This week, the North Dakota Senate rejected a plan to expand eligibility for free school meals, but the idea has support from many agencies and organizations, and a key sponsor said he is not giving up.

The bill, which had cleared the House earlier this session, called on the state to provide an additional $6 million so more students could get no-cost meals offered under the Federal School Lunch Program.

Rep. Zach Ista, D-Grand Forks, one of the bill's sponsors, said a large contingent of North Dakotans have made their voices heard on the issue. He argued the Senate is missing an opportunity to address growing concerns about food insecurity around the state.

"There are people that, you know, even come from two-income households that are struggling to make ends meet," Ista pointed out.

More than two dozen individuals, educators, and organizations testified in support of the bill. Ista noted the funding could be included in a larger spending plan before the session ends. The current measure failed in the Senate by only one vote. Some Republicans acknowledged hunger issues among children, but argued parents should take more responsibility for the issue.

As backers try to win over more support in the Senate, Ista added they still have visions for a plan to establish free meals for all students, regardless of income.

"The $6 million figure, I think, is a good down payment on expanding no-cost school meals in the state as this issue continues to resonate with North Dakotans," Ista stressed.

Before clearing the House, the bill originally had $89 million set aside for "universal" school meals, but was eventually trimmed to $6 million. This year, Minnesota adopted no-cost meals for all students, joining a handful of other states taking similar action.


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A rally was held in Salem Thursday to urge passage of a bill to provide food assistance to Oregonians regardless of their immigration status.

Senate Bill 610, known as Food for All Oregonians, would ensure people who are undocumented and excluded from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program receive food aid in the state.

Morgan Dewey, spokesperson for the Oregon Food Bank, described the event.

"The Capitol was a beautiful backdrop for a series of speakers who shared their personal stories and organizations that are part of the 125+ organization-led coalition supporting Food for All Oregonians," Dewey recounted.

The bill would extend aid to lawful permanent residents, U.S. Compacts of Free Association citizens and other Oregonians who arrived as immigrants or refugees.

Dewey noted more than a million people are expected to access food assistance this year. To help counteract it, the measure would help get aid to about 62,000 Oregonians.

"With food on the table, families can thrive, kids can do better in school, access to education and health care and housing becomes a little less of a worry," Dewey outlined.

The biggest roadblock for the bill's passage is the Senate Republican walkout. Dewey added anti-hunger advocates are urging them to return to Salem.

"We're really calling on folks to come back and do their jobs so that pieces of legislation that will support a thriving Oregon, like SB 610 Food for All Oregonians, can pass and support our neighbors and our communities," Dewey concluded.


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Rural development leaders say getting healthy, locally grown food to underserved areas is a challenge in states like North Dakota.

They hope a new federal initiative that creates regional food business centers will help smaller communities and producers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced the launch of a dozen hubs that will provide technical assistance and capacity building to help farmers, ranchers and other food businesses access new markets.

Lori Capouch is the rural development director for the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives.

She said food access woes had been growing in smaller communities before supply-chain problems became very evident over the past few years.

"Having trouble getting food to grocery stores and schools and restaurants in the very smaller cities," said Capouch. "But the pandemic accelerated that and suddenly we had schools that couldn't get ground beef although we have a ton of producers in our state."

There are other regional partners assisting with the food center, including the North Dakota Farmers Union.

It says a primary focus will involve developing critical infrastructure for small and mid-sized livestock and fruit and vegetable processing, along with storage options.

South Dakota and Minnesota will be part of the regional hub serving north-central states.

Capouch said involving smaller farmers and ranchers within the region should be a "big win" economically speaking.

"Those dollars then stay in our state," said Capouch. "and they benefit the people that live here."

Capouch said the regional food business center will largely operate in virtual fashion, and that over the next several months, they will bring organizations together to hear from producers and stakeholders about what their goals and needs are.




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Whether it's the recent debt ceiling negotiations or the Farm Bill debate, a key federal food assistance program is again at the mercy of budget haggling. Minnesota hunger-fighting groups say some of the rhetoric is short-sighted.

House Republicans have pushed for expanding work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - formerly known as food stamps - arguing it would incentivize more recipients to work.

But Colleen Moriarty, executive director of the group Hunger Solutions, said she feels that would actually do the opposite. She said food insecurity would instantly become a huge barrier in job search efforts.

"It's like if you want someone to work and you cut off their access to public transportation to get to a job, then they can't get there," said Moriarty. "If they don't have any food, they're hungry, they can't concentrate on what it is they're doing."

A tentative debt-ceiling deal was reached over the weekend, and it does include some expanded work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, but there are also now exemptions for Veterans and those experiencing homelessness.

In combating longstanding misconceptions, Moriarty said it's important to remember these benefits are not a "cure-all" for low-income individuals, but a temporary source to help close hunger gaps when people are in their greatest moment of need.

Research has shown most SNAP recipients are part of the labor force, but often deal with interruptions, such as health issues, in maintaining stable employment.

Moriarty said limiting any aspect of SNAP benefits comes at the worst time for those struggling to get by.

Her group recently noted food shelves in Minnesota saw nearly two million more visits last year. And most pandemic aid has ended, which especially impacts older residents.

"Just recently, when we lifted the emergency status and SNAP went back to the previous levels, what we've seen is just a dramatic effect on seniors," said Moriarty. "Their benefits have rolled back now to $23 a month. You know, they're scared."

This past session, the Minnesota Legislature approved $5 million in emergency food shelf aid. But Moriarty warned that if some locations still can't meet demand and SNAP benefits are limited, those in need might not have anywhere to turn to.

Meanwhile, Congress is expected to vote this week on the updated SNAP provisions.