[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 157 (Wednesday, November 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING THE ALAMEDA FOOD BANK'S STUDY ON THE STATE OF HUNGER IN 
                             ALAMEDA COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 14, 2001

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Alameda County 
Food Bank for their comprehensive study, Hunger: The Faces and Facts 
2001, which examines the causes and the extent of hunger in Alameda 
County, California.
  This study shows that each month thousands of low-income families 
cannot afford well-balanced meals in Alameda County. Although many 
families never imagined they would need assistance, their barren 
cupboards and empty pockets have led them to their local soup kitchens 
and food pantries. According to the study, 45 percent of the 
respondents reported that they had to choose between paying for food or 
paying for rent in the past 12 months.
  The study reports that the demand for emergency food has increased 
steadily over the past decade, even during the most recent economic 
boom. As the government safety net programs are weakened and as our 
economy continues to struggle, the numbers will rise even higher.
  The report shows that the food stamp program is not doing an 
effective job of informing low-income families that they are eligible 
for food stamps. Only 21 percent of households that get help from food 
banks receive food stamps, while an estimated 80 percent have incomes 
that would qualify them for the food stamp program. This represents a 
sharp decrease from the 37 percent of respondents who received food 
stamps according to the Alameda County Food Bank's 1997 study.
  Congress' decision to reduce the benefit in 1996 has adversely 
affected poor people. Ninety percent of households receiving food 
stamps stated that their benefits did not last the entire month, 
reporting that on average, benefits last 2.2 weeks.
  This study demonstrates that Congress needs to greatly improve the 
food stamp program to address the mounting hunger problem in Alameda 
County and the United States. As Congress makes decisions on reforming 
the food stamp program in the Farm Security Act of 2001, it needs to 
increase the food stamp benefit amount and improve the program's 
outreach to ensure that poor families know they are eligible for the 
program.
  I commend the Alameda County Food Bank for its work on relieving 
hunger among poor families. I also congratulate them on publishing this 
very important report to explain the causes and the extent of hunger in 
Alameda County. Now, I call on Congress to take note of the evidence 
presented in this report and to reauthorize and improve the food stamp 
program so that it relieves hunger in the United States.

                          ____________________