Advocacy Committee

This committee follows issues important to building a more sustainable food system in Alaska, engages with policymakers and the public to increase awareness of these issues.  The committee submits recommendations to the Governing Board on what AFPC’s priorities should be for the year, works on comments or suggestions to submit on these issues, and works with other organizations to coordinate efforts in Juneau for Food Security Week.  Advocacy Committee has also taken on developing a candidate survey to use as a way to let voters know how their candidates feel about food system issues.

If interested in being involved in AFPC Advocacy efforts contact Co-Chairs: Rachael Miller or Hannah Hill

AFPC Comments:

• 2024: Requesting the restoration of $3M for bulk food purchases within the state operating budget to the Alaska Senate Finance Committee (4.19.24)

  • Alaska Food Coalition handout and press release about this critical funding

• 2024: Representative Peltola requesting support of a companion bill to S. 2563, the Tribal Access to Nutrition Assistance Act (4.18.24)

• 2024: USDA Secretary Vilsack Supporting the expansion of 638 Indian Self-Determination contracting and Tribal Self-Governance compacting through the USDA (4.4.24)

• 2024: Bureau of Land Management Support of Alternative A (No Action Alternative) in the ANCSA 17(d)(1) draft EIS (2.12.24)

• 2023: Appreciation and Support for HB 196 and SB 149 – Implementation of Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (11.02.23)

• 2023 USDA Federal Nutrition Service: Improving Access & Parity Comments (10.13.23)

Past Actions/ Initiatives:

Ring and Rally Your Senators to Pass a COVID-19 Package That Boosts SNAP

Hungry people can’t wait.

On Monday, JULY 20, join FRAC and other advocates in a day of action to tell the Senate it must act quickly to pass a COVID-19 relief package that boosts SNAP benefits so that the growing number of struggling households may continue to put food on the table.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Ring and rally your Senators on July 20, between 9 a.m. – Noon*
*your local time

1. With advocates in every corner of the country calling during this time, calls will be rolling into Senate offices throughout the day on their first day back from the July 4th recess. Let’s make some noise! Find a list of your senators’ phone numbers here.

2. Throughout the day of action, we encourage you to share a short selfie video (one minute or less) or a selfie photo calling for boosts to SNAP. Find senators’ Twitter handles and guidance on how to post a video or photo. Use hashtag #BoostSNAPNow and remember to tag your Senators.