H 7259

2026 -- H 7259
 ========
 LC004176
 ========
  STATE  OF        RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  JOINT RESOLUTION
   MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $3,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND FOOD BANK
  Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Diaz, Sanchez, and Morales
  Date Introduced: January 21, 2026
  Referred To: House Finance
1WHEREAS, The demand for emergency food assistance reached historic highs in Rhode
2 Island in 2025, with over 102,000 Rhode Islanders receiving assistance from an area food pantry
3 in November of 2025; and
4WHEREAS, One in three Rhode Island households are facing food insecurity; and
5WHEREAS, Almost 32,000 Rhode Islanders will see their SNAP benefits reduced or
6 stopped altogether due to federal SNAP changes from Congress’s passage of H.R.1 legislation in
7 July of 2025; and
8WHEREAS, The loss of SNAP benefits to Rhode Islanders will equal $9.5 million
9 dollars; and
10WHEREAS, Individuals who lose SNAP or have reduced benefits will need to rely more
11 on area food pantries; and
12WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Community Food Bank provides food and support to 137
13 member agencies in every area of Rhode Island and has seen their federal support for food
14 already reduced; now, therefore be it
15RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of money in the treasury not
16 otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of three million dollars
17 ($3,000,000) to the Rhode Island Food Bank; and the state controller is hereby authorized and
18 directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much
1 thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.
========
LC004176
========
  LC004176 - Page 2 of 3
  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  JOINT RESOLUTION
 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $3,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND FOOD BANK
  ***
1      This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $3,000,000 to the Rhode
2      Island Food Bank.
========
LC004176
========
  LC004176 - Page 3 of 3