May 26, 2005

Legislation Focuses on Tracking and Fighting American Hunger

Washington, DC – Senator Gordon Smith has joined Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) to introduce the Hunger Free Communities Act of 2005, which strengthens local efforts to fight domestic hunger and the federal government’s ability to assess hunger prevalence.

“This fight requires that those in need are identified, that hunger programs are improved and that Congress remains diligent and resolute in ending this problem,” Smith said. “This bill puts the tragedy of hunger front and center in the halls of Congress and forces the issue be dealt with.”

The Act urges Congress to achieve goals of cutting U.S. hunger in half by 2010 and ending hunger in America by 2015. It includes “Sense of Congress” provisions protecting funds for the national nutrition programs, and authorizes $50 million for community-based grants that focus on meeting local hunger needs. It calls for the U.S. Census Bureau to begin collecting hunger data at the county level. Further, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be required to prepare annual reports on the status of domestic hunger elimination.

The most recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that 36 million people, including 13 million children, live in households that struggle to feed their families. In 2004, the USDA reported that Oregon was ranked 8th in hunger prevalence.

“This bill plants a new seed of hope in the fight against hunger,” said Smith. “It’s time for policy to begin addressing this growing problem, and it’s long past time for Congress to make it a priority.”

In 2004, Smith formed the Senate Hunger Caucus in 2004. Since forming the Senate Hunger Caucus, 34 of his senate colleagues have joined Smith in raising awareness of hunger and encouraging new efforts to combat it.

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