Today, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) led 81 of her colleagues in urging the House Appropriations Committee to continue to fund critical nutrition assistance for low-income seniors in Fiscal Year 2024.

Many low-income seniors in Southwest Washington and across the country rely on the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) to put food on the table, which delivers quality USDA food packages to seniors with an annual income of less $18,955 per adult.

The program currently serves seniors in Pacific, Cowlitz, Thurston, and Skamania Counties in Washington’s Third District.

In the letter, the lawmakers express their support for CSFP and request the Committee provide no less than $390 million for the CSFP to maintain its current caseload.

“This fiscal year, CSFP will provide more than 760,000 food packages each month in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 8 Indian Tribal Organizations, and Puerto Rico. If Congress fails to fully fund this program, it will have direct repercussions on our most vulnerable seniors,” the lawmakers wrote.

The full letter can be found here and below:

Dear Chairman Harris and Ranking Member Bishop,

We write to express our strong support for preserving the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. We strongly urge you to provide sufficient funding to maintain the current caseload. Based on the Administration’s FY 2024 Budget Request, the funds appropriated to maintain the current caseload for the program year will need to be no less than $390 million for FY 2024.

Many low-income seniors rely on CSFP to put food on the table. The program delivers quality USDA food packages to seniors and was recently updated to better supplement needed nutrients typically lacking from participants’ diets. With the cost of living on the rise, this program is more important than ever before. The CSFP helps the most vulnerable seniors who have an annual income of less than $18,955. 

This fiscal year, CSFP will provide more than 760,000 food packages each month in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 8 Indian Tribal Organizations, and Puerto Rico. If Congress fails to fully fund this program, it will have direct repercussions on our most vulnerable seniors.  

As you begin the appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2024, we urge you to provide no less than $390 million for the CSFP, which gives a much-needed nutritional lifeline to many seniors in our communities. We appreciate your consideration of this important request and look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure that no American goes hungry.