[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 28, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E163-E164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  INTRODUCTION OF THE FOOD DESERTS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANDRE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2023

  Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing the Food Deserts 
Act of 2023 to help fight hunger and food insecurity in communities 
across the country.
  As we end Black History Month, I'd like to focus on the problem of 
food insecurity and how it disproportionately hurts Black and Brown 
families.
  I want 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. Many families lacked 
a car or reliable public transportation to the nearest grocery 
alternative, often 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 now face the severe 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 world's wealthiest country, 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, 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

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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 must remember that millions of our 
constituents struggle daily to feed their families. With this market-
driven approach, I aim to complement existing federal programs and 
efforts nationwide by ensuring a stable lending stream for struggling 
grocery stores and sustainable access to food for communities in need.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to support this vital bill.

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