Increased Food Bank Support Helps Care for Families

Press Release

The recently passed Farm Bill includes a $205 million increase for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), an important program Rep. Tom Reed is pleased to see increased support for in the final Farm Bill expected to be signed into law this week. Reed says the funding will help distribute food to local food banks, pantries and meal programs in New York.

"Feeding the hungry is one of the ways in which we care for our neighbors, and it is encouraging to see increased assistance for local food banks as they directly support our neighbors in times of need," Reed said. "Food banks are often the first line of defense in fighting hunger. Especially in our still-weak economy, they play a vital role in our communities and give us the opportunity to care for our families and neighbors."

The increased assistance to food banks under the Farm Bill gives local banks in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes access to new resources and promotes food security for those in need.

In supporting the five-year Farm Bill, Reed worked to strengthen programs he heard as priorities for Upstate farmers while saving taxpayers more than $20 billion. In addition to the TEFAP funding, Reed pointed to expanded access to crop insurance in the Farm Bill to protect farmers against weather, increased support for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative and important reforms to dairy programs to ensure support for their industry.

Having passed both the House and Senate, the Farm Bill now moves to the President's desk for his signature.

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