[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 174 (Thursday, November 10, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1121-E1122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              INDIANA INTRODUCTION OF THE FOOD DESERTS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANDRE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 10, 2022

  Mr. CARSON. Madam Speaker, today I am reintroducing the Food Deserts 
Act of 2022 to help fight hunger and food insecurity in communities 
across the country.
  I'd like to share just one example. In June of 2017, Marsh 
Supermarkets grocery stores announced the closure of many stores 
throughout the Midwest. Many of these stores were in my district where 
many families lack a car or reliable public transportation to get to 
the nearest grocery alternative, often located over a mile away. Today, 
thousands of my constituents are still struggling to find the food they 
need, with many forced to rely on fast-food restaurants and convenience 
stores.
  These options are neither healthy nor affordable.
  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 during the pandemic. 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-funded, 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

[[Page E1122]]

and municipal entities, can 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.
  Madam Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
important bill.

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