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Iowa senator drafting bill for food bank donations

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January 3rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — At least one Iowa state lawmaker plans to push legislation this session that would provide direct funding for food banks in Iowa. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Waterloo, is drafting such a bill for the 2015 session.

Others, including Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, support a state plan already in place that allows for up to $1 million in state money as matching funds for private donations to food banks. Branstad has pointed to the $150,000 in state funding last year that matched the $150,000 donated by CN Railroad to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo.

The food bank’s director, Barb Prather, says the $300,000 was used to buy better quality food for the charitable food bank, like canned chicken, tuna and fruit.