Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Food Policy Council Public Testimony topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents, nonprofits and academics urge sustained funding for Food Policy Council
Summary
A diverse panel of residents, nonprofit leaders and academics told the Committee on Health that the Food Policy Council has been central to emergency response, business support and procurement coordination—and urged continued staffing and funding to sustain the work in Wards 7 and 8 and across the district.
Multiple public witnesses from community organizations, universities and small food businesses told the Committee on Health the Food Policy Council (FPC) plays a central coordinating role for food access, business licensing and emergency response.
Kate Urbank of Food Rescue USDC described 10 years of service and said the FPC’s connections with agencies such as the Department of Public Works and DC Public Schools helped food rescue operations scale: "Through this process, meal procurement at individual sites naturally became better aligned with the actual participation levels, reducing waste while maintaining reliable access to nutritious food for youth."
Professor Gabby Hedrick (GW) credited the FPC for enabling an RWJF-funded applied research grant and asked the committee to "sustain, and if possible, increase funding and staffing for the Office of Planning's food policy team" so the team can expand research partnerships and community engagement.
Ward 7 and 8 speakers, including Patricia Stamper and ANC Commissioner Ashley Bridal, emphasized neighborhood grocery quality and pharmacy deserts, arguing that food access is tied to dignity and health: "We are what we eat," Stamper said, urging the council to prioritize grocery and retail investments in underserved neighborhoods.
Witnesses also described implementation help the FPC provided after 2025 regulatory changes (cottage food, vendor modernization), and asked the council to support shared kitchens and procurement changes that favor local, BIPOC-led businesses. The committee asked for written testimony to be uploaded to the record and flagged follow-ups in the budget cycle.
