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Committee questions adequacy of proposed food‑assistance increases; department points to Medicaid waiver nutrition opportunities
Summary
The governor’s budget proposes $4 million increases each to the Pennsylvania Agriculture Surplus System (PASS) and the state food purchase program. Lawmakers said those amounts fall short of needs; the secretary pointed to a Section 1115 Medicaid waiver nutrition provision and federal purchases that supplement state efforts.
Representatives pressed Agriculture Secretary Redding on whether the governor’s proposed increases to state food‑assistance lines are sufficient to meet rising need.
Representative Fleming asked whether a $4,000,000 increase to the Pennsylvania Agriculture Surplus System (PASS) and a separate $4,000,000 increase to the core State Food Purchase Program would be enough to meet demand. Fleming and others warned food insecurity remains high and urged more support.
Redding said the department uses a combination of formula‑driven county allocations (unemployment and poverty factors) for PASS and a contract relationship with Feeding Pennsylvania to manage purchases for all 67 counties. He noted additional federal support and special programs: the department highlighted a Section 1115 Medicaid waiver nutrition provision that can be used for home‑delivered meals, pantry stocking for pregnant and postpartum mothers, and medically‑tailored meals. “Inside of that 11 15 waiver is where we're going to be connecting our sort of farmers and farmers markets to those, who need that assistance,” he said.
Committee members flagged the potential for federal SNAP cuts and asked how the state would respond. Redding said the department monitors federal activity closely and pointed to large federal purchases of Pennsylvania produce—he told the committee the U.S. Department of Agriculture bought about $285,000,000 worth of Pennsylvania agricultural product last year to support the pipeline—but he acknowledged the state increases are only one part of a broader network of federal, private and local supports.
Members requested more detail on how the proposed state increases would be distributed and asked for ongoing coordination with food banks and county partners if federal funding shifts.
The hearing did not include formal action; members said they expect additional written materials on distribution formulas and planned uses for the new state dollars.
