Carmen Goers – Auburn, WA
If elected, will you support: Protecting the updated SNAP benefit levels created through the August 2021 reevaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan and, Protecting the ability to update SNAP benefit levels every five years through the Thrifty Food Plan to reflect inflation adjustments, modern dietary recommendations, evolving food consumption patterns and preparation methods, and constraints of time-strapped working families?
Yes
If elected, will you support: Reauthorizing and double annual mandatory funding for TEFAP food purchases, Reauthorizing and increase to$200 million in annual discretionary funding for TEFAP storage and distribution, Reauthorizing $15 million in annual discretionary funding for TEFAP infrastructure grants?
Yes
If elected, will you support: Expand eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance(BNA) for military families by including language in the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to exclude the Basic Allowance for Housing from the BNA eligibility calculation. This adjustment would significantly increase access to the BNA and raise monthly benefit levels for some families already enrolled. According to one estimate, this change would make more than 20,000 additional service members eligible for the BNA, Increase the BNA gross household income limit from 150% to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, further expanding access to more military families. This change is recommended by the House Armed Services Committee Quality of Life Panel’s report as well as the Department of Defense’s FY25 budget request, Improve the calculation method for the Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), which is intended to offset a servicemember’s meal costs but often falls short, especially for service members with multiple children. We encourage Congress and the Department of Defense to evaluate current BAS calculation methods, Expand SNAP eligibility by passing the bipartisan Military Family Nutrition Access Act sponsored by Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. Lawmakers could include this bill as part of the next farm bill or pass it as standalone legislation. This bill will help more service members access SNAP benefits by excluding the Basic Allowance for Housing from the gross income calculation for SNAP eligibility?
Yes
Will you support policies and funding that improve access to land and resources for individuals and communities to develop urban agriculture and community gardens in Washington?
Yes
Will you advocate for initiatives that ensure fair compensation and support for small farmers and community food producers, enhancing individual and community food sovereignty in Washington?
Yes