Kamlager-Dove Highlights the Importance of Nutrition Assistance in CA-37

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 17, 2023

Media Contact: Maya Valentine | maya.valentine@mail.house.gov

LOS ANGELES, CA  – Today Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) participated in three District events to underscore the importance of nutrition assistance in California’s 37th Congressional District. In Congress, Republicans continue to undermine and threaten critical programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which keep food on the table for countless families in California. Combating hunger and food insecurity is a priority for Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. Today, she visited the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Central Avenue WIC Office in South Los Angeles, and SEE-LA’s Central Ave. Farmers' Market to see first-hand how efforts in Los Angeles are working to reduce hunger.

"Working to improve the quality of life for families and children in Los Angeles has been a priority of mine for years, and I was so glad to share this day with amazing advocates who are working tirelessly to combat hunger and ensure our most vulnerable have food on their tables,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “House Republicans have made it their mission to weaken the programs that families need to stay alive. They are turning the House of Representatives into a circus and bringing legislation to the Floor that will impose devastating cuts to SNAP and WIC. This is unacceptable. Over 56,000 households in CA-37 rely on SNAP. Meanwhile 1 in 5 Californians are food insecure. The solution is not to cut these programs or take food out of the mouths of children and the elderly. Instead, we must strengthen the access to healthy food options that keep our families from suffering."

“I thank the LA Regional Food Bank, Central Avenue WIC Office, and SEE-LA for informing me about the work they are doing right here in CA-37 to expand food access for families. I look forward to working with them in Congress to fight back against Republicans' harmful agenda that will only exacerbate the hunger crisis in Los Angeles," continued Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. "I will continue to work with House Democrats in Congress through important legislation like the Farm Bill to ensure Americans across the nation have access to the nutrition they need. We will never back down from defending SNAP and other critical nutrition assistance programs."

"For nearly 50 years, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been a cost-effective investment in the next generation. Lundquist WIC is the largest program of South Los Angeles Health Projects," said Dr. Marisela Montoya, Lundquist WIC Executive Director. “We are committed to the community in which we serve. Our WIC participants are pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children up to the age of five. We not only enable our participants to purchase nutritious food, but also educate parents and guardians about nutrition and breastfeeding and provide breastfeeding support. WIC food benefits are tailored to meet the individual needs of each participant. We establish in-depth relationships with our participants, helping us live up to our mission: ‘To educate and empower families to live healthier lives.’”

“The Food Bank thanks Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove for visiting the LA Regional Food Bank and helping to raise awareness around food insecurity in Los Angeles County,” said Los Angeles Regional Food Bank President and CEO Michael Flood. “This comes during a critical time when the Food Bank and our partner agency network have seen an increase in demand.”

"We were honored to host Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove at our Central Ave Market to explore Market Match, a nutrition incentive program made possible by the American Rescue Plan – LA County. Market Match bridges the gap between nutrition assistance programs and community food security, ensuring that nutrition needs are met for all individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status, while also supporting local farmers and businesses,” said Jennifer Grissom, Executive Director of SEE-LA. “This program nourishes not just bodies, but also sustainable food systems and the bonds within our communities."

The Central Avenue WIC Office in South Los Angeles is one of Lundquist WIC’s 11 offices. Between January and July of 2023, the Central Avenue WIC Office served nearly 7,000 participants. Together the 11 Lundquist WIC offices served nearly 70,000 participants during those same six months. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank serves more than 800,000 people on a monthly basis. Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau in 2021, 56,047 households in California's 37th District participate in SNAP. The program helps low-income families afford food, primarily serving children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.

In California today, 1 in 5 people are food insecure, and deep disparities remain for Black (28.9%) and Latinx people (27.5%) who experience food insecurity at double the rate for white individuals (14.3%). Last year, SNAP helped to support 4.4 million Californians – almost 1 in 9 people. In addition, SNAP brought $11 billion in federal food benefits, $20 billion in total economic activity, and 272,000 jobs statewide. In fiscal year 2020, the average monthly benefit for a SNAP recipient was $118 per person.

Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove will continue to support nutrition assistance programs through important legislation like the Farm Bill. This expansive piece of legislation provides funding for many nutrition and agriculture programs. The Farm Bill reauthorization process, which typically occurs every five years, is up for reauthorization this year. The 2023 Farm Bill provides an opportunity to improve and strengthen The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), SNAP, and other programs. 

The nutrition title of the Farm Bill makes up most of the bill’s mandatory spending. Democrats have worked hard in recent years to protect SNAP and WIC funding in the face of Republicans' efforts to cut it, and Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove has made protecting SNAP and WIC funding a priority for this year’s Farm Bill. There have also been efforts to address the ongoing obesity epidemic by supporting and making healthier, fresher foods available to families using Federal nutrition programs.

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