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Engaging the New Congress, Two Food Security Opportunities
Dear John,
We want to begin this newsletter by taking a moment to express our condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the recent shooting on Lunar New Year in Monterey Park, California. We stand with our AAPI brothers and sisters who have been victims of violence, and reaffirm our belief that all people deserve to live free from fear of gun violence.
This weekend’s tragic events are also a powerful reminder that all people deserve access to safety net programs. From gun violence to wildfires and gas line explosions, we have seen immigrant families in crisis deterred from seeking emergency aid and care because of immigration concerns. That is why we remain resolute in our commitment to policies that promote acceptance, inclusion, and access to health care and social services.
This week’s newsletter spotlights tips for engaging members of the new Congress and new funding opportunities on food security.
Advocacy Opportunity: Welcome to the 118th Congress!
This month, Congressional leaders in both chambers welcome new members [[link removed]] , set leadership and committee assignments, and begin the work of legislating [[link removed]] . Congress may grapple with issues that impact immigrants and their access to public benefits. From the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, to immigration reform, to the end of the public health emergency, to the annual appropriations process, there are opportunities to improve how immigrants and their families access the services they need.
Each new Congress is a blank slate and all the bills that were introduced in the last Congress need to be reintroduced. After all the work that was put into previous campaigns, this may feel frustrating or like starting again. But remember, not only is reintroducing a bill is a critical step in the legislative process, it is an opportunity to get fresh attention to the issue, new members as sign ons, and new organizational endorsers.
This year, PIF is excited to work with you to strengthen your advocacy efforts and to support the education of members of Congress.
To get started, here are five things you can do now:

In Solidarity,
Adriana Cadena & Cheasty Anderson, on behalf of the PIF Team
Visit our website at www.pifcoalition.org [[link removed]]
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