Food Banks Facing Urgent Crisis

Floor Speech

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Ms. McBRIDE. Mr. Speaker, across the country, food banks are facing an urgent crisis, and Delaware is no exception. Millions of dollars' worth of deliveries of vital food aid have been halted to food banks.

In February alone, more than 50 percent of the food that the Food Bank of Delaware distributed came from the Federal Government. Now, with shipments frozen and no clarity on whether they will be restored, they are in uncharted territory.

The Food Bank of Delaware is now uncertain whether they will receive 14 truckloads over the next 4 months. These halted deliveries represent over a quarter of the food expected to be received from the Federal Government for the rest of this fiscal year. Cathy Kanefsky, the CEO of the Food Bank of Delaware, shared with me that this would be devastating.

This is not an abstract issue. It is not a partisan issue. This is about families, working parents, seniors, veterans, and children. These are people who rely on food banks to get through the month.

One in eight Delawareans face food insecurity, and the Food Bank of Delaware has been a lifeline for thousands of families.

The truckloads in question represent over 600,000 meals that the food bank will not be able to put on the tables of Delawareans.

Yes, the Food Bank of Delaware plays a frontline role in combating hunger, but they offer more than just food. They provide dignity, hope, and a sense of community.

Food banks, which are already stretched thin, are now being asked to do even more with even less. The loss of Federal support jeopardizes their ability to serve effectively, placing additional strain on State and local resources.

At a time when grocery prices remain high and demand for assistance is great, the loss of these shipments could mean fewer meals for families in every corner of my State.

Further cuts at the hands of the administration to the USDA's local food purchasing assistance program only add to this crisis. At the direction of this administration, the USDA axed two programs that give schools and food banks assistance to buy food from local farms and ranchers. In Delaware alone, this will amount to $2 million in cuts.

Just last month, I stood on this floor to raise the alarm about $10 million in funding owed to Delaware farmers. Now, I stand here again to raise the alarm about the Trump administration taking their chain saw to another lifesaving service that supports our farmers in feeding Delaware. All of this will result in fewer customers for Delaware's farmers and higher prices at the grocery store for Delaware's families.

The Trump administration has broken their promise time and time again to the American people, ripping funding and literal food from the hands of my constituents.

The USDA must restore these shipments and funding before the consequences become dire to families across Delaware. Celebrating Seaford's Transformation

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Ms. McBRIDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the transformation happening in Seaford, Delaware, an investment in economic growth, opportunity, and the future of western Sussex County.

Seaford is a small city rich in history. Just last week, I had the privilege of meeting with Seaford's leadership to discuss the city's progress and their vision for the future.

Over the last decade, Seaford has transformed its small but vibrant downtown through Delaware's innovative Downtown Development District program, started by our former Governor, Jack Markell. Through hard work and dedicated investment, Seaford's Main Street has gone from 90 percent vacancy to more than 90 percent occupancy.

At the center of the next phase of Seaford's revitalization effort is the Nylon Capital Center, a project that will breathe new life into a space that was once a focal point of Seaford and will soon serve as a hub for education, healthcare, and commerce.

With a $60 million investment, including $20 million in American Rescue Plan funds, the new Nylon Capital Center will expand access to education and workforce training with a new DelTech facility. It will make healthcare more accessible with a new TidalHealth medical site. Small businesses will have new space to grow, and a coworking center, the Mill, will foster entrepreneurship. Critically, it will remain home to the beloved Sal's Italian Restaurant.

This is a model of public and private partnership coming together to create shared prosperity. With local, State, Federal, and private investments, the future of Seaford is exactly what we should hope for in our small cities and towns across America. The leaders of Seaford, along with partners from across the State, are demonstrating what is possible when communities come together. I am proud to stand with them in this effort, and I look forward to seeing Seaford become a symbol of progress and opportunities for generations to come.

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