McGovern Joins New York Hunger Summit with National and Regional Health & Hunger Leaders

McGovern Puts Spotlight on Hunger as Health Issue; National Hunger-Related Healthcare Costs Estimated at $160 Billion Annually

NEW YORK, NY, April 4, 2016

NEW YORK, NY – Today Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) joined national health and hunger leaders at the New York Hunger Summit to highlight the staggering costs of hunger as a health issue. Joining today’s summit will be leaders from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), AARP, Feeding America, Hunger Free America, Harvard Law School, Yale University, Columbia University, United Way, as well as elected and anti-hunger leaders from across New York and the region. The summit is hosted by The Root Cause Coalition and the Alliance to End Hunger.

Congressman McGovern has long been a national leader on hunger, keeping the issue in the spotlight in Congress and calling for strong investments to help the 48 million Americans who struggle with hunger every year. A recent report estimates that hunger-related healthcare costs the U.S. economy $160 billion annually. Today Congressman McGovern will speak about the need to focus more on hunger as a health issue.

Excerpt from Congressman McGovern’s New York Hunger Summit Speech:

“Thanks to our federal anti-hunger programs like SNAP, or food stamps, WIC, and the school lunch and breakfast programs, we’ve been able to eliminate the severest cases of hunger and malnutrition that used to exist in this country.

“But that doesn’t mean that hunger doesn’t still exist in this country. The face of hunger in the United States can be more subtle and less obvious. But here is the hard reality: There’s not a single congressional district in the U.S. that isn’t impacted by hunger.

“We’re the richest country in the history of the world and it’s shameful that even one person goes to bed hungry. And it’s even more shameful that many are children.

“For the 48 million Americans who struggle with hunger – access to nutritious foods – and enough ¬ healthy food -- is a real challenge. And we know from a growing body of research that hunger can have serious negative health consequences far beyond simply a growling stomach.

“There ought to be a greater focus on nutrition and all of the benefits good nutrition can have on prevent and overall health. And healthcare providers ought to know what hunger looks like.”

For more information, contact Abraham White at abraham.white@mail.house.gov.

###