Angela Arsenault
Democratic Candidate for Vermont House of Representatives in the Chittenden-2 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?
State government has a responsibility to do everything within its power to ensure that everyone living in Vermont has access to the food they need to be healthy, nourished members of our community. The government can do that by fully funding the programs that support food security in our state and by maintaining the data infrastructure needed to draw down all available federal funds. Additionally, providing support to folks in danger of losing their federal status or benefits would be incredibly helpful.
What would be your policy priorities to move Vermont toward food security for all?
I don't feel that I know enough about the root causes of food insecurity to lead policy efforts, but I would certainly support them.
What do you believe are the root causes of hunger, and what should the state do to address those underlying factors?
As I said above, I can't claim to know with certainty, but the way this question is phrased certainly provides enough information for me to know I'm on the right track. Everything is connected. That's how humans and humanity works. So when we commit to housing every Vermonter, providing every Vermonter with access to affordable health care, providing basic transportation, etc., we establish the environment in which food insecurity becomes a truly solvable problem in a sustainable way.