Hunger in America

I am a member of the Congressional Hunger Caucus, which is dedicated to eradicating hunger in America and around the world. In the wealthiest nation on earth, we must ensure that everyone has adequate resources to put food on the table.

The Special Supplemental Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) ensures that low-income pregnant women, postpartum women, breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk are able to supplement their diets with nutritious food needed for the healthy development of infants and children. Children have always been the largest recipients of this important support. I strongly opposed proposed cuts included in the Republican budget that would make it difficult to provide adequate funding for this program.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called Food Stamps, is the last line of defense for more than 45 million Americans who face chronic hunger. More than 80 percent of SNAP households include a child, an elderly person, or someone with a disability.

The Republican budget would reduce the program by nearly 20 percent and cut millions of people from the program or reduce benefits to a point below what is required to support a bare bones diet.

I participated in the Fighting Poverty with Faith Food Stamp Challenge, where I limited myself to the average daily SNAP benefit of $4.50. Although I only took the challenge for a week, I realized how difficult it is to follow a healthy diet on such a limited budget. I will continue to be a vocal proponent of the SNAP program and all federal assistance programs that help prevent hunger.

I was proud to support passage of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was signed into law by President Obama in December, 2010. That law increases the federal reimbursement rate for the first time in 30 years, improves the nutritional quality of food served in schools, reduces barriers to access for low-income students, and increases coordination between federal programs to provide more quality meals to students. I will continue to defend existing funding for school meal programs and work to expand funding so that no student goes through the school day without adequate food.

Legislation I’ve Introduced

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Resolution – I introduced a resolution recognizing the critical importance of maintaining a strong SNAP (formerly called Food Stamps) program and the moral imperative of preventing hunger. That resolution has dozens of cosponsors, all of whom agree that a budget that cuts SNAP is not responsible or fair. 

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