[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 72 (Thursday, May 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E842]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORTING WAL-MART'S EFFORTS TO COMBAT HUNGER IN THE UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHAKA FATTAH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2010

  Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a notable work 
of good citizenship on the part of Wal-Mart and the Wal-Mart 
Foundation. Their announcement of a five year, $2 billion initiative to 
improve the efficiency of the U.S. food bank system and make nutritious 
food more accessible to those in the greatest need will contribute 
towards the goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015. This initiative 
will provide 1.1 billion pounds of food to families who desperately 
need it, and will deliver $250 million in grants to help support hunger 
relief organizations.
  As Chair of the Congressional Urban Caucus, I know that too many of 
the nation's urban residents face the silent epidemic of food 
insecurity, and that they are not alone in their plight. Up to 49 
million Americans and 22 percent of all children went hungry in 2008. 
This is a travesty in a country as rich and prosperous as the United 
States. This cannot be allowed to continue.
  I wish to congratulate Wal-Mart in its efforts to help combat hunger 
in the United States, and I hope that this is not only a significant 
step in a broad commitment on the part of this corporation, but one 
that motivates their peers to join us in this cause.

                          ____________________