Foodlink President & CEO Julia Tedesco issued the following statement after the passage of the Farm Bill by the House and Senate earlier this week:

“Foodlink applauds the passing of a bipartisan Farm Bill that garnered overwhelming support from both the Senate and House this week. The bill strengthens the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and rejects many of the harmful changes originally proposed by the House that would have jeopardized food assistance for more than 1 million Americans. Protecting SNAP was essential to ensure the food security of thousands of our neighbors in the Finger Lakes region. Furthermore, Foodlink was pleased to see increased support to other programs, such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which Foodlink depends on to access American-grown product for hundreds of our member agencies; and permanent funding for the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Program, which incentivizes our Curbside Market customers who make healthy choices. We laud the members of Congress, and our fellow anti-hunger advocates across the country, who fought for a Farm Bill that protects our nation’s most vulnerable residents, and ensures millions have greater access to healthy food.”