[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 176 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H7278-H7279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             END HUNGER NOW

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, on the Monday and Tuesday before 
Thanksgiving, back in Massachusetts, I participated in the seventh 
annual Monte's March, which is a 43-mile walk to raise awareness about 
hunger in our community and to raise money for The Food Bank of Western 
Massachusetts.
  The leader of this remarkable event is Monte Belmonte, a well-known 
local radio personality with WRSI, the River, and a committed activist 
on behalf of those who are most vulnerable. This year, the march raised 
a record $211,213. This translates into over a half a million meals for 
individuals and families who struggle with food insecurity. I was 
impressed by the stamina of all of those who walked and by the 
incredible generosity of the community.
  The sad reality is that there is no congressional district in the 
United States that is hunger free, and those who battle hunger defy 
stereotypes. Some are homeless; some are jobless; but there are many 
who work but who earn so little that they can't afford to put food on 
the table on a regular basis for their families.
  While food banks and food pantries and charitable organizations are 
vital in our efforts to combat hunger, they cannot do it alone. We need 
a strong commitment by our government to do its part. Indeed, I would 
argue that we have fallen way short of doing what is needed to ensure 
that no one goes hungry. Those whom I marched alongside during Monte's 
March are good people who understand what it means to truly be part of 
a community.
  I want to thank, first and foremost, the incredible Monte Belmonte 
and all of the people at the River, including Mark Lattanzi, Joan 
Holliday, Michael Sokol, Kaliis Smith, Dave Musante,

[[Page H7279]]

and Matt Peterson. They are amazing people who worked overtime to make 
this march a success.
  I am grateful to Andrew Morehouse, the executive director of The Food 
Bank of Western Massachusetts, and to everyone at the food bank. They 
do incredible work.
  Thanks to all of the elected officials who joined part of the march, 
including my colleagues, Congressmen Richie Neal and Joe Kennedy. We 
were also joined by State Representatives Steve Kulik and Aaron Vega, 
State Representative-elect Solomon Goldstein-Rose, as well as by 
Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz and District Attorney Dave Sullivan.
  We kicked off the march at Friends of the Homeless in Springfield, 
and I am grateful for all that they do. The Sheriff's Departments in 
Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties, as well as the Deerfield 
Police, helped provide escorts for us during all 43 miles.
  A special thanks to the students who joined the march from Greenfield 
Center School, HEC Academy, Conway Grammar School, and Erving 
Elementary. We were joined by a contingent from Greenfield Community 
College, which included its president, Bob Pura. We also had a group of 
farmers from The Kitchen Garden in Sunderland who joined the effort.
  Sean Barry, from Four Seasons Liquors in Hadley, was, as usual, 
Monte's right-hand man and always at the front of the line. We had a 
large group of individuals who marched and raised a lot of money. 
Thanks to all of them. My friend Chia Collins of Northampton deserves 
special credit for raising the most.
  Thanks to all of the people who greeted us along the way, including 
Karen Blanchard of Kate's Kitchen, Andrea Marion at Lorraine's Soup 
Kitchen and Pantry, Mindy Domb at the Amherst Survival Center, Lori 
Divine and Vitek Kruta at Gateway City Arts, Chancellor Subbaswamy at 
UMass Amherst and his top aide Natalie Blais, who marched 27 miles with 
us.

                              {time}  1045

  We are grateful to Northampton Brewery for a wonderful dinner on 
Monday, Chandler's in Deerfield for a great lunch on Tuesday, 
Richardson's Candy Kitchen in Deerfield for the indulgent chocolates 
that gave us energy, and all the folks at Seymour's in Greenfield for 
the magnificent celebration at the end of the march. Also, a special 
thanks to Tea Guys for their wonderful tea in honor of the march and 
for their generosity.
  Thanks to Ben Clark from Clarkdale Fruit Farm in Deerfield for the 
apples and for keeping us in line. Thanks to Erika Connell Cooper's 
mother for the delicious apple pies. And thank you to Mr. Michael 
Brooks and the students at the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High 
School in Northampton for making the shopping carts we used during the 
march.
  Mr. Speaker, I was glad to be part of this, but I want to close by 
expressing my deep concern about the future. I remain worried about 
rumors of more cuts to SNAP or separating SNAP from the farm bill or 
weakening child nutrition. With so many relying on these programs to 
help put food on the table, these cuts would be devastating for 
families across the country. We must protect and strengthen these 
programs.
  I believe food ought to be a right for every single individual in 
this country and on the planet, but the sad reality is that it isn't. 
All of us need to do better. All of us need to care more. All of us 
need to recognize our moral failings in not addressing this issue 
sooner.
  So on behalf of the dedicated crew that took part in Monte's March, I 
urge all of us in Congress to act and end hunger now.

                          ____________________