Wisconsin State Budget

COVID-19 exacerbated food insecurity rates across the country. As of March 2021, Feeding America estimated that 680,330 Wisconsinites (11.7% or just over 1 in 8), including 1 in 5 children, experienced food insecurity in 2020.

Feeding Wisconsin is the state association of the six Feeding America food banks in Wisconsin. Together, they serve almost 1,000 local food programs and in 2020 distributed 79 million pounds, an increase of 62% over 2019. We anticipate that demand will continue far beyond 2021 as the pandemic and resulting economy crisis continues to take a toll on our communities, especially those experiencing food insecurity.

Addressing food insecurity in the Wisconsin budget is fundamental to health, education and our Wisconsin values. Feeding Wisconsin supports budget policy that will increase access to fresh, nutritious food for Wisconsin families at home and at school; ensure a strong, accessible, and effective FoodShare program; and improve the health of Wisconsin families.

Take Action Today!

Feeding Wisconsin Budget Policy Priorities

• Supporting children: Create Healthy, Hunger Free Schools in Wisconsin
  • Fully funding and expanding eligibility for reimbursement of the school breakfast program
  • Provide state funding to cover the cost of reduced-price school meals
  • Funding the Farm-to-School Grant program to get locally-produced foods into cafeterias
• Supporting our farmers: Create opportunities for Wisconsin farmers while working to end hunger in our communities
  • Investing $20 Million to connect Wisconsin food banks and pantries with Wisconsin producers to provide food to families experiencing food insecurity
  • Provide technology improvements to farmer’s markets and farmers who sell directly to consumers. This program will increase access to Wisconsin grown products to low-income Wisconsin families
  • Create a food waste reduction pilot program. The program will seek to connect food producers and distributors with nonprofit organizations that distribute food to those experiencing food insecurity
• Supporting Wisconsin’s largest anti-hunger program: Create a strong, accessible, and effective FoodShare program
  • Funding the Healthy Eating Incentives pilot will provide up to 2,000 FoodShare households with discounts on fresh produce and other healthy food options
  • Eliminate eligibility barriers to food benefits by repealing the work requirement for FoodShare
  • Eliminate eligibility barriers to food benefits and help gaining employment by repealing the drug testing requirement for those participating in the FoodShare Employment & Training program.
  • TAKE ACTION NOW TO URGE YOUR LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT FOODSHARE IN THE STATE BUDGET!

Please Take Action Today by:

• Writing to your state legislators
• Scheduling virtual meetings with your state legislators (find your elected official)
• Write a letter to the editor

This is especially important if your Senator or Representative sits on the committee that deliberates the budget. Here are the members of the Joint Committee on Finance: Representative Born (Co-Chair), Senator Marklein (Co-Chair), Senator Stroebel, Senator Kooyenga, Senator Felzkowski, Senator Bernier, Senator Ballweg, Senator Erpenbach, Senator Johnson, Representative Loudenbeck, Representative Katsma, Representative Zimmerman, Representative J. Rodriguez, Representative Kurtz, Representative Goyke, and Representative Neubauer.