Assemblymember Alex Lee To Establish New Statewide Fund Tackling Food Insecurity

Assemblymember Alex Lee unveiled plans to introduce legislation creating a dedicated state fund to fight hunger. The announcement comes as families are facing mounting threats to their food security. Even though CalFresh benefits have finally resumed after weeks of chaos sown by the government shutdown and threats to be clawed back by the Trump administration, demand for food assistance will continue to surge over the holidays amid drastic federal cuts to social safety nets. 

During this time of urgent need, Assemblymember Lee’s proposal will establish the California Healthy Food for All Fund to bolster public investments in California’s existing food assistance programs, which aims to reduce food insecurity, and stimulate the agricultural economy. 

“We must double down on our investments to ensure affordable and nutritious food for Californians,” said Assemblymember Lee, Chair of the Human Services Committee. “California is the breadbasket of the nation, but thousands are malnourished within view of the vineyards and fields. Working class families are being deliberately starved by the radical right-wing regime in DC and farmers are suffering under Trump’s tariff wars. The California Healthy Food for All Fund will support proven food security programs, strengthening crucial safety nets for families and farmers statewide.” 

The California Healthy Food for All Fund will serve as a safety net for our safety nets. Assemblymember Lee’s legislation will deliver funding for programs focused on combatting hunger, supporting the purchase of California grown food or community food hubs, and more. These programs may include CalFood, the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program, and Market Match, among others. Every public dollar invested will multiply into even greater economic activity. The California Healthy Food for All Fund will build much-needed reserves to maintain ongoing investments for food security in California, an agricultural powerhouse of the world. 

It is estimated that roughly a quarter of California families experience food insecurity, with CalFresh (known federally as SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) serving as a lifeline for about 5.5 million Californians. But the program is being decimated by H.R. 1, the Republican budget bill, which makes deep cuts to food assistance funding. Up to 395,000 Californians are expected to lose CalFresh benefits, and cuts to SNAP are estimated to eliminate an equivalent of nearly 6 to 9 billion meals annually. 

Federal reductions in food assistance programs are extremely dire as more and more families are struggling to afford their groceries. Over the last 5 years, grocery prices have surged by almost 30%. The federal government’s trade war is causing prices to increase rapidly and hurting local farmers. Without safety net programs, roughly 2.6 million more Californians would have been in poverty. 

The California Healthy Food for All Fund is part of Assemblymember Lee’s broader efforts to ensure food security for all Californians. Food assistance and nutrition programs are Assemblymember Lee’s policy area of expertise as Chair of the Human Services Committee. This year, he secured a historic $36 million in state funding to revive the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program, which improves access to fresh fruits and vegetables. In total, Assemblymember Lee has secured $46 million in state funding over the last two years for this program. With the new funding, CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program relaunched in November just in time for the holiday season. Meanwhile, Assemblymember Lee will announce additional details about the California Healthy Food for All Fund when the Legislature reconvenes in 2026.