advocacy, federal policy
Alaskans Join National Fight Against Harmful SNAP Cuts
By Rachel Lord, Advocacy and Policy Director, AFPC
Last week I traveled to Washington, D.C. with fellow Alaskan advocates from the Food Bank of Alaska, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and the Alaska Federation of Natives to attend the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference. Hosted by the Food Research & Action Center, the event brought together more than a thousand advocates from across the country to discuss food policy, especially the looming threat of deep cuts to SNAP through the ongoing budget reconciliation process.
We also connected with national partners through MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. Their strong, faith-based advocacy is inspiring, and we’re deeply grateful for their leadership. If you haven’t yet explored their virtual Hunger Museum, I highly recommend it.
Threats to food assistance through SNAP were at the forefront of the conference – an indicator of just how central federal nutrition programs are to national anti-hunger policy. Yet the discussions extended beyond SNAP, touching on the role of universal school meals, Tribal sovereignty in food systems, and the growing strain on emergency food networks. Across these interconnected issues, one truth stood out: hunger in the U.S. is a political choice.
Over a thousand attendees eat lunch on day one of the Food Research & Action Center’s 2025 National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference
It was wonderful to hear cross-sector voices join the conversation. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition joined a panel on how SNAP cuts threaten farmers. Health professionals spoke about the direct link between food insecurity and poor health outcomes. And referenced again and again was the ripple effect of SNAP through the entire food supply chain—from farmers and truckers to grocers and retailers.
On Tuesday, we rallied at the Capitol to defend SNAP. Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Sen. Amy Klobuchar, along with Reps. Jahana Hayes, Alma Adams, Jill Tokuda, and others, condemned the proposals to cut SNAP.
Anti-hunger advocates from across the country joined near the Capitol Building for a rally to protect SNAP before heading out to meet with Congressional offices.
Then together with Rachael Miller from the Food Bank of Alaska and Tammi Burns from ANTHC, we spent the day meeting with Alaska’s Congressional Delegation and their staff. We shared Alaska-specific data and stories on the importance of SNAP, Alaska’s error rate and improvements being made, the value and importance of the FDPIR program and inclusion of traditional foods and Tribal sovereignty in running that and other programs, Alaska’s food value chain, our growing agricultural sector especially of small and medium sized farms, and more.
A wise neighbor shared recently: those with the most hope have the most power. I was proud to stand among advocates who are full of both – fighting for our children, elders, veterans, and working families trying to put food on the table. At AFPC, we’ll continue standing alongside you in listening, learning, and working together to shape policies and budgets that truly support Alaskans.
