Advocate

A strong nutrition safety net is essential to a future where no one goes hungry. Houston Food Bank advocates for policies that protect individuals and families from hunger.

Raise your voice and let your elected officials know that you support hunger-relief programs by visiting our Advocacy Action Center now!

Advocacy Action Center

Learn more about the policy issues affecting hunger relief.

What can Government Relations do for you?

The Government Relations department communicates the research and expertise of Houston Food Bank’s staff, partners, and those we serve to government officials and the larger community to highlight and help address the systemic issues driving hunger and poverty.

Read more on how we take action

Voting Information

Voting is Important because…

Your voice matters.
The people that are elected impact every part of our lives, whether that’s the speed limit on the road, you or your child’s education, how much in taxes you pay, etc.
It gives the opportunity for various perspectives in communities to be represented.

*The information below includes general information that pertains to every election as well as dates for upcoming elections.

Are You Eligible to Vote?

You are a United States citizen.
You are a resident of the State and of the county where you are trying to vote.
You are 18 years old (you can register to vote if you are at least 17 years and 10 months old and will be 18 on Election Day).
You registered before the deadline.
If you have been finally convicted of a felony you can vote (you should check if you are still registered if you have not voted since you were convicted):
- does not include deferred adjudication
- you must have fully completed your sentence
- you cannot be on parole, supervision, or probation
- your case cannot be on appeal. You should re-register to vote
You have not been declared by a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.

Are You Registered to Vote? Or Want to Register to Vote?

Your Voice Counts. Register to Vote. Visit the Texas Secretary of State’s My Voter Portal and fill out the online application to see voter status.

What to Bring With You to Vote in Person

One of the following:

State driver’s license (issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety)
Texas election identification certificate (issued by DPS)
Texas personal identification card (issued by DPS)
Texas license to carry a handgun (issued by DPS)
U.S. military ID card with a personal photo
U.S. citizenship certificate with a personal photo
U.S. passport

Don’t have a photo ID?

Must sign a form swearing you have a “reasonable impediment” from obtaining a proper photo ID and present one of the following types of identification:

Valid voter registration certificate
Certified birth certificate
A document confirming birth admissible in a court of law that establishes your identity (which may include a foreign birth document)
A copy of or an original current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other document that shows the voter’s name and address (Any government document that contains a voter’s photo must be an original.)

Ready to Vote? Here is the Upcoming Election!

🗳 2024 Primary Election
2024 Early Voting Dates

Monday, February 20th – Friday, March 1st

2024 Early Voting Dates

Tuesday, March 5th

Have a voting plan!

Choose a time/date in advance.
Lunchtime during early voting & election day is the busiest, so go during off-hours if possible!
Bring friends, family, colleagues, and go together!

Where can I find my nearest polling location?

Visit: https://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do
Go to the “Am I registered?” column.
Fill out your information and submit.

Want more information on the 2024 Primary Election, click here to read: Here’s how to vote in Texas’ March 5 primary elections.

Federal Policy

Join Houston Food Bank in our advocacy efforts to help provide food for better lives
by visiting our Action Center today!

Advocacy Action Center

Child Nutrition Reauthorization

What can you do to ensure children have nutritious food to eat?

Houston Food Bank, in partnership with Feeding America, supports HR 8450 (Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act) that provide Congress with an opportunity to improve child nutrition programs. The various programs touched by this act, including the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Feeding, the National School Lunch Programs, and WIC. Your voice can help millions of children across the country to learn, succeed, and stay healthy.

» ACTION ITEM: 🔗 Learn more about Child Nutrition Reauthorization

Other Federal Action:

» ACTION ITEM: Ask your U.S. Representative and/or U.S. Senators to sign on as cosponsors on the bills below by going to our 🔗 Action Center’s “Elevate Your Voice To End Hunger” Campaign

Enhanced Access to SNAP (EATS) Act – H.R.1919 (Introduced by Reps. Gomez, Harder, Panetta)

Reps. Sylvia Garcia, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Al Green are already cosponsors

Includes attending an institution of higher education under the SNAP work definition to increase access to SNAP for college students who would otherwise financially qualify.

» ACTION ITEM: 🔗 Learn more about College Student Food Insecurity

Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021 – S.2192 / H.R.4077 (Introduced by Sens Gillibrand / Reps. Adams, Hayes, Barbara Lee, and Velázquez)

Texas Rep. Sylvia Garcia is already a cosponsor

Increases baseline SNAP benefits, expands SNAP benefits to territories, and eliminates eligibility limits and unrealistic barriers by:
- Using the Low-Cost Food Plan as the basis for calculating the SNAP formula, increasing the baseline benefits by approximately 30 percent
- Permanently authorizing the standard medical deduction in every state for seniors and disabled individuals applying for SNAP benefits at a minimum of $140
- Eliminating the cap on the Excess Shelter Deduction in the SNAP formula for all households
- Eliminating time-limits on benefits
- Creating a path to transition for those who live and work in U.S. territories to SNAP

Improving Access to Nutrition – H.R.1753 (Introduced by Reps. Gomez, Harder, Panetta)

Eliminates SNAP’s arbitrary three-month time limit and ensures that all people have access to nutrition assistance and stay healthy while seeking full-time work

Raise the Wage Act of 2021 – S.53 / H.R.603 (Sens. Sanders and Murray and Reps. Scott, Jayapal, and Murphy)

Reps. Sylvia Garcia, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Al Green are already cosponsors

Raises the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024. Note: The current minimum has been at $7.25 since 2009.
Phases out employers’ ability to pay sub-minimum wages to tipped workers, workers with disabilities, and teenagers.

State Policy

Legislative Priorities*

» Increase funding for the Surplus Agricultural Products Grant to improve access to nutritious fruits and vegetables and offset costs for farmers who grow and harvest the food. Food bank partners are then able to distribute this healthy food to communities that lack access, improving their overall health and wellbeing.

» Ensure SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) increases access to nutritious food, essential to a strong current and future workforce, by:

Updating the Vehicle Asset Test
Including attendance at a vocational or technical degree program in the SNAP work definition
Implementing SNAP pre-registration for those exiting the criminal justice system

SNAP increases access to nutritious food which is essential to ensuring a strong workforce and educational success of students.

» Allow Texas food banks to reinvestment their transportation funds back into programs such as job training and nutrition education, that help individuals and families be successful.

» Expand access to medical nutrition programs through Medicaid managed care plans to improve health outcomes and lower cost of care to hospitals and health insurance companies. Ensure appropriate funding for these programs, like Food Rx and Medically Tailored Meals, to help individuals living with chronic illnesses or who have critical medical conditions.**

» Support policies that contribute to economic growth to help individuals and families experiencing food insecurity achieve success. Ongoing financial hardship creates barriers to nutritious food, stable employment, and success in schools which impacting the economy.

*All legislative priorities are in collaboration with the Texas Food Policy Round Table, of which HFB is a member.
**Legislative priority is in collaboration with Legacy Community Health and Texas Association of Community Health Centers.

Join Houston Food Bank in our advocacy efforts to help provide food for better lives
by visiting our Action Center today!

Advocacy Action Center