Oregon lawmakers missed a critical opportunity to help end hunger, but we're not backing down
Oregon lawmakers missed a critical opportunity to help end hunger, but we're not backing down
Despite bipartisan support and an outpouring of community support across the state, Food for All Oregonians (SB 611) was not referred to a Subcommittee of Ways and Means for consideration which means that Oregon’s legislative leaders decided that Food for All Oregonians will not pass in Oregon’s 2025 legislative session. We are heartbroken and deeply disappointed.
SB 611 could have extended essential food assistance to Oregon’s youngest children, including immigrants and refugees, during their most critical years of development. Instead, thousands of kids and their families will continue facing disproportionately high levels of hunger.
Right now, one in six kids in Oregon experiences food insecurity, and visits to food banks surged by 31% last year. Immigrants and refugees are two to three times more likely to face hunger and poverty in our region. Yet, they are systematically denied access to the critical programs their tax dollars help fund. Oregon had the opportunity to be a national leader in defending our immigrant neighbors amid historic levels of hunger and violence by the federal government, and it failed this session.
While Oregon faced budget challenges this year, driven in part by federal tariffs and threats to federal funding, hunger is a policy choice. Oregon state lawmakers are ultimately responsible for choosing not to use available resources to invest in Oregon kids. By not passing Food for All Oregonians, legislative leaders sent a message that it's acceptable for Oregon kids to go hungry simply because of their immigration status. While we genuinely appreciate that programs supporting immigrant communities such as Healthier Oregon and Universal Representation, were fully-funded, critical gaps like food assistance remain.
We are proud of the thousands of Oregonians across the state who showed lawmakers that Food for All Oregonians is a priority for our communities:
2,262 emails were sent to lawmakers
1,590 constituents called their lawmakers
477 testimonies submitted in support of SB 611
32 people registered to testify in support of SB 611
250+ people traveled from all corners of Oregon to speak with legislators at an Advocacy Day in Salem
4,000+ postcards were sent to lawmakers in support of Food for All
201 people received training at Food for All Oregonians advocacy summits
740+ people joined 30+ events across the state including Tillamook, Ontario, Hood River, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Salem, and many more cities
200+ organizations and businesses joined the Food for All Oregonians coalition, including leaders in labor, food and agriculture, immigration justice, business, social services, and more
This level of grassroots support made it clear: Oregonians believe that every person deserves access to food, regardless of where they were born. Our community’s strength is undeniable, and that collective power will carry this work forward until we truly have food for ALL Oregonians. Together, we will build a future where immigration status no longer determines who has access to food.
We are deeply grateful to Senator Wlnsvey Campos, SB 611’s chief sponsor, who helped craft this bill and championed it through its many stages. Thank you to the BIPOC caucus, our 23 bipartisan legislative sponsors, and the members of the Senate Human Services Committee who supported and advanced this bill. Our communities are counting on your continued leadership.
We honor and celebrate the community leaders and advocates who shared their stories and took action to advance this bill. Thank you for your commitment, your wisdom and your courage. We are grateful to be in this work with you.
We are not deterred, and we are not going anywhere. We‘ll keep advocating until every Oregonian can access the food they need to thrive.
We invite Oregonians to email their state representative, State Senator, and key decision-makers in Salem, expressing disappointment with this outcome and urging them to pass Food for All Oregonians in a future legislative session.
Tell your lawmakers: We are disappointed you did not pass Food for All Oregonians in 2025:
