[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 102 (Thursday, July 9, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1695-E1696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AGRICULTURE RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 8, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2997) making 
     appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
     Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 2997, the 
Agriculture Appropriations bill. This bill wisely devotes half of the 
total appropriations in the entire bill to the Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called the Food Stamp Program.
  The face of hunger takes many forms. This week while driving in my 
district I saw a homeless woman who suffered from chronic hunger, 
begging on the street corner. When the most basic need for food goes 
unmet, the most basic functions of living that so many of us take for 
granted become difficult, if not impossible. It threatens the economic 
and social well-being of the affected person, and sometimes the entire 
family. And while this homeless and hungry soul is an apt example of 
the face of hunger, the truth is that food insecurity is hurting far 
more than just the severely disadvantaged. Food insecurity is hurting 
our middle class, our children and our seniors among others. During 
difficult economic times like these, hunger's invisibility belies its 
startling prevalence.
  In the United States 1 in 8 or approximately 36 million Americans 
struggle with hunger, 13 million of which are children. According to 
the USDA 1 in 6 American children are food insecure. One out of every 
five children under five years of age is living at risk of hunger in 13 
states around our nation.
  In my home state of Ohio, 12.7 percent of Ohioans are food insecure; 
18.7 percent of Ohio's children are food insecure; and 23.3 percent of 
children under the age of five are food insecure. Ohio has recently 
been reported to have the third highest rate of food insecure children 
under the age of 5 in the nation.
  Uncertain times in our country and economy are even more uncertain 
for these children as their malnutrition will have a long-lasting 
impact on their future development. Proper nutrition throughout life is 
important but research tells us that for children three and under it is 
particularly important as this is the time that children build a 
foundation for the rest of their life. It is precisely the time when 
their brains and central nervous systems are growing the fastest. A 
good foundation is essential to a child's future health, including 
mental health, educational accomplishment and economic viability.
  Recent reports indicate that across our nation, 33.8 million people 
were enrolled in SNAP in April 2009. This is a new record and an 
increase of 20 percent over last year. It is expected that SNAP will 
serve approximately 35 million Americans in Fiscal Year 2010. According 
to a study from the Center for Community Solutions, portions of my 
district, including Lakewood, Fairview Park and Parma, have experienced 
a 74 percent increase in participation in the Food Stamp Program (now 
called SNAP) between 2002 and 2007. Furthermore, our local food bank, 
the Cleveland Food Bank, has significantly increased distribution since 
the start of the current fiscal year. Already they have distributed 
three million more pounds of food in the current fiscal year than was 
distributed in the entire prior year. By October 2009 it is expected 
that this number will increase to four million pounds. In Northeast 
Ohio local food pantries have experienced a 35 percent increase in 
clients. Many of these clients are first time users of the food bank.

[[Page E1696]]

  Policy Matters Ohio released a report in February 2009 that found 
that over 2.8 million Ohioans--roughly 25 percent--are not earning 
enough income to meet their basic needs. The latest unemployment 
statistics for the State of Ohio show that unemployment is still on the 
rise at 10.8 percent. The national unemployment rate is 9.5 percent. 
These numbers are expected to increase in the coming weeks and months.
  The resources that are allocated to SNAP by this bill are desperately 
needed. I support this bill and urge its passage.

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