Coughlin, Quijano & Speight Legislation to Provide Additional Food Bank Aid Cleared Legislature

Bill Among 26 Measures Passed Monday to Stem Coronavirus Impact on New Jerseyans

(TRENTON)- Continuing to fight hunger as the state faces a declared state of emergency, declared public health emergency, or a directive to institute a public health-related closure, legislation sponsored by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex), Assemblywomen Annette Quijano and Shanique Speight was approved by the Senate on Thursday. It now heads to the Governor for further review.

The General Assembly recently approved the legislation, 65-0.

The measure (A-3857) supplements the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations act by appropriating $15 million for Food Bank Aid directed to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, South Jersey Food Bank and Fulfill of Monmouth and Ocean County New Jersey to provide assistance to homes in need.

Assembly members Coughlin, Quijano and Speight issued the following statement today:

“Families who were fighting hunger before the Covid-19 pandemic will need us more now. This legislation will double our efforts to support our food pantries on the frontlines of hunger.

          “3 in 10 children in New Jersey receive either a reduced lunch or a free lunch each day. For a few, their school lunch may be there only balanced meal they have daily. We must consider statewide concerns like these as we plan our defense against Covid-19.”