Urge a bold, efficient Farm Bill which supports both hungry families and vital rural communities.
The House Agriculture Committee passed a new Farm Bill on Mar. 5, 2026. The bill includes some welcome provisions, such as restoring farm-to-foodbank programs, offering policy stability to farmers, boosting nutrition incentives that directly support the communities our ministries serve, and reauthorizing key international food aid programs. But it falls short in critical areas that must be addressed before it is sent to the president’s desk.
At a time when houses of worship, food pantries, global partners and ELCA World Hunger affiliates report alarming new rates of food requests in our communities, Congress should not use this moment to codify cuts which advanced during the budget reconciliation process last year. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), for example, is now subject to imposed new work requirements, cost shifting to strapped state budgets, and elimination of benefits for refugees. The advancing Farm Bill also requires that at least 50 percent of Food for Peace aid, an international food assistance program authorized through the Farm Bill, be sourced from the United States and shipped on U.S. vessels. This will negatively impact how much funding is left for food aid programming in countries where it’s needed the most.
After years of temporary extensions, farmers and families need a bold, efficient Farm Bill that reflects our Lutheran commitment to promoting vitality to rural communities and hungry families. Read more on the ELCA Advocacy Blog.
Please contact your members of Congress today and urge them to strengthen hunger provisions in the Farm Bill.
[Posted: 3/5/2026]
