Amy Bielawski-Branch
Democratic Candidate for Vermont House of Representatives in the Chittenden-18 District
What do you believe is the role of state government, if any, in ensuring that everyone living in Vermont has the food they need to thrive?
I believe that our state government has an important role in providing, facilitating and supporting a safety net for vulnerable Vermonters - food security is essential!
What would be your policy priorities to move Vermont toward food security for all?
I would first seek to more fully understand what steps have already been taken and what is missing in terms of achieving full food security in Vermont. A top priority for me would be ensuring that all children have access to breakfast and lunch every school day - and strive for weekend and summer options for every child in the state. We can not allow a single child to go with out food in our state! It is immoral that any of our children or vulnerable neighbors go hungry!
What do you believe are the root causes of hunger, and what should the state do to address those underlying factors?
The root cause of hunger is not lack of resources. Rather it is due to entrenched underlying beliefs such as people should “pull themselves up by their bootstraps;” as well as biases about race, class and ability. Additionally I think that some hunger in Vermont is “hidden” so people aren’t always aware of how significant the problem is. So some of what the state and other groups can do is to continue to provide education about hunger in Vermont and to tackle the complexity of issues impacting hunger such as housing, transportation, affordability and health care.
How would you help strengthen the state’s agriculture and food economy to ensure Vermont farms can continue to grow the food we all need?
If I am elected, I will reach out to the people and organizations such as Hunger Free Vermont, NOFA, and the Vermont Foodbank who are working on this issue to more fully understand the needs they see and the strategies they suggest. I will advocate for the support of local food purchasing programs and supporting farms and farmers during major climate events. Sustaining and growing our Vermont farmers is a priority for the state.