April 29, 2026To: Senator Trent and Members of the Senate General Laws CommitteeFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager at Empower MissouriRe:   HB 2481 Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Christine Woody and I am with Empower Missouri. Empower Missouri is the state’s largest anti-poverty advocacy organization. I am...Lee mas

Just like James Earl Jones said in the 1989 classic Field of Dreams, “People will come.” So many of us are driven by a longing for the past and a nostalgic trip down memory lane that leads us to a place of comfort where we’re reminded of a simpler life. That “simple life” ideology often...Lee mas

April 15th, 2026 To: Senator Carter, and Members, Families, Seniors, and Health Committee From: Amanda Berry, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Support for HB 2372 Food insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food for a healthy, active life. In Missouri, that is not a small issue. The...Lee mas

April 15th, 2026 To: Senator Carter, and Members, Families, Seniors, and Health Committee From: Amanda Berry, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Support for HB 2355 We often think of healthcare and the economy as separate issues, but they are deeply connected. Diet-related conditions are one of the largest drivers of healthcare spending and...Lee mas

What does it mean to be a Missourian? For a long time, I wasn’t sure how to answer that question. Friends I’ve met in my travels have often asked what Missouri is like—what it’s known for, whether I like being from here. I usually end up talking about sunsets. I’ve never seen a prettier one...Lee mas

April 8th, 2026 To: Senator Carter, and Members, Families, Seniors, and Health Committee From: Amanda Berry, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Support for SB 1499 Empower Missouri is the state’s largest anti-poverty advocacy organization, working across rural and urban communities to advance policies that promote economic stability, affordability, and opportunity for Missouri families....Lee mas