[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 2180-2181]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HUNGER IS NOT AN OPTION

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, hunger is not an option. And although

[[Page 2181]]

there were many elements of the farm bill that, over the years, I have 
supported enthusiastically as a Representative from Texas--and I thank 
all of those who produce food--it is a question of taking a stand. 
First, $40 billion, then $11 billion, then $8 billion. It is not an 
option in terms of the closing off of the opportunity for food stamps.
  For those who are working, as Maggie, a young lady in Austin, Texas, 
and the 48 million women who are living in poverty and the 22 million 
children living in poverty, I took a stand today, and I am proud of 
it--not because the work was not there for the farm bill, but we have 
got to protect those who need us most. Hunger is not an option.
  I take this time as well to thank Trudi Terry, my dear friend, for 
her service to this Nation. She is professional and distinguished. And 
as we refer to each other on the floor, ``the distinguished gentlelady 
from Texas,'' ``the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts,'' you 
are the distinguished gentlelady from Virginia, along with Irene. We 
thank you for sharing with us.
  And I appreciate one thing: thank you for being our friend and my 
friend. God bless you and continue in prosperity and service. God bless 
you.

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