Sherrod Brown: “I rise to introduce an emergency assistance measure--$40 million in bridge funding for the Emergency Food Assistance…”

“I rise to introduce an emergency assistance measure--$40 million in bridge funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program. When a child knows there will be no dinner waiting for her at home, that is an emergency. When a mother or father cannot put food on the table for a family, that is an emergency. When an elderly couple eats one small meal a day, that is an emergency. Across the country, lines at food banks are already longer than they were at this time last year. That is an emergency. It is a health emergency. It is a humanitarian emergency. In Ohio, food reserves intended to last until July are projected to run out by February. Food banks are being forced to ration food and turn hungry people away already, in a particularly bad time of year. Many of us, especially in this Chamber, who are so very blessed, celebrate the holidays by buying presents for our loved ones. For too many families in Ohio and in other States across this country, food on the table will be the greatest gift they can give this holiday season.”