Rep. Omar Statement on White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health
WASHINGTON — Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released the following statement after President Biden annouced the White House will host a Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.
"I am thrilled that President Biden is taking action on hunger, nutrition and health.
"I know what it was like to be hungry. Surviving a refugee camp, I remember not having running water, not having a reliable food source, and going to sleep with an empty stomach. I have made it a mission to end the hunger crisis, whether as a nutrition educator, an anti-hunger activist, or a member of the Education and Labor Committee.
"Hunger is a silent crisis that affects our whole country. We have 38 million food insecure people in the United States, 12 million of them children. Families with kids are particularly likely to be food insecure—especially those with children under 6. Lifesaving programs like SNAP and national school meals programs reduce the scourge of hunger, but many do not qualify for food programs, and are forced to turn to food banks for assistance or get by without food. Communities of color, indigenous communities, and rural Americans are hit hardest, but the pandemic has exacerbated this crisis for everyone. Lost jobs, shorter hours, declines in business, and rising prices can push any of us into hunger.
"It also affects millions around the world—an issue that has only been exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the climate crisis.
"I applaud the Biden Administration for their goal of ending hunger and increasing healthy eating and physical activity by 2030 and for treating this emergency with the seriousness it deserves."
Rep. Omar is a former nutrition educator, an anti-hunger activist, and a current member of the Education and Labor Committee. Last Congress, she successfully authored and passed the MEALS Act, to invest in universal school meals during the pandemic. Together with Sen. Tina Smith, she authored the End School Lunch Shaming Act and introduced the Universal School Meals Program Act with Sen. Bernie Sanders.
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