Advocacy Calendar

The Washington State legislature meets annually on the second Monday of January at the Capitol Building in Olympia. In odd-numbered years—budget years—the legislature meets for 105 days. In even-numbered years, they meet for 60 days. If necessary, the governor can call legislators in for a special session for a 30-day period. Legislators can call themselves into special session with a two-thirds vote of the two bodies.

Federal Budget Process

• President releases budget proposal in February
• House and Senate hold budget hearings

 

State Legislature Regular Session

• Odd years: Long session of 105 days with a focus on writing the state budget for the biennium
• Even years: Short session of 60 days with a focus on policy

 

What You Can Do

• Meet with the members who represent you in Congress and in the State Legislature, and ask them to support nutrition assistance programs.
• Respond to action alerts and forward them to your networks.
• Write letters to the editor or submit op-ed pieces to Washington State publications in order to educate the public about hunger and the need for protecting safety net programs in the federal and state budgets.
• Participate in Hunger Action Day 2021 and other lobby days.
• Speak on hunger issues at community events.

Deadline for Congress to pass a budget resolution (framework for overall budget).

Federal Budget Process – Appropriations Committees in both the Senate and House hold hearings to determine how much money will be allocated to each program.

State – State legislators are back in district.

What You Can Do –Call or email your state senators and representatives about the need to protect funding for federal nutrition assistance programs like SNAP, TEFAP, and CSFP.

Congressional members return to districts for recess.

What You Can Do – Attend listening sessions to ask your representative questions about their positions on appropriations for nutrition assistance programs.