U.S. Congress Representative Lou Correa (CA-46) announced on March 25, 2026, that he led a coalition of 80 colleagues in sending a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. The letter requests an increase in funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for fiscal year 2027. The CSFP, a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides food assistance to low-income seniors.

“Specifically, we ask that you provide sufficient funding to maintain, at no less than the current caseload of 707,000 people per month. CSFP is serving on average over 99 percent of our caseload, and many states have wait lists for program-eligible seniors,” the members said. “The National CSFP Association knows that several members requested caseload increases, and given current participation levels, we can expect them to do the same for FY27.”

Based on the 2026 Poverty Guidelines, seniors with income levels at or below $23,940 qualify for the program. More than 707,000 seniors—including 109,000 in California—rely on the program each month nationwide to put food on the table.

“CSFP food packages were recently updated to better supplement needed nutrients typically lacking from participants’ diets,” they added. “With the cost of living on the rise, this program is more important than ever. If Congress fails to fully fund this critical program, our most vulnerable seniors will lose this access to the nutritious food they need to live healthier lives.”

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Community Action Partnership of Orange County, and the National Commodity Supplemental Food Program Association support this effort.

“The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) remains a vital pillar of our OC Food Bank, serving 25,000 seniors each month with consistency and care. For older adults living on fixed incomes, these monthly food boxes provide more than nourishment; they provide stability and dignity,” said Gregory C. Scott, CEO, Community Action Partnership of Orange County. “We appreciate Congressman Correa prioritizing the care and well-being of vulnerable seniors by championing ongoing support for CSFP. Too many seniors who have spent a lifetime contributing to our communities are now being pushed to the margins of them. This is not just about food access; it is about equity. Sustained investment in CSFP is essential to ensuring that no senior is forced to choose between basic needs and survival, because justice requires more than intention; it requires commitment.”

“The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is a lifeline for so many seniors who are forced to choose between groceries and other basic needs. This program helps bridge that gap, providing not just food, but peace of mind and stability. As the need for food here in Orange County continues to grow, it’s more important than ever that we invest in programs like CSFP to ensure our most vulnerable neighbors don’t go without the nutrition they deserve,” said Claudia Bonilla Keller, Chief Executive Officer of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.

“We’re grateful for Congressman Correa’s leadership for once again championing the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and bringing attention to the critical role it plays for seniors. As an advocate for CSFP, I’ve seen firsthand how sustained engagement and partnership were instrumental in securing program funding for 2026,” said Christina Peretti, Chair of the National Commodity Supplemental Food Program Association. “We appreciate his commitment to ensuring 707,000 older adults across the country continue to have access to nutritious food this year and in 2027.”

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ABOUT LOU: Congressman Lou Correa is a longtime Orange County resident with deep local roots. To this day, he lives only three miles from his childhood neighborhood in Anaheim. He is the son of working-class parents whose hard work gave him a chance at success, and he has spent his career fighting to protect the American Dream and ensure anyone can reach the middle class, just as he did. In 2016, Lou was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to continue his work by representing the community he has spent the past 20 years serving, fighting to give everyone access to the same opportunities he had. Congressman Correa is committed to working across party lines to strengthen the middle class and give everyone a shot at the American Dream by investing in education, healthcare, and our fading infrastructure, and has introduced legislation to protect the legal rights of immigrants, care for veterans, and fight against the wasteful spending of taxpayer money.