[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 174 (Tuesday, October 6, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REINTRODUCTION OF THE FOOD DESERTS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANDRE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 6, 2020

  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, food security is quickly 
becoming a national crisis that we must address. In my district alone, 
1 in 5 people live in a food desert where grocery stores are 
unfortunately closing down, taking away healthy options and prices are 
skyrocketing for smaller stores. Too many families already lack a car 
or reliable public transportation to get to the nearest alternative, 
often located over a mile away. Today, thousands of my constituents are 
struggling to find the food they need, with many forced to rely on fast 
food and convenience stores. These options are neither healthy nor 
affordable. These problems have only been made worse by the COVID-19 
pandemic.
  Sadly, this situation is not unique. Over 29 million people, almost 
10 percent of the U.S. population, live without ready access to 
affordable, nutritious food and over 2 million people have no 
transportation to get to their nearest store. Many have seen their 
local stores close their doors during the recent economic downturn. 
Others lost access years ago and are now facing the serious long-term 
impacts of obesity, diabetes, malnutrition and other diet related 
ailments. Unfortunately, residents in these low-income areas tend to 
spend less on groceries, leaving little financial incentive for 
traditional grocery chains to make costly investments for new 
locations.
  In the wealthiest country on Earth, nutritious food should be an 
expectation, not a luxury. That is why I am reintroducing the Food 
Deserts Act, which creates new avenues to fund stores in underserved 
communities. This bill will create USDA funding for state operated 
revolving funds that will issue low interest loans for the operation of 
grocery stores in food deserts. The bill ensures that recipients of 
these loans, including for-profit, non-profit and municipal entities, 
will provide affordable, healthy food, including fresh produce and 
staples like milk, bread and meat. It will also ensure that USDA 
professionals are available to provide technical assistance to 
recipients who need it.
  Access to healthy food is something that most of us take for granted. 
But despite our own experiences, we need to remember that millions of 
our constituents are struggling every day to feed their families. With 
this market driven approach, I hope to complement existing federal 
programs and efforts around the country by ensuring a stable lending 
stream for struggling grocery stores and sustainable access to food for 
communities in need.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the Food Deserts 
Act.