11/01/18 Federation of Virginia Food Bank Questions

Press Release: Joe Walton for Congress Answers Questions Posed by the Federation of Virginia Food Banks

Joe Walton for Congress – VA 7^th District
For Immediate Release: 11/01/2018
804-476-0768
press@joeforvirginia.com

Joe Walton for Congress Answers Questions Posed by the Federation of Virginia Food Banks
Joe is happy to have had an opportunity to answer questions from the Federation of Virginia Food Banks and is grateful for being included in their coverage of the full ballot for the 7^th District!

Powhatan, Virginia: The Joe for Virginia campaign recently answered questions posed by the Federation of Virginia Food Banks for their membership and website publication.  They are inviting all Congressional candidates on ballots this November to answer the questions below.

We are making these answers available electronically so the voters of the 7^th District have a chance to learn more about Joe Walton and his campaign for the 7^th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Joe speaks consistently in all forums regardless of the audience and encourages all candidates to be as accountable.

This continues his effort to fully clarify his positions through his website and other media, including www.ballotpedia.org’s candidate survey on issues and political philosophy (neither Rep. Brat nor Democrat Spanberger have completed this exposition) available here: https://ballotpedia.org/Joe_Walton

Below are the questions from the Federation of Virginia Food Banks and Joe’s answers.  Joe’s YouTube Channel Joe for Virginia HERE has many videos which overlap these questions so voters can review Joe’s live answers and other information there, too.

2018 Virginia Candidate Hunger Survey

1.) According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap Report, more than 71,000 people in your district struggle with hunger. The nation’s most effective anti-hunger program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), has been a focal point of the Farm Bill reauthorization process in Congress this year. SNAP helps working families, older Virginians, and others struggling to make ends meet purchase groceries while also having a demonstrated positive impact on the local economy. If elected, would you support changes to SNAP eligibility and/or benefit levels? If so, what changes would you support?

I am not an expert in this area and gained valuable insight at the local level as the Chair of the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors. During that tenure I delivered Meals-on-Wheels on a few occasions and was impressed with that organization as well as shocked at the needs of my community.

I believe in limited government but also the importance of the individual in society at the hands of our large institutions. It is important to maintain social safety net programs to protect individuals less fortunate and help them stay healthy and as productive as possible.

I would support evidence-based changes to such programs such that they can continue to be effective uses of taxpayer and private sector resources, delivered locally where the need is best understood and addressed.

2.) Statewide, approximately 25% of people eligible for SNAP do not use the program to help put food on the table. As a member of Congress, how would you help ensure that the 59,000 people living in poverty in your district are able to access the resources for which they are eligible?

I would help by running a professional congressional office and maintaining a presence in the district both personally and through my office to help with maintain awareness and availability of the programs and services available for those in need.

3.) In Virginia, more than 570,000 students rely on free or reduce price school meals and nearly 275,000 children live in poverty. What is your plan to address child poverty and childhood hunger as a member of Congress? What role should our schools and subsidized childcare settings play in combating the effects of child hunger?

I would support evidence-based changes to these programs such that they can continue to be effective uses of taxpayer and private sector resources. I believe strongly that the single best thing our society can do for individual liberty and individual success is early childhood support, education, and programs to keep kids healthy, safe, and on the right track to be productive and self-fulfilled.not just canned printed responses.

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About Joe for Virginia: Joe Walton is a candidate for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District and former Chair of the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors with a record of accountable and effective leadership in central Virginia. He is a sensible centrist with a genuine interest in working with constituents, leaders across the state, and federal peers to solve problems in Washington. He believes in and advocates for socially inclusive and fiscally responsible approaches to public policy. He holds a Master of Public Administration degree and is a Ph.D. student in Public Policy at VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.

Learn more: Web: www.joeforvirginia.com | Facebook: @joeforvirginia | Twitter: @joeforvirginia

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