[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 6, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H2374-H2375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ADVOCATING FOR FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to advocate for the 
Federal nutrition programs that help our most vulnerable constituents 
and to highlight why these programs continue to need our unwavering 
protection and attention.
  March 4 marked the beginning of National School Breakfast Week, which 
is designed to show parents, students, and school officials the 
benefits of fueling up for the day with a healthy school breakfast.
  I am sure it comes as no surprise to many of you that learning 
improves when students are not hungry. It is awfully hard to 
concentrate when you don't have any fuel in your body.
  Last week, I met with several anti-hunger organizations from my 
district, and they shared with me stories from the people they serve on 
how nutrition programs, food pantries, and school breakfast and lunch 
programs impact their lives.
  Many of them wrote their thoughts on paper plates, and I would like 
to read a few of them to you.
  Jay Keller from Jeremiah's Inn in Worcester said: ``These food 
centers make a huge difference when it comes to preparing meals. 
Without them, I would not be able to make ends meet. Please keep them 
going. Many people may go hungry if they do not continue.''
  A parent from Catholic Charities in Worcester said: ``SNAP and school 
lunches help my daughter and I eat. It helps us get by, and I work 
part-time. Very grateful for these programs.''
  Sometimes, Mr. Speaker, school breakfasts and lunches are the only 
opportunities a child has to receive a full meal. For example, a 
student from Memorial Elementary School in Winchendon said: ``School 
lunch is important because it keeps me full until I go home.'' Another 
student from Pernet Family Health Services in Worcester wrote: ``If I 
don't eat, my head hurts.''
  While many nutrition program participants are children and persons 
with disabilities, their reach extends to veterans. A veteran from St. 
Anthony's Parish in Worcester wrote: ``My food bank provides myself and 
fellow veterans with love and nutrients. Without you guys, it would be 
a long month. Thanks to our nuns who help us always.''
  When a family is worried about whether they can afford basic 
necessities, nutrition programs and the food security they provide goes 
a long way.

  In 2018, a monthly average of 40.3 million people participated in the 
SNAP program. Despite the fact that this number has been steadily 
decreasing, the Trump administration has unveiled several baseless 
attacks on these nutrition programs.
  On December 20, 2018, the Trump administration proposed a rule that 
will threaten the eligibility of SNAP participants who are considered 
able-bodied adults without dependents. In an effort to, ironically, 
``restore self-sufficiency through the dignity of work,'' their rule 
stigmatizes SNAP participants and limits a State's ability to waive 20-
hour work requirements.
  The able-bodied adult without dependents population is a complex 
group. Many of them are veterans returning from overseas and having a 
difficult time reintegrating into our community. Many of them are young 
adults who have aged out of the foster care system. Some are ex-felons 
who are products of mass incarceration. Some are workers who are not 
given 20 hours of work per week.
  Mr. Speaker, 75 percent of SNAP participants do work, but often in 
jobs that are either unstable or don't pay enough to put food on the 
table. It is not that the able-bodied adult without dependents 
population is jobless by choice. Many are jobless because they lack 
privilege and are trying to get on their feet.
  This proposed rule also specifically goes against the will of 
Congress by imposing restrictions that were specifically rejected for 
inclusion in the farm bill signed into law just last year.
  As if that weren't enough, the Trump administration also announced 
its intention to propose changes to categorical eligibility. 
Categorical eligibility, or Cat-el, is criteria used to determine 
whether a family is automatically eligible for SNAP because they 
already qualify for certain other low-income programs. Cat-el is fine 
as it is because it eliminates redundancy and minimizes hurdles that 
low-income families must overcome just to keep up with their basic 
needs.
  While the administration changes are forthcoming, I don't have much 
optimism about how they will turn out.
  The current administration is trying to solve problems that don't 
exist, and they are creating problems that have clear solutions. That 
is why we must

[[Page H2375]]

continue to raise these issues to the forefront of our agenda.
  There is no excuse. We have the resources. It is on all of us to 
prioritize basic hunger needs. Supporting school breakfast and lunch 
programs, and maintaining reasonable eligibility for nutrition 
assistance programs, are the least we can do to end hunger now.
  We live in the richest country in the history of the world, and we 
have millions and millions of people who are hungry. We should all be 
ashamed of that.
  Hunger and food insecurity are political conditions. We can solve 
these problems if we have the political will. I urge my colleagues to 
gather that political will.

                          ____________________