[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19797]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                                 HUNGER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ney). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton) is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, hunger is an issue that many in America 
would prefer to ignore, and I perhaps wish I did not have to speak on 
it. I have spoken on this before and have said many of the things I 
must repeat again.
  The economy is soaring for some. In fact, it is good for most. 
Unemployment is at a 30-year low. Welfare rolls have been slashed. 
Still, every day in America, 31 million Americans, 31 million 
Americans, are either hungry or living under the specter of hunger. The 
economy is sinking for far too many of our citizens: Those who are 
hungry.
  There is evidence of hunger in 3.6 percent of all households in 
America. Close to 4 million children are hungry. Fourteen million 
children, 20 percent of the population of children, live in food 
insecure homes. In food insecure homes, meals are skipped or the size 
of the meal is reduced. More than 10 percent of all households in 
America are food insecure.
  Because there is such hunger and food insecurity, there is also 
infant mortality, growth stunting, iron deficiency, anemia, poor 
learning, and increased chances for disease. Because there is such 
hunger and food insecurity, the poor are more likely to remain poor and 
the hungry more likely to remain hungry.
  It seems strange that we must fight for food for those who cannot 
fight for themselves. It really is time to stop picking on the poor. 
Less than 3 percent, less than 3 percent of the budget goes to feed the 
hungry. It is for those reasons that Congress should, Congress must 
pass hunger relief legislation. If we do, we can achieve several 
important goals: We will build on the bipartisan progress we made in 
1998 with the passage of the Agriculture Research Act. In that act we 
restored some benefits for legal immigrants.
  In legislation I have co-sponsored in this Congress, we restore food 
stamp benefits for all immigrants, including the working poor, families 
with young children, and needy seniors. With the Hunger Relief Act of 
1999, we also seek to update the food stamp rules.
  We change the vehicle limit so that families can retain a reliable 
car without losing food stamp benefits. We change the shelter cap, 
raising it from $275 to now $340 over the next 4 years, and then we 
index it to inflation. Finally, the Hunger Relief Act authorizes 
another $100 million over 5 years for commodity purchases and food 
distribution.
  With the will, we can pass this act this Congress. We cannot move 
from poverty to progress without a fair chance for all. We cannot 
prepare our children for the future if we insist upon policies that 
relegate them to the past. We cannot ensure the quality of life for 
every citizen if we fail to provide programs for all of our citizens. 
And we cannot protect and preserve our communities if we do not 
adequately provide the most basic commodity for living: Something to 
eat.
  Nutritional programs are essential for the well-being of millions of 
our citizens. The disadvantaged, our children, the elderly, and the 
disabled, these are groups of people who often cannot provide for 
themselves and need help for their existence. They do not ask for much: 
Just a little help to sustain them through the day; just a little help 
to keep children alert in classes and adults to be productive in their 
jobs or as they search for jobs.
  The Hunger Relief Act provides that help. Food for all is worth 
fighting for. And as we end this Congress, we have a chance to change 
this shocking and the scandalous situation. I am so proud to have 
joined 181 of my colleagues in the House and 38 Senators, Republicans 
and Democrats, in support of legislation that focuses on food and takes 
notice of this Nation's nutritional needs.
  The Hunger Relief Act, H.R. 3192 in the House and S. 1805 in the 
Senate will help the one in ten families in our Nation who are affected 
by hunger. Mr. Speaker, let us pass this act before we end this 
Congress.

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