[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 11427-11428]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              COMMEMORATING NATIONAL HUNGER AWARENESS DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. McGovern. Madam Speaker, on March 16, 1964, President Lyndon 
Johnson declared a war on poverty. Yet today, 40 years later, millions 
of Americans continue to face poverty and hunger. It's unconscionable 
that in the 21st century, in the richest and most prosperous country in 
the world, nearly 35 million Americans--13 million of them children--go 
hungry every day.
  Today is National Hunger Awareness Day. This initiative, sponsored by 
America's Second Harvest, is designed to help raise public awareness 
about hunger and the problems faced by millions of people who are 
having trouble feeding themselves and their families. Today, thousands 
of hunger relief advocates and volunteers will work with food banks, 
food-rescue organizations and agencies to help raise awareness about 
hunger in their communities.
  Madam Speaker, the statistics are astounding. Nearly 35 million 
Americans go hungry each year. 13 million are children. In 2002, over 
34 million Americans and 7.2 million American families lived in 
poverty. The problem of hunger is getting worse, not better. The

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percentage of households experiencing food insecurity increased from 
10.7 percent in 2001 to 11.1 percent in 2002.
  Hunger and food insecurity don't fit the old stereotypes of the poor 
and uneducated. Not only are more working families relying on food 
banks for help to feed their children, but over 62 percent of 
recipients of food from food banks have at least a high school diploma. 
This is intolerable. As a nation, we should not and can not continue to 
have lower-income families struggle to earn enough money to put food on 
the table. Poverty and hunger are directly related--if you don't have 
money, you can't buy food. It's that simple.
  This year's theme for Hunger Awareness Day is ``One Big Table.'' 
Hundreds of events are taking place around the country, and I would 
like to highlight one taking place in my district.
  Today, the Worcester County Food Bank is holding a ``Picnic and Food 
Drive Kick-Off.'' The Worcester County Food Bank, together with 
Sovereign Bank, Shaw's Supermarkets, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 
WSRS/WTAG Radio and Curry Printing, are kicking-off the 2nd Annual 
County-wide Grocery Bag Food Drive. Held at the Worcestrer County Food 
Bank, the event includes food drive sponsors, partner agencies, 
volunteers and staff enjoying a picnic lunch prepared by Community 
Kitchen student chefs. It will feature on-air radio interviews with the 
sponsors and agencies to raise awareness of the local hunger problem 
and promote the upcoming food drive.
  Madam Speaker, National Hunger Awareness Day is just one day out of 
the year when individuals, companies, organizations, and faith-based 
groups can participate, but the reality is that hunger is a political 
problem. There is no justification for hunger to exist in this country, 
or around the world, for that matter. We have the food, the money, and 
the manpower to end hunger in the United States. What we can't seem to 
find is the political will to do so.
  Earlier this year, this body approved bipartisan legislation 
reauthorizing the child nutrition programs. It's a good bill that, 
sadly, doesn't go far enough. For example, over 22 million low-income 
children participate in the free and reduced-price school breakfast and 
lunch program. However, only 4.7 million children receive these same 
lunches in the summer--a 78.8 percent drop in participation. And it's 
not for lack of need. No, Madam Speaker, it's from the lack of 
commitment by this Congress.
  In another example, Madam Speaker, the Child Nutrition 
Reauthorization Act rightly ends the requirement that many families 
must pay a reduced price for breakfasts and lunches. But instead of 
ending this required payment now, the House-passed bill phases it out 
over five years.
  Madam Speaker, we must do better. The Education and Workforce 
Committee crafted a good, bipartisan bill. It's a good start, but it 
must be improved. The programs to end hunger are in place. They don't 
need to be recreated; they just need to be fully funded. The American 
people deserve better, and, on National Hunger Awareness Day, I urge my 
colleagues in the other body to pass a broader, more inclusive Child 
Nutrition Reauthorization Act.
  Madam Speaker, let me close by commending America's Second Harvest, 
the food banks around the country, the corporations, faith-based 
groups, volunteers and other anti-hunger advocates for their hard work 
and dedication to end hunger in the U.S. Today is National Hunger 
Awareness Day. But these individuals and groups work to end hunger 
every day. Food bank participation continues to rise. The need for 
anti-hunger programs is clear. I, for one, am grateful for America's 
Second Harvest's commitment to ending hunger in America. I urge my 
colleagues to make every day Hunger Awareness Day, to commit themselves 
to ending hunger in any way they can, and to find the political will to 
end the scourge of hunger here at home and around the world.

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