[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 142 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H6718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HUNGER TOUCHES EVERY COMMUNITY

  (Mr. DEUTCH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, this September Feeding America's national 
network of food banks and hunger advocates took part in Hunger Action 
Month, yet here in Congress, as September comes to an end, I am not 
sure that Hunger Action Month ever began. Nearly 49 million Americans, 
including over 15 million children, live in food-insecure households. 
That is shameful.
  Hunger touches every community--every community. In my own Florida 
district in Palm Beach and Broward Counties, about 15 percent of 
households are food-insecure. That is nearly half a million people who 
don't know where their next meal will come from.
  Thankfully, the generosity of our community and the work of groups 
like Feeding South Florida help keep hungry families fed, but those 
with the greatest power to end hunger are right here in the United 
States Congress. As Pope Francis said to this Chamber just last week: 
The fight against poverty and hunger must be fought constantly and on 
many fronts. Let's heed his words.
  This week I will introduce the Food Security Improvement Act of 2015, 
a bill to ensure SNAP benefits reflect the real costs of feeding a 
family in need. I invite my colleagues to join me in sponsoring this 
legislation. Let's mark the end of Hunger Action Month by taking action 
here in this House.

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