I’m emailing you today to ask you to prioritize the passage of Senate Bill 610, Food for All Oregonians. This bill ensures all of our neighbors, regardless of immigration status, have access to the food they need to keep themselves and their families healthy, and I’m calling on strong leaders like you to pass this policy. With the announcement of the recent revenue forecast, I know that Oregon has the resources to make sure no one goes hungry, and it’s critical now more than ever to invest in a brighter future for our communities. Food for All Oregonians will create a state-funded program that eliminates exclusions based on immigration status to SNAP and make applying for assistance more accessible.
It is time to prioritize food as a vital support for ALL of Oregon’s communities; SB 610:
- Makes food assistance available to all Oregonians currently excluded due to immigration status
- Provides families with money for groceries that matches federal SNAP food assistance benefits
- Ensures everyone knows this vital support through community navigation and outreach, improved language access, and more.
We know that when we all have access to food, we’re all better off. Kids do better in school, our families’ health and well-being improve, and our economy thrives through the support of local businesses. This is true in every corner of Oregon — rural, urban, and suburban communities. When all of our neighbors are getting the food they need, Oregon thrives.
SB 610 passed out of the Senate Human Services Committee with a bipartisan vote. It is currently in the Ways & Means Committee. We need strong leaders like you to uplift and pass this policy. Can I count on you to:
1. Reach out to Ways & Means co-Chairs Senator Steiner and Representative Sanchez and urge them to fully fund SB 610 and schedule it for a vote out of the Human Services Subcommittee
2. Let your caucus leader know that you strongly support SB 610
3. Announce your support for SB 610 in the caucuses you are a member of. Share the Food for All Oregonians website (FoodForAllOR.org) with your constituents and ask your caucus members to do the same
4. Post your support for SB 610 on your social media accounts
5. Sign on as a sponsor when SB 610 reaches your Chamber.
Thank you!
