Preconsidered Res. No.1342
Resolution calling on the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate to pass and for the President to reauthorize an adequately funded Farm Bill that creates a strong and healthy food system.
By Council Members Brewer, Arroyo, Foster, Koslowitz, Palma, the Speaker (Council Member Quinn), Barron, Cabrera, Chin, Comrie, Dickens, Dilan, Dromm, Eugene, Ferreras, Fidler, Garodnick, Gennaro, Gentile, Gonzalez, Greenfield, Jackson, James, Koppell, Lander, Lappin, Levin, Mark-Viverito, Mendez, Nelson, Recchia, Reyna, Rodriguez, Rose, Sanders, Vacca, Van Bramer, Vann, Weprin, Williams, Wills, Koo, Mealy, Seabrook and Halloran
Whereas, According to the New York City Center for Economic Opportunity twenty-one percent of the population live at or below the city poverty line; and
Whereas, The 2012 Farm Bill will provide an important opportunity to address hunger, improve access to healthy food, fuel economic growth, and protect the environment in New York City and throughout the country; and
Whereas, The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a critical safety net for New Yorkers, yet for many, SNAP benefits run out before the end of the month, forcing families to rely on emergency food programs that are already stretched beyond capacity; and
Whereas, Enrollment in SNAP reached 1.8 million in New York City in 2010 and has remained at this historically high level since; and
Whereas, However, proposals in the United States House would eliminate over $160 billion in SNAP funding; and
Whereas, The United States Senate Agriculture Committee draft of the 2012 Farm Bill includes a much-needed increase in funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program but proposes cutting SNAP by $4.49 billion, which would hurt many of the City's most vulnerable residents; and
Whereas, SNAP not only provides much needed help to families, but it also stimulates New York City's local economy, as every $1 in benefits generates $1.80 in economic activity that supports local neighborhood supermarkets, corner stores, and farmers' markets; and
Whereas, Funding for this program is vital and should be increased; and
Whereas, High rates of obesity and diet-related diseases exist alongside hunger in areas of New York City with inadequate access to healthy food; and
Whereas, Expanding funding for the Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program, maintaining funding for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, ensuring that farmers markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs can be equipped with cost-effective Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) processing capability, and allocating funding for food retailers in underserved communities through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, would support the Council of the City of New York's efforts to increase access to affordable healthy food; and
Whereas, Many of the programs within the 2012 Farm Bill provide access to healthy food and are critical to the health of New York City's economy; and
Whereas, Any reauthorization of the Farm Bill should include and fund the Farmers Market Promotion Program, Value-Added Producer Grants, and the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, as these programs produce good jobs and good food by supporting the expansion of our local farm and food economies and improving production, processing, and distribution infrastructure; and
Whereas, Funding is also needed to supplement city and state dollars dedicated to the redevelopment of the Hunts Point Market, the largest food distribution center in the world, serving producers in 27 states and 60 percent of the New York City food supply; and
Whereas, The residents of New York City rely on rural farmland and watersheds for food and water and the Council of the City of New York leads the nation in developing progressive local sourcing policies; and
Whereas, the reauthorized 2012 Farm Bill must protect our critical natural resources by supporting a well-funded conservation agenda, including working lands and grassland conservation, watershed and farmland preservation, and sustainable agriculture programs; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate to pass and for the President to reauthorize an adequately funded Farm Bill that creates a strong and healthy food system.
LS# 3559 and 3638
05/16/12
AW/FCC