A plastic VOTE HERE sign on a grassy corner. Voters made their voices heard on their policy priorities this election season.
We are closely monitoring potential policy changes in light of the recent election. Photo by Tony Webster and licensed under Creative Commons, and modified by FoodCorps.

The school year is well underway, and while we have a few fall advocacy highlights worth sharing, it’s important to explore how this month’s election, and the decisions that follow, will impact the school food policy world. 

So grab a cup of your favorite fall beverage and enjoy as we dive into the federal and state policy developments that will set the stage for what’s ahead in the new year. 

Policy After the Election

It goes without saying that the 2024 election is still top of mind for many of us. This election resulted in significant shifts in political power in the White House, Congress, and across the states where FoodCorps members are partnering with school districts. If you haven’t seen it already, check out FoodCorps’ Statement on the 2024 Election.

For the first time since 2018, Republicans have earned the government trifecta — keeping a majority in the House, flipping control of the Senate, and securing the White House alongside President-elect Donald Trump. In the Senate, Republicans won 53 seats and have elected Senator John Thune as the new Senate majority leader.

With only a few races remaining to be called in the House of Representatives, Republicans have already secured the necessary 218 seats to hold a slim majority. Current House Speaker Mike Johnson won the party nomination to continue his role, but will still need a full majority vote by the House on January 3, 2025 to take hold of the gavel.

Why it matters:

Amid these changes, FoodCorps remains committed to advocating for laws and policy measures that will ensure all 50 million students learn about food and have access to nourishing, free school meals by 2030. FoodCorps’ team is working closely with partners to identify advocacy opportunities that will best preserve funding for national service programs like AmeriCorps and the USDA’s vital role in providing school breakfast and lunch programs. 

We also remain committed to expanding kids’ access to fresh, locally sourced fruits and vegetables, scratch-cooked meals, and culturally relevant foods. FoodCorps’ policy agenda remains the right one for kids, and we look forward to mobilizing our expansive network of alumni and supporters with these policy priorities in the months ahead.

Farm Bill: Extension or Reauthorization?

On November 18, the Senate Agriculture Committee released its long-awaited full draft text of the Farm Bill. With roughly three legislative weeks left before the end of the year, there is still uncertainty as to whether or not Congress can lead a bipartisan effort to pass a bill before key programs begin to expire and threaten to raise food prices and upend farmer operations.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, who retires this January, encouraged her colleagues to support the draft, expressing her belief that this may be the only path to pass a five-year farm bill this year. However, with ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee John Boozman expressing his disappointment with the draft, it’s possible lawmakers will instead pass another one-year extension before the year ends. With the window of opportunity closing, lawmakers will need to decide if it’s better to finalize a bill this year or wait for the next Congress to take action.

Why it matters:

The Farm Bill sets the policy for many of our nutrition and agriculture programs, and its impact on child food security cannot be overstated. Although it was due for reauthorization in September 2023, repeated extensions have pushed back the timeline. We need Congress to ensure that provisions in the Farm Bill strengthen the policies that defend against hunger for millions of children.

New Online Tool For Advocates

Have you explored our new School Food Policy Action Map? This interactive tool allows you to explore the status of school meal policies in every state and find actions to advocate for food education, free school meals, and other investments in child nutrition. Take the next step in your journey with us by creating your advocacy profile and letting lawmakers hear which policies are a priority for their constituents. Together, we’ll advocate that every child in every school experiences the joy and power of food.

Celebrating Black Food Leaders

As a part of our 2024 Summer Movement Building Series, FoodCorps partnered with Black Professionals in Food and Agriculture (BPFA) to host their 3rd annual BPFA Awards Reception. This year’s event, held within the U.S. Department of Agriculture Administration Building in Washington, DC, featured FoodCorps’ presentation of the BPFA Staffer of the Year award to Khadija Jahfiya.

Khadija, the former Senate Agriculture Professional Staffer for Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, has been a strong advocate for food systems, agriculture, and nutrition advocacy and has made significant contributions to the creation of a future Farm Bill. Among other elected officials and food systems champions who spoke at the reception, the event heard remarks from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, and was attended by many leaders, including Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small.

State-Level School Food Updates

Connecticut: 

In October, FoodCorps celebrated a special kick off to “CT Grown for CT Kids Week” hosted by our partners at Middletown Public Schools. Joined by over a thousand students, local and state leaders, farmers, and FoodCorps alumni, the event featured a student-staffed tasting market and a lunch comprising all locally sourced ingredients.

Notably, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and state agency partners at the CT Department of Agriculture and CT Department of Education expressed their appreciation while attending the event. Dawn Crayco, Northeast Policy Director of FoodCorps and Co-Chair of the CT Farm to School Collaborative, shared: “When schools and farms partner, the impact is palpable. Students have opportunities to learn where their food comes from, enjoy local food in their cafeteria, and meet the people who grew it.”

New Jersey:

School Meals for All New Jersey marked this year’s National School Lunch Week with legislator visits to schools across the state, observing lunchtimes and learning about the impact of free school meals on students throughout New Jersey. Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill, Assemblyman William W. Spearman, and Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson participated in events that included tours of lunchrooms during setup and mealtimes, farmer’s markets, and time spent with school staff members.

Oregon:

The Oregon School Meals for All Coalition held a press conference to kick off its campaign to pass universal school meals legislation in the first session of 2025. Oregon State Rep. Courtney Neron attended and spoke on the importance of providing meals to all students, increasing locally sourced ingredients, scratch-cooked meals, and more culturally responsive menu planning.

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