Summary: HR 6404 – House Resolution Recognizing and Thanking Andrew Schiff on Retirement as CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank

Overview

HR 6404 is a Rhode Island House of Representatives resolution recognizing and expressing gratitude to Andrew Schiff upon his retirement as Chief Executive Officer of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Introduced and read in the House on June 10, 2025, the resolution serves as a ceremonial honor rather than enactment of new law.

Purpose and Intent

• Acknowledge Andrew Schiff’s leadership and more than eighteen years of service to Rhode Island’s food distribution network.
• Highlight the Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s role as the central distribution hub for a statewide network of 147 member agencies and its impact on food access and hunger relief.

Key Provisions and Content

• Statements of achievement and impact, including:
  • The Food Bank distributes 18.3 million pounds of healthy, culturally relevant food each month to more than 84,400 Rhode Islanders through its network.
  • Under Schiff’s leadership, the organization reportedly doubled the amount of food distributed to those in need.
  • The Food Bank’s work includes pandemic response, maintaining uninterrupted food distribution, and expanding outreach to under-resourced communities.
  • Establishment of the annual Status Report on Hunger to provide data and insights on food insecurity in Rhode Island.
  • Advocacy on broader social and economic issues affecting food security, such as raising the minimum wage, strengthening Earned Income Tax Credit, and improving access to SNAP, WIC, and school meals.
• Formal expression of gratitude and best wishes for Schiff’s health and future endeavors.
• A directive to the Secretary of State to transmit a certified copy of the resolution to Andrew Schiff.

Who/What Is Affected

• The primary figure honored is Andrew Schiff, upon retirement as CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
• The Rhode Island Community Food Bank and its network of 147 member agencies are highlighted for their nationwide benchmark contributions to feeding Rhode Islanders.
• No statutory changes or fund appropriations are created; the bill is ceremonial.

Procedural and Timeline Details

• Introduced: June 10, 2025.
• Status: House read and passed on June 10, 2025 (a House action; not a statute).
• Next steps: As a resolution, it may be conveyed to the Senate or become part of legislative records; the key operative action is the authorization to transmit a certified copy to Mr. Schiff.

Sponsors

• Primary sponsor: Representative Slater (also listed with other co-sponsors in the introductory materials).

This resolution serves to formally recognize leadership and longstanding contributions to hunger relief and food security in Rhode Island, commemorating Andrew Schiff’s retirement with public praise and appreciation.