Food pantries across the state received 2.5 million visits last year, according to the Oregon Food Bank, a 31% increase from the previous year. Still, the fact remains that in a prosperous state in one of history’s richest nations, hunger is a policy choice. It failed to advance Food for All Oregonians, a policy that would have expanded food assistance to children and elderly Oregonians barred from government assistance because of their immigration status. While proponents of the federal reconciliation package tout the tax cuts it provides to families as significant, the numbers belie their claims. First and foremost is ensuring Oregon has the revenue needed to preserve federal food assistance.