Congressman Panetta Leads Call for Stronger Funding for National Guard to Support Food Banks During COVID-19

SALINAS, CA – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) led 41 of his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives in calling on House and Senate leadership to increase funding for the National Guard to support food banks during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

"We write to request increased funding for the National Guard in any future relief package to ensure that our Service Members can continue supporting food banks through the duration of this emergency. Since the onset of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the National Guard has become a lifeline to food banks across the country, helping package and distribute food to meet unprecedented levels of need. Such federal funding will help ensure that our food banks continue to provide those in our communities with a reliable source of food," the members wrote.

"The National Guard has been essential to our ability to quickly respond to an unprecedented and dramatic increase in need. In April, we distributed 45% more food than in February and our clients have increased by 100,000 this month – serving this level of increase would not have been possible without the National Guard helping us pre-box food for quick and contactless distribution. Their linguists have also served our community directly by helping on our Food Connection hotline which has seen as many as 1,000 calls/day for food referrals. Even if shelter-in-place ends, this economic crisis will continue for much longer – and we continue to need the Guard's help to serve our community and keep everyone healthy," said Leslie Bacho, CEO, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley

"Food banks are on the frontlines, ensuring every person has the ability to stay nourished during this pandemic," said Andrew Cheyne, Director of Government Affairs for the California Association of Food Banks. "Given the rapidly growing need for food, while facing a drop in volunteers, our 41 food banks are changing their operations to meet this crisis, and many are relying on the critical support of the National Guard. This crisis is far from over, and food banks need the continued presence of the National Guards men and women in order to face the ongoing challenges and increased need for emergency food caused by COVID-19. We are grateful for Representative Panetta's leadership and continued support for our food banks and their mission to end hunger."

The full text of the letter can be found below and here:

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader McCarthy, and Minority Leader Schumer,

We write to request increased funding for the National Guard in any future relief package to ensure that our Service Members can continue supporting food banks through the duration of this emergency. Since the onset of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the National Guard has become a lifeline to food banks across the country, helping package and distribute food to meet unprecedented levels of need. Such federal funding will help ensure that our food banks continue to provide those in our communities with a reliable source of food.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, one in eight American households struggled to put food on the table. With unemployment currently at a record high as a result of the pandemic, the incidence of food hardship is increasing at a staggering rate. Around 95 percent of the food banks in the Feeding America network have reported a 70 percent increase in demand since the pandemic began. At the same time, food banks are dealing with temporary shortages in several food products and a steep decline in willing and able volunteers.

Thankfully, both state and federal governments have taken steps to help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on our food insecure communities. On March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared a nationwide emergency pursuant to Section 501(b) of the Stafford Act. With this declaration, the President authorized governors in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to activate components of their Army and Air National Guard to assist food banks with packaging and distributing food. While Service Members operate under the direction of governors, the federal government can cover the full cost of eligible activities.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed into law on March 27, 2020, included $1.4 billion to support the National Guard's response to COVID-19, including the National Guard's efforts to support food banks. This level of funding can sustain up to 20,000 members of the National Guard, under the direction of the governors of each state. Unfortunately, given the fast-moving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, these funds could be depleted by the end of this month.

As we work together to address the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, we respectfully request that you include sufficient funding for the National Guard in any future relief package. Such funding during this national emergency will help ensure that our nation's food banks remain fully operational so that our communities can remain food secure.

Sincerely,