Political Quotes

“I rise today in honor of National Hunger Awareness Day. On this day, we focus on the more than 50 million people in the United States without enough to eat and reassert our commitment to assist those in need. Millions of families live each day not knowing if they will have enough to eat. Rather than thinking about what the next meal will be, these parents worry if there will be a next meal. Rather than concentrate on homework, these children are trying not to think about their hunger pangs. In a nation as resourceful and agriculturally abundant as ours, this is inexcusable. If children--or adults--are hungry in America, that is a problem for all of us. The level of hunger in our Nation is at the highest level since the government began tracking food insecurity in 1995. The number of Americans experiencing hunger increased from 35.5 million in 2006 to 50 million in 2011. In Illinois, over 11 percent of households are food insecure. These are working families who just aren't able to make ends meet and are forced to skip meals to make sure food will last through the week. At a time when millions of middle class Americans are struggling to keep up with higher gas prices and grocery bills, more families are looking to Federal programs for assistance. Throughout the country, Federal hunger assistance programs have responded to this growing need by providing essential support to hungry families.…”