Leanne Harple

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?

The role of the state government is to appropriate funds in their budget to organizations that can carry out this work while providing clear accountability to Vermont taxpayers, as well as to provide support to the farmers who grow our food, and to make it easier for Vermonters on subsidized food plans to access fresh healthy foods that are grown locally.

What would be your policy priorities to move Vermont toward food security for all?

I am in full support of protecting our Universal School Meals program and have written and spoken publically on this issue. On the Education Committee, I have heard testimony from Green Mountain Farm to School and will continue to support that program as well. I also support the Crop Cash and Farm Share programs. Since my role is primarily in helping to write education law, I am more focused on building on our programs that get free fresh local food into our cafeterias and those that provide food security for our most vulnerable students, such as the backpack programs that send kids home with food for the weekend. However, I support all legislation that helps to keep struggling people fed.

What do you believe are the root causes of hunger, and what should the state do to address those underlying factors?

HIf we rreally want to get at the root causes of hunger, we might want to look at a country that allows some people to amass literally a trillion dollars now while others are struggling to survive. Then we might look at generational poverty and how a holistic response should include free college and career training, access to property ownership, affordable healthcare, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and other services that help people find purpose and change their lives. However, if we're talking about right here, right now without addressing the underlying issues, I would say that some of the main focuses should probably include livable wages, transportation, and reduced barriers to food assistance programs for eligible people.

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?

One of the organizations I hear from a lot on the House Education Committee is the Green Mountain Farms to Schools program, which purchases fresh local foods from Vermont farms for our classrooms, our cafeterias, and to send home with students. I support this program wholeheartedly, as well as other legislation intended to help Vermont farms to thrive. Ongoing work includes weather and flood-related protection and recovery aid, expansion and development-related measures, and legislation related to agricultural practices. As a rural legislator, I take testimony and legislative requests from our agricultural sector very seriously in considering my votes.