Ensuring Food Security

Floor Speech

Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I represent the San Joaquin Valley of California where our business is growing healthy, safe foods. It's the breadbasket of America.

But even in our agriculturally rich region, many of the same families who labor to produce these crops struggle to feed their children. This is part of the tragedy of hunger in America.

I have witnessed firsthand the challenges these families face living on the average SNAP benefit, which is $4.50 per day.

While I am a strong supporter of passing a farm bill, I have serious concerns about what the proposed cuts mean for 16.2 million children nationwide who are faced with hunger. We must and we can do better. I hope we pass the farm bill in the House next week. And if so, I will be fighting to make sure that these children have a seat at the table when we go to conference with the Senate.

Budget choices are a reflection of our priorities. In a time of such economic hardship, we can and we must make sure that those most vulnerable in our society are fed properly.

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