Hundreds of people from across Oregon gathered in Salem for an advocacy day last week, urging lawmakers to pass what’s known as the Food for All Oregonians bill.
Supported by a coalition of more than 180 organizations, it would ensure older adults and children could get food assistance regardless of their immigration status.
Research shows hunger rates are rising across the state, leaving one in six children facing food insecurity.
Oregon Food Bank’s Associate Director Cristina Marquez said access to food benefits supported her family growing up, and made it easier for her to go to college.
“We know that programs like SNAP are the most effective anti-hunger tools we have,” said Marquez, “being able to lift folks out of poverty each year and keeping families stable.”
Food for All Oregonians would create a new, state-run program similar to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Youth and older adults who would otherwise qualify for SNAP except for their immigration status, would be eligible. Opponents of the bill are concerned about its cost.
It is scheduled for a public hearing tomorrow in Salem.
Oregon Food Bank points to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing every $1 spent on food assistance generates about $1.50 for local economies.
Marquez added that immigrants of all statuses contribute to the state’s functioning, especially in agriculture.
“Many of the folks that would be affected by the passage of Food For All Oregonians are folks that are currently farm workers,” said Marquez, “essential workers, critical to many of the industries here in Oregon.”
Marquez noted that California and Washington have already enacted similar policies extending food benefits to people regardless of immigration status.
Food for All Oregonians is part of an immigrant justice package of bills, which would ensure legal representation for immigrants and create a farm worker disaster relief fund.
Isobel Charle Oregon Newsservice
