Federal Advocacy

Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) advocates for policy solutions to strengthen public nutrition programs and address underlying causes of hunger. We work to engage food pantries, people experiencing food insecurity, and many other partners to make sure that Montana’s members of Congress hear from the anti-hunger community.

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Our Farm Bill Priorities

Farm Bill is the federal legislation that authorizes numerous programs that relate to food and agriculture. Farm Bill includes a Nutrition title, which covers many important federal nutrition programs, including SNAP and TEFAP. Congress passed The American Relief Act, 2025, signed into law on December 21, 2024, extending the 2018 Farm Bill for one year through Sept. 30, 2025.

SNAP

The food bank system alone is not enough to eliminate hunger. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a key part of helping families, seniors, kids, and community members keep food on the table and a roof over their heads.

SNAP helps over 80,000 Montana residents each month stretch their budgets and access the food they need. SNAP is also a win for local economies, injecting $158 million into our state last year because people spend these funds at local farmers markets and grocery stores.

The budget resolution’s reconciliation instruction is to cut at least $230 billion from Agriculture Committee programs through 2034 by making states pay for a portion of SNAP food assistance benefits. Forcing states to help pay SNAP benefits would allow Congress to enact unpopular cuts while making state governments either pay the difference or decide which participants lose food benefits.

Congress should:

• Not implement cost shifts to states, therefore making no cuts to SNAP eligibility or benefits
• Increase SNAP’s purchasing power by improving benefit adequacy
• Improve SNAP access for college students
• Strengthen efforts to support work by removing the time limit on SNAP benefits
• Protect tribal sovereignty in SNAP and other federal nutrition programs
• End the ban on SNAP for individuals with prior drug felony convictions
• Protect and enhance food choice in SNAP

TEFAP

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) provides US-grown commodity foods through local organizations that serve low-income households. It is the cornerstone of food supply for Montana’s network of food pantries and congregate meal sites, ensuring that these agencies have a consistent source of nutritious, high-quality foods. It is essential to have a reliable and continuous stream of TEFAP foods as well as storage and distribution capacity.

USDA has confirmed that $500 million in TEFAP food purchases announced last year to be funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) have been permanently canceled.

Congress should:

• Reauthorize and increase to $500 million/year, adjusted for inflation, for TEFAP food purchases
• Reauthorize and increase to $200 million/year for TEFAP storage and distribution
• Reauthorize $15 million/year in discretionary funding for TEFAP infrastructure grants
• Increase funding for the TEFAP Farm to Food Bank Program

State Advocacy

Montana State Legislature

Montana’s most recent legislative session was a mixed bag for many communities in our state. We are grateful for the many advocates who spoke out to tell lawmakers that Montanans’ dignity, health, and economic security must be reflected in our Legislature and laws.

An unfortunate takeaway from this session is the fact that legislators passed numerous tax cuts that will primarily benefit the wealthiest Montanans, while doing little to support those living on low incomes and threatening the future ability of our state to fund essential public services. However, there is good news! Legislators voted to lift the sunset and continue Medicaid expansion. This is a big win for working families.

MFBN organized advocacy efforts on a bill (House Bill 649) that would have created a Montana Farm to Food Bank grant program. It would have allowed food pantries to buy Montana-grown food at a fair rate from local farmers. Despite strong bipartisan support, the bill ultimately did not pass.

There were many positive outcomes for our communities. The state budget includes funding for Sun Bucks, funding for TANF, and funding to eliminate the reduced-price copayment on school breakfast and lunch. Additionally, our advocacy efforts helped to defeat bills (Senate Bill 354 and House Bill 902) attempting to restrict food choice for SNAP. 

During the legislative interim, MFBN will continue to engage with legislators and support improved food and economic security.