Tonight, I’m catching a flight to Washington, D.C. to meet with staffers of Missouri’s congressional delegation and express Missourians’ opposition to the $300 billion in proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Congress’s “one big, beautiful bill.” Empower Missouri’s focus has traditionally been on state-level policy, but the proposed cuts to Medicaid...Read More

The 2025 Missouri legislative session ended last week with some controversy and tension as the Senate invoked Previous Question, or “PQ”, to cut off debate. The Senate employed this “nuclear option” to force a vote on two bills that were in direct contradiction to laws passed by the majority of Missouri voters in the November...Read More

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee has proposed a $300 billion cut to SNAP, nearly 30% of the federal funding for the nation’s largest anti-hunger program and the largest cut in the 85-year history of the program. One out of ten Missourians use SNAP benefits to put meals on their table. These cuts to SNAP will...Read More

Date: April 23, 2025To: Senator Jill Carter and Members of the Senate Families Seniors and Health CommitteeFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Our opposition to SB 662 My name is Christine Woody. I am the Food Security Policy Manager for a statewide non-profit organization called Empower Missouri. We lead a statewide coalition...Read More

Imagine a food system that breaks down silos, fosters innovation and collaboration, and creates sustainable food access for all Missourians that is supported through a robust, equity-focused statewide Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI). This is exactly what the Missouri Rural Food Access Partnership came together to accomplish on April 3rd when 33 participants representing 23...Read More

Date: March 4, 2025To: Rep. Ben Baker, Chairman, and Members, Committee on Government EfficiencyFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Our Opposition to HB 315 Founded in 1901, Empower Missouri advocates for the well-being of Missourians through civic leadership, education, and research. As part of our work, we organize a statewide coalition called...Read More

My name is Christine Woody. I am the Food Security Policy Manager for a statewide non-profit organization called Empower Missouri. We lead a statewide coalition working to end hunger in our state. Thank you for hearing my testimony today. HB 1222 which asks Missouri to submit a waiver to USDA to allow The Department of...Read More

Last week Empower Missouri was joined by almost 200 advocates, community members, and supporters for our Day of Action at the State Capitol. It was a fantastic day of advocacy, camaraderie, and community. Attendees reached every corner of the Capitol, and it seemed like every time I turned a corner or stepped onto the elevator,...Read More

Date: February 26, 2025To: Senator Brown, Chairman and Members, Senate Economic Workforce and Development CommitteeFrom: Amanda Berry, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: Our support for SB 57 Empower Missouri is the largest anti-poverty advocacy organization in the state. As part of our work, we organize a statewide Food Security Coalition. This coalition is made...Read More

Date: February 12, 2025To: Representative Don Mayhew and the Members of the House Corrections and Public Institutions CommitteeFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower MissouriRe: HB 916 My name is Christine Woody and I am the Food Policy Manager at Empower Missouri. Empower Missouri has spent more than 120 years fighting poverty in Missouri. Today,...Read More