September is Hunger Action Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness about hunger in the U.S. A key piece of federal legislation in combating hunger is the Farm Bill, which is set to expire at the end of the month. 

The Farm Bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation that determines national agriculture, conservation, and nutrition policies. It encompasses vital programs ranging from crop insurance for farmers to food assistance for low-income families. This bill is renewed every five years and Congress is currently working to pass an updated version before an end of the year  deadline. 

The Farm Bill presents a major opportunity to improve safety and food security for Kentucky’s kids and families. 

The Farm Bill funds critical federal nutrition programs like The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). TEFAP ensures that food banks have the food and equipment needed to provide emergency food assistance to food-insecure Kentuckians, while SNAP provides participating families with an EBT card to purchase nutritious food at participating grocery stores. 

As the largest and most effective anti-hunger program in the country, SNAP offers nine meals to food-insecure Kentuckians for every one meal provided by a food bank. It has a major impact on the Commonwealth – boosting local economies and helping nearly 550,000 families a year meet their nutritional needs. 

These programs are critical to helping families afford food, especially in Kentucky where 1 in 5 children live in food insecure households. Congress can ensure that Kentucky families continue to receive these nutritional support programs by ensuring adequate funding for SNAP and TEFAP. 

Congress also has the chance to protect SNAP recipients from EBT card skimming, a growing crime where scammers attach a hidden device to card swiping machines at stores to illegally steal a household’s SNAP benefits. A temporary policy funding states to replace stolen benefits expires at the end of September. We hope that Congress will act to continue replacing skimmed benefits and create a permanent policy to address SNAP EBT card security. 

Additionally, the Farm Bill could establish funding streams for child care by allowing USDA funds to be used to increase access to child care in rural and farm communities through the Expanding Child Care in Rural America Act. This provision could significantly impact Kentucky, where over 65% of counties lack sufficient child care options for families. 

Finally, the Farm Bill can strengthen regulations on hemp-derived products like Delta 8 and Delta 10 to prevent Kentucky’s kids from accessing these high-THC substances. 

This Hunger Action Month, take action by contacting your Congressional representatives and urging them to support a Farm Bill that addresses the needs of Kentucky’s children. Your voice can help ensure a brighter, healthier future for kids and families across the Commonwealth.