San Diego, CA – Yesterday, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) and local leaders opposed proposed cuts to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food assistance programs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS). They also shared the harm that funding cuts to these programs would have on hungry people in our community. San Diego food banks distributed over 900,000 pounds of food purchased from local farms through the USDA programs that Republicans will cut in their budget proposal. 

“Nobody in America should be forced to go to bed with an empty stomach,” said Rep. Peters. “USDA food assistance programs help feed San Diegans in need, and they’re a win-win-win for our communities, food banks, and farmers. The Republican budget proposal would cut $230 billion from agricultural and nutritional programs. I will continue to do everything in my power to protect these critical programs and stop any effort to hurt our farmers and take food away from our children.”

Rep. Peters brought together local farmers, school nutrition providers, food assistance program providers, and local elected officials to emphasize how proposals to cut food assistance funding would devastate our local schools, farmers, and families.

"We need the help on the federal side to take the politics out of food insecurity,” said Bob Kamensky, CEO of Feeding San Diego. “With bipartisan support, we can demonstrate what Americans have always pulled together for, and that is compassion for people who are facing needs."

'Every day, our School Nutrition professionals at San Marcos Unified School District serve 15,000 breakfasts, lunches, and suppers,” said Naomi Shadwell, Executive Director of San Marcos Unified Child Nutrition Services. “For many students, these are the most nourishing, balanced meals they’ll eat all day. We’re calling on leaders at every level – local, state, and federal – to protect the links between programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and school nutrition.”

"The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) has been pivotal in the economic growth of our small farms,” said Byron Nkhoma, Co-Founder of Hukama Produce. “We have been able to reinvest into infrastructure that has helped increase our production to meet the high demand for high quality locally grown food. The program is critical in the survival and developments of small farms.

“These cuts are not just numbers on a federal spreadsheet—they would be devastating to real families here in San Diego County and especially in my city of Escondido,” said Deputy Mayor Consuelo Martinez. “A thriving and safe community depends on making sure our families are fed. Supporting farmers and those who feed us requires our investment and support.  We all eat; we need stronger support systems—not weaker ones.”

Rep. Peters believes it is in America's interest to ensure that every child and family has access to nutritional food. He has consistently voted to increase funding for SNAP and for legislation that supports local farmers. He has urged his Republican colleagues not to enact a budget that would increase inflation and balloon our deficit, while cutting programs Americans rely on to put food on the table just to pay for tax cuts for people and corporations who don’t need them. Rep. Peters will continue to hold Republicans accountable and ensure every American knows the true cost of their budget proposal.

A livestreamed recording of the press conference can be found here.

Additional photos from the event are available courtesy of Rep. Peters’ office here.

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