Commemorating National Hunger Awareness Day

COMMEMORATING NATIONAL HUNGER AWARENESS DAY -- (House of Representatives - June 03, 2004)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) is recognized for 5 minutes.

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Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, on March 16, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson declared a war on poverty. Yet today, 40 years later, millions of Americans continue to face poverty and hunger. It's unconscionable that in the 21st century, in the richest and most prosperous country in the world, nearly 35 million Americans--13 million of them children-go hungry every day.

Today is National Hunger Awareness Day. This initiative, sponsored by America's Second Harvest, is designed to help raise public awareness about hunger and the problems faced by millions of people who are having trouble feeding themselves and their families. Today, thousands of hunger relief advocates and volunteers will work with food banks, food-rescue organizations and agencies to help raise awareness about hunger in their communities.

Madam Speaker, the statistics are astounding. Nearly 35 million Americans go hungry each year. 13 million are children. In 2002, over 34 million Americans and 7.2 million American families lived in poverty. The problem of hunger is getting worse, not better. The percentage of households experiencing food insecurity increased from 10.7 percent in 2001 to 11.1 percent in 2002.

Hunger and food insecurity don't fit the old stereotypes of the poor and uneducated. Not only are more working families relying on food banks for help to feed their children, but over 62 percent of recipients of food from food banks have at least a high school diploma. This is intolerable. As a nation, we should not and can not continue to have lower-income families struggle to earn enough money to put food on the table. Poverty and hunger are directly related-if you don't have money, you can't buy food. It's that simple.

This year's theme for Hunger Awareness Day is "One Big Table." Hundreds of events are taking place around the country, and I would like to highlight one taking place in my district.

Today, the Worcester County Food Bank is holding a "Picnic and Food Drive Kick-Off." The Worcester County Food Bank, together with Sovereign Bank, Shaw's Supermarkets, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, WSRS/WTAG Radio and Curry Printing, are kicking-off the 2nd Annual County-wide Grocery Bag Food Drive. Held at the Worcestrer County Food Bank, the event includes food drive sponsors, partner agencies, volunteers and staff enjoying a picnic lunch prepared by Community Kitchen student chefs. It will feature on-air radio interviews with the sponsors and agencies to raise awareness of the local hunger problem and promote the upcoming food drive.

Madam Speaker, National Hunger Awareness Day is just one day out of the year when individuals, companies, organizations, and faith-based groups can participate, but the reality is that hunger is a political problem. There is no justification for hunger to exist in this country, or around the world, for that matter. We have the food, the money, and the manpower to end hunger in the United States. What we can't seem to find is the political will to do so.

Earlier this year, this body approved bipartisan legislation reauthorizing the child nutrition programs. It's a good bill that, sadly, doesn't go far enough. For example, over 22 million low-income children participate in the free and reduced-price school breakfast and lunch program. However, only 4.7 million children receive these same lunches in the summer-a 78.8 percent drop in participation. And it's not for lack of need. No, Madam Speaker, it's from the lack of commitment by this Congress.

In another example, Madam Speaker, the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act rightly ends the requirement that many families must pay a reduced price for breakfasts and lunches. But instead of ending this required payment now, the House-passed bill phases it out over five years.

Madam Speaker, we must do better. The Education and Workforce Committee crafted a good, bipartisan bill. It's a good start, but it must be improved. The programs to end hunger are in place. They don't need to be recreated; they just need to be fully funded. The American people deserve better, and, on National Hunger Awareness Day, I urge my colleagues in the other body to pass a broader, more inclusive Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act.

Madam Speaker, let me close by commending America's Second Harvest, the food banks around the country, the corporations, faith-based groups, volunteers and other anti-hunger advocates for their hard work and dedication to end hunger in the U.S. Today is National Hunger Awareness Day. But these individuals and groups work to end hunger every day. Food bank participation continues to rise. The need for anti-hunger programs is clear. I, for one, am grateful for America's Second Harvest's commitment to ending hunger in America. I urge my colleagues to make every day Hunger Awareness Day, to commit themselves to ending hunger in any way they can, and to find the political will to end the scourge of hunger here at home and around the world.

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