MEDIA ADVISORY AND PUBLIC NOTICE

Congressman Al Green, the Houston Food Bank, Sandra Hines, Honorary Mayor of Sunnyside, Judson Robinson, President of the Houston Area Urban League, Pastor Rudy Rasmus, and Local Leaders Host Press Conference to Address Funding Cuts Impacting Senior Citizens Food Assistance Programs

(Houston, TX)—On Friday, April 25, 2025, Congressman Al Green will host a press conference with Brian Greene, President and CEO of the Houston Food Bank; Sandra Hines, Honorary Mayor of Sunnyside; Judson Robinson, President of the Houston Area Urban League; Pastor Rudy Rasmus; and local leaders. They will address the urgent challenges faced by seniors and individuals with disabilities receiving Senior Food Boxes in Sunnyside, Texas as well as across the Greater Houston Area. Due to significant funding cuts imposed by the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are no longer accepting new clients, and some old clients are going to be cut from this vital program. This issue was initially brought to Congressman Green's attention by Texas State Representative Lauren Ashley Simmons (TX-146) as well as Ms. Sandra Hines.

According to the Houston Food Bank, the Senior Box Program, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and managed by the Texas Department of Agriculture, provides a box of shelf-stable food to income-eligible seniors in the Houston area. However, recent dubiously legal funding cuts by President Trump have jeopardized this critical support, limiting access to nutritious food and produce for seniors in Harris County and the surrounding areas.

Congressman Al Green stated, “In Texas's Ninth Congressional District, more than 15,000 seniors aged 60 and older rely on SNAP benefits, according to the Food Research and Action Center. These benefits include access to Senior Food Boxes provided by the Houston Food Bank, which help meet their daily nutritional needs. These vital resources nourish our cherished elders. However, the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) appear to be insulated within a billionaire bubble, detached from the struggles of citizens who rely on essential food assistance programs. We must raise our voices for our seniors, ensuring they are not left to starve.”

Click here to watch the Facebook live stream of the event at 11:00 a.m. CT