Durbin Leads Effort to Restore $1 Billion in USDA Food Purchases for Schools, Farmers

WASHINGTON DC –  Senator Dick Durbin and 30 other Senate Democrats are urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reverse its decision to cancel over $1 billion in local food purchase programs. The cuts will significantly affect Illinois, where organizations like Rooted For Good in DeKalb are set to lose approximately $400,000 in funding. Rooted For Good, which works with 15 local farmers to purchase produce, dairy, and meat for food distribution, supports over 13,000 households in northern Illinois. The senators are calling for the restoration of the programs to support local farmers and provide healthy food to schools, child care centers, and families in need.