expecting to take up the bill the first week of June with Republicans aiming to have it passed by both chambers by July 4th.

 
GREENWICH UNITED WAY 
NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Take the survey HERE
 

 
CT FOOD SECURITY 
RESOURCES

 
Governor Lamont's Report Tool
 
The Department of Social Services wants you to know about a new reporting tool launched by Gov. Lamont last week. 
 
The Governor is encouraging businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities in Connecticut that have been impacted by recent actions from the federal government to report that information to the state so that it can be compiled into a central database and provide state policymakers with a better understanding of how these directives are affecting various groups, geographical regions, and sectors of the economy.
 
To facilitate this reporting, the governor has launched an online reporting tool that can be accessed by visiting ct.gov/fedimpact.
 
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2025 Report on the State of Food Insecurity in Connecticut
 
CT's Food and Nutrition Policy Analyst, Christian Duborg, and his team is officially beginning the process of drafting the 2025 Report on the State of Food Insecurity in Connecticut. In an effort to be certain the focus and recommendations of the report accurately reflect the needs and priorities of Connecticut communities, the following survey has been made available to both organizations and individuals.
 
2025 State of Food Insecurity Community Voice Survey is in English and Spanish. The goal of this survey is to learn about the needs and priorities of Connecticut residents when it comes to food and nutrition security. The survey has been greatly shortened from last year, containing only 11 required questions (nearly all of which are multiple choice or 1-2 word answers) Another improvement over last year is that this form is open to both organizations and individuals so anyone in Connecticut can have their voice heard.
 
1. Fill out the form for yourself and/or your organization: they want to learn from your experiences what the report should feature and prioritize. They especially interested in needs and priorities that we did not recommend in our 2024 Report.
2. Share these links throughout your community: They especially want to make sure individuals and families have a chance to share their input if they would like to do so.
 
Survey link here.

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