[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 25, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H3419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF BERNADETTE McARN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, this past Saturday in my home town of 
Wilson, North Carolina, the Wilson Community College held its annual 
commencement exercise. From all accounts, it was a wonderful occasion. 
But for one family in the community, the McArn family, there was great 
sadness on this occasion because their loved one was due to graduate; 
but sadly, she passed away on January 14, 2011, at the young age of 45. 
And so I take this opportunity today to honor the life and memory of 
that individual, Ms. Bernadette McArn.
  The youngest of four children, Bernadette was born on July 12, 1965, 
to Isiah and Wynomia Crocker McArn. She was a graduate of Ralph L. Fike 
High School and, but for her passing, would have earned an associate's 
degree from the college. It is fitting to note that last spring 
Bernadette distinguished herself and pleased her family when she made 
the Dean's List.
  This has been a very difficult time for the McArn family. They were 
very proud of Bernadette, and her memory will live within their hearts 
forever.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in offering our deepest condolences to 
the McArn family, friends, and loved ones.


                            Food Insecurity

  Mr. Speaker, I want to use my remaining time to talk about the issue 
of hunger.
  In this same community where Bernadette McArn lived her entire life, 
many are suffering from what I call food insecurity. At 11 p.m. last 
night, a line began to form at the Wilson OIC to receive food 
commodities today. Hundreds of citizens in this small community--black, 
white, and brown--stood all night long to be positioned to receive the 
basic commodity of food.
  Earlier this year, a study by the Food Research and Action Center 
showed that the First District of North Carolina ranks as the second 
worst for food insecurity in the country. Last Thanksgiving, about 
2,000 people waited overnight--again--for a 25-pound bag of groceries 
at this same community-based program. For those of us living in eastern 
North Carolina, this comes as no surprise and underscores the need for 
a strong nutrition safety net.
  Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident in our country. As a 
State, North Carolina ranks sixth worst in the country for food 
security, with a food hardship rate of 23.5 percent, and the numbers 
are even worse in my district in eastern North Carolina.
  The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is called on to 
serve more than 500,000 people annually in 34 counties in central and 
eastern North Carolina, and about 73,000 different people receive 
emergency food assistance in any given week. Of those people, the food 
bank reports that 40 percent choose between paying for food and paying 
for utilities or heat; 33 percent choose between paying for food and 
paying their rent or mortgage; 37 percent choose between paying for 
food and paying for medicine or medical care; and 38 percent choose 
between paying for food and paying for transportation.
  Mr. Speaker, as we continue our work, we must keep in mind that as 
many as 50 million Americans are struggling with food security. The 
Federal Government certainly needs to find ways to cut costs and reduce 
spending, but that burden should not fall heaviest on the people with 
the greatest needs.
  As I close, let me just encourage our citizens to stay strong in 
their faith and know that Democrats will fight for you.
  And I would like to thank Mr. Howard Jones of the Wilson OIC, his 
staff, and all of the volunteers for their extraordinary contribution 
to the Wilson community.

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