Press Releases

Today on the House Floor, Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), a senior House Democrat and leading champion of anti-hunger efforts, spoke about Community Voices, a summer-long national campaign launched by the Center for American Progress, the Coalition on Human Needs, Witnesses to Hunger, the Food Research and Action Center, Feeding America and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

McGovern praised the work of Community Voices (including the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless) to amplify the stories of real families helped by SNAP, WIC, and other anti-hunger programs. Click here to watch video of today’s speech.

“All too often, the discussion around SNAP and our other anti-hunger programs is punctuated by misinformation, false stereotypes or downright nasty rhetoric. It’s frustrating and it’s wrong. 

“Community Voices reminds us what a positive difference these programs make for families who are really struggling.

“Every Member of Congress should have received a Community Voices booklet. It’s a call to action to protect our vital federal nutrition assistance programs.  I encourage you to read the stories about how these programs are helping the families who need them most. Without them, hunger would be much worse.

“And I urge you to keep their stories in mind the next time proposals come before Congress to cut funding for WIC or restrict access to SNAP or make it more difficult for children to get healthy meals in school. Harmful changes like these would hurt real families who are already struggling. We shouldn’t make their lives more difficult. We shouldn’t be making hunger worse in this country.

Click here to watch the video of today’s speech.

NUMBERS

• In 2014 alone, SNAP lifted 4.7 million people out of poverty, including 2.1 million children.
• 92 percent of benefits go to households with incomes below the poverty line.
• Federal investment in our nutrition programs is one of the smartest investments we can make.
• For every $1 spent on preventive services for a pregnant woman in WIC, the program saves $4.21 in Medicaid costs by reducing the risk of pre-term birth and associated costs.

STORIES OF REAL FAMILIES

Today, McGovern also shared stories of real families helped by SNAP and other anti-hunger programs:

Linda from the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless:

• “Several years ago, I volunteered at a summer program at a park in Morgantown, Kentucky, assisting with skill-building activities. Without this nutrition program, the kids who came would not have had lunch, since school was not in session.
• “If the kids didn’t come to that park for nutritional food, I’m not sure they would have gotten it anywhere else. None of the food was wasted, and if there was any food leftover, the kids would take it back to their families.
• “Food is a basic human right, and our government sometimes forgets that and needs to be reminded. This is a moral imperative for our country to make sure that all people, especially children, have the resources needed to develop – even more so for families and children in poverty.”

Jonetta from Sacramento, California:

• “Several years ago, I left an abusive relationship, and now I am raising my daughter by myself. My daughter participates in the school meal program and the after-school snack program. The snack program really helps so that my daughter isn’t as hungry when she gets home from school. We also receive $356 a month in SNAP.
• “This money is supposed to supplement my food budget, but it is really all of my food budget because my income barely covers my rent. Right now, I’m homeless, and it’s hard to find a place to live for less than $500 a month. Because of SNAP, we are not starving.
• “As a mom, I try to cut out a lot of bad food from my family’s diet, but it is a difficult task to buy the healthier food because it is expensive. It’s also very difficult because we have been homeless for a couple months so I have to use other people’s refrigerators. I am very thankful for these programs and to all the people who are trying to make these programs better. They really help me and my daughter.”

The full text of Congressman McGovern’s floor speech is below.

As Prepared for Delivery:

“I recently had the pleasure of speaking with a group of people involved with “Community Voices: Why Nutrition Assistance Matters.” It was inspiring to hear about the real and positive impact our federal nutrition programs have in the daily lives of Americans all across this country.

“Community Voices is a summer-long national campaign launched by the Center for American Progress, the Coalition on Human Needs, Witnesses to Hunger, the Food Research and Action Center, Feeding America and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“It was started to share the personal stories of individuals and service providers who experienced firsthand programs like SNAP or WIC or school meals. These contributors are the real experts when it comes to the importance and effect of our vital nutrition assistance programs. 

“The Community Voices campaign culminated in this booklet – a compilation of many of these personal stories.

“I’d like to take a moment and share a few of these stories. Jonetta from Sacramento, California says:

‘Several years ago, I left an abusive relationship, and now I am raising my daughter by myself. My daughter participates in the school meal program and the after-school snack program. The snack program really helps so that my daughter isn’t as hungry when she gets home from school. We also receive $356 a month in SNAP.

‘This money is supposed to supplement my food budget, but it is really all of my food budget because my income barely covers my rent. Right now, I’m homeless, and it’s hard to find a place to live for less than $500 a month. Because of SNAP, we are not starving. As a mom, I try to cut out a lot of bad food from my family’s diet, but it is a difficult task to buy the healthier food because it is expensive. It’s also very difficult because we have been homeless for a couple months so I have to use other people’s refrigerators.

‘I am very thankful for these programs and to all the people who are trying to make these programs better. They really help me and my daughter.’

And let me share another story from Linda from the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless:

‘Several years ago, I volunteered at a summer program at a park in Morgantown, Kentucky, assisting with skill-building activities. Without this nutrition program, the kids who came would not have had lunch, since school was not in session.

‘If the kids didn’t come to that park for nutritional food, I’m not sure they would have gotten it anywhere else. None of the food was wasted, and if there was any food leftover, the kids would take it back to their families.

‘Food is a basic human right, and our government sometimes forgets that and needs to be reminded. This is a moral imperative for our country to make sure that all people, especially children, have the resources needed to develop – even more so for families and children in poverty.’

“I want to thank Jonetta, Linda and all of those who took the time to share their stories. They remind us that these programs are helping real families who are trying to do their best in tough times.

“All too often, the discussion around SNAP and our other anti-hunger programs is punctuated by misinformation, false stereotypes or downright nasty rhetoric. It’s frustrating and it’s wrong. 

“Community Voices reminds us what a positive difference these programs make for families who are really struggling.

“And the data backs up just how important these programs are. In 2014 alone, for example, SNAP lifted 4.7 million people out of poverty, including 2.1 million children. Ninety-two percent of benefits go to households with incomes below the poverty line, which includes millions of struggling families working hard every day to put food on the table.

“And, federal investment in our nutrition programs is one of the smartest investments we can make. For example, for every $1 spent on preventive services for a pregnant woman in WIC, the program saves $4.21 in Medicaid costs by reducing the risk of pre-term birth and associated costs.

“I have long believed that we need to hear firsthand from the people who are directly touched by SNAP or WIC or school meals. They are the real experts and can guide us as Members of Congress as we work to strengthen and improve these programs.

“Every Member of Congress should have received a Community Voices booklet. It’s a call to action to protect our vital federal nutrition assistance programs.  I encourage you to read the stories about how these programs are helping the families who need them most. Without them, hunger would be much worse.

“And I urge you to keep their stories in mind the next time proposals come before Congress to cut funding for WIC or restrict access to SNAP or make it more difficult for children to get healthy meals in school. Harmful changes like these would hurt real families who are already struggling. We shouldn’t make their lives more difficult. We shouldn’t be making hunger worse in this country.

“We can and should do more to End Hunger Now.”  

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