[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19840]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HUNGER IN AMERICA

  (Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, we're the richest, most prosperous nation 
in the world, but 49 million Americans went hungry in 2009; 16 million 
were children. These numbers would be higher if it weren't for programs 
like SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, and WIC.
  We have a hunger crisis in America, and we are not doing enough to 
prevent this terrible scourge.
  During this holiday season, the House and Senate Hunger Caucuses are 
sponsoring the Hour for Hunger event. Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson and 
I are encouraging every Member of this House to volunteer 1 hour to 
highlight efforts in their districts to fight hunger. Visit a food bank 
or a food pantry, host a food drive. It's not hard, but it's important 
and effective.
  Finally, I want to urge the White House to host a Conference on Food 
and Nutrition so we can develop and implement a comprehensive and 
coordinated national strategy to end hunger in America once and for 
all.
  Hunger is a political condition. All we need now is the political 
will to end it.

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