A pair of policy updates and they're BOTH GOOD NEWS!

VICTORY! 
The Supreme Court made it official; the former administration's "Public Charge" rule change is dead. The rule was a big barrier to safety net programs, including those which prevent hunger. Learn more. 

RELIEF!
​We've provided a very brief run down, below, on some of the ways President Biden's pandemic relief package relates to our work. Click here for complete information and here for the President's remarks about the package. 

The American Rescue Plan

• Expands eligibility to Child and Adult Care Food Program meals. 
• Strengthens SNAP (food stamps): extends benefits through September 30, 2021, provides extra administrative funds for states and additional funding for access to SNAP online purchasing. Read more about food security provisions.
• Extends Pandemic EBT through end of pandemic and provides it to children during summer.
• Funds to purchase commodity foods from farmers and to support their delivery to families, such as through Farmers to Families Food Box Program.
• Extends weekly unemployment benefit boost of $300/week, expands child tax credit, stimulus checks of up to $1400, and funding for housing and rental assistance programs
• Also provides billions for: relief for cities and states, coronavirus testing, contact tracing, vaccine distribution, reopening schools.
• The act includes more than 10 billion for agriculture. About half is for socially disadvantaged farmers, including debt relief, grants, training and more. It is being heralded as the most significant legislation for farmers who are BIPOC since the Civil Rights act of 1964. Read about the marker bill here.