Meng Leads New York Congressional Delegation Letter Calling for USDA to Ensure a Smooth 4th Round of Critical Food Relief Program
November 13, 2020
Correspondence builds on Meng’s previous efforts to ensure no New Yorker goes hungry during COVID-19
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that she led members of New York's Congressional Delegation in a bicameral letter urging Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to confirm the fourth round of funding for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program's Farmers to Families Food Box initiative will supply food assistance organizations in all counties in New York, and accept proposals for both mixed and dairy/produce/meat-only boxes.
The correspondence reminds Secretary Perdue of the chaos from round three funding that resulted in restrictions for food vendors to service specific boroughs and counties which left food pantries scrambling to find new partnerships with zero guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), no overlap in service provisions, and nowhere to turn to for help. The letter also urges USDA to ensure that vendors can provide combination boxes and meat/dairy/produce-only boxes for pantries and food assistance groups that service those who observe kosher and halal diets.
"I'm pleased that USDA has secured funding for another round of food relief which will benefit many families in Queens and other parts of New York who are facing food insecurity. I hope the agency has learned from its previous missteps in round three funding, and will ensure the fourth-round proceeds smoothly so that families who need this critical food assistance are not harmed," said Congresswoman Meng. "The evidence is clear on why this program is so critical and necessary. New York City's food pantries have reported a massive spike in demand compared to months before the pandemic. For such a diverse city, it is important that we provide not only adequate food, but boxes that kosher and halal communities can access. I look forward to the Secretary's response."
"The coronavirus crisis has worsened food insecurity for countless families and created high demand at food pantries. Limitations in the Farmers to Families Food Box Program made matters worse, preventing food banks from serving the communities that rely on them," said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY). "In a previous letter, I expressed my concerns to Secretary Perdue over deficiencies in the 3rd round of the program, and now, as the 4th round is being rolled out, I urge him to ensure all New York City boroughs receive the food assistance they critically need to feed the hungry. I, along with Congresswoman Meng, will hold the Secretary accountable for resolving these issues and fulfilling requests for food boxes that meet the dietary needs of our communities."
"The initial confusion around the third round of funding for the CFAP Farmers to Families Food Box Program left too many food pantries scrambling to meet the massive hunger crisis head on—the USDA must do right by New Yorkers this time around," said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. "The USDA must confirm that vendors will be able to supply our local food pantries adequately, and that New Yorkers who keep kosher and halal won't be excluded from having their nutritional needs met."
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created CFAP, a $19 billion program to help agricultural producers – who have faced a five percent or greater decline in commodity prices – access financial relief during COVID-19. The program also supports funding for USDA's Farmers to Families Food Box Program, which allows USDA to purchase fresh produce, dairy and meat products from American producers to package into boxes that are distributed by non-profits, and faith-based and community organizations to Americans facing food insecurity. The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program's Farmers to Families Food Box initiative is administered by the USDA.
The text of the letter to Secretary Perdue is below and a copy of the correspondence can be viewed here.
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Secretary Sonny Perdue
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave,
SW Washington, DC 20250
Dear Secretary Perdue,
We write in anticipation of round four of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Coronavirus Food Assistant Program's Farmers to Families Food Boxes (CFAP). As members of the New York delegation, we know that this program has played a critical role in feeding those who are facing food insecurity and we were glad to learn about the necessary fourth round of the program. As we have expressed in letters sent in September and October, miscommunication from USDA around CFAP vendors selected for round three left many food pantries in New York City suddenly without food. We write now to ask for confirmation that New York vendors will be permitted to supply all counties in New York adequately and for the duration of this program round, and to accept proposals for both mixed and dairy/produce/meat-only boxes.
Restrictions that forced vendors in round three to supply food to specific boroughs and counties, even if they had extra supply, left non-profits scrambling to find new partnerships with no guidance from USDA, no overlap in service provision, and nowhere to turn for help. Simultaneously, vendors who had extra supply were limited to only providing boxes to specific boroughs and counties. In a city as diverse as New York, food pantries often serve specific cultural or religious communities. If new vendors are simply providing food to those pantries that they already have relationships with, we can be sure that whole communities in New York will remain underserved.
We also urge USDA to allow vendors to provide both combination boxes and meat/dairy/produce-only boxes in order to adequately serve those who observe kosher and halal diets. Only selecting vendors who provide combination boxes eliminates the participation of kosher pantries, who often serve both kosher and halal communities.
New York City's food pantries have reported an over 600% increase in need as compared to months before the pandemic; hungry families are desperate, and many families are finding themselves turning to food pantries for the first time. This program has the potential to make a significant impact, and we hope that you will take these recommendations into consideration to ensure that all New Yorkers are able to benefit.
We urgently await a response to this letter.
Sincerely,