Last week, Washington, D.C., and Boston, Massachusetts, took important steps toward adopting the Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP), which the ASPCA actively supports in cities across the country. This program holds huge potential to improve the lives of farm animals raised for meat, milk and eggs by encouraging large-scale institutions to source from higher-welfare farms or reduce overall consumption of these products.

On December 4, the Council of the District of Columbia voted to adopt GFPP in D.C. public schools as part of a larger student health and wellness package on which the ASPCA submitted supportive testimony. The bill now awaits the mayor’s approval. 

• Take Action: If you are a D.C. resident, please reach out to Councilmember Cheh (phone: (202) 724-8062 or email: [email protected]) and Councilmember Grosso (phone: (202) 724-8071 or email: [email protected]) to thank them for their leadership in passing the Healthy Students Amendment Act. You can use this script: Hello, my name is (your name) from (your D.C. neighborhood) and I would like to thank you for supporting a healthier D.C. school system and better farm animal welfare standards through the Healthy Students Amendment Act, including the provision to adopt GFPP.

On December 6, the Boston City Council held a public hearing on an ordinance proposing city-wide adoption of GFPP. The ASPCA encouraged passage by providing both written and oral testimony describing GFPP’s potential to improve animal welfare. The ordinance received positive feedback from the committee Chair, who stated that the Council will continue refining its content and moving it forward. We are thrilled that this important legislation is one step closer to adoption!

• Take Action: Live in Boston? We could use your support as this ordinance progresses through the city’s legislative process! Please join the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade now to be alerted about the next GFPP hearing and/or vote.

The ASPCA, which helped draft GFPP’s animal welfare standards, supports individual campaigns around the country and the ongoing development of GFPP at a national level. Learn more about our support of GFPP within our broader Shop With Your Heart program! Stay tuned as we continue to bring you updates on GFPP’s progress and the ASPCA’s involvement, potentially in YOUR city!