Sherrod Brown: “I asked for that funding because there are massive shortages of food bank supplies, empty shelves, and those shortages…”

“I asked for that funding because there are massive shortages of food bank supplies, empty shelves, and those shortages place at risk children, the elderly, and working families, people who have lost jobs, people who have had a string of bad luck, and families across this Nation. I spoke yesterday of Norm, an elderly man in Cleveland, who, after spending his few dollars on rent, on utilities, and medicine, has $19 left. He needs the Cleveland Food Bank. The Cleveland Food Bank, I would add, was awarded the best food bank in the country last year, but it is running short, as are food banks everywhere in this country. I spoke yesterday of Christian, who has trained to be a nurse's assistant, and who just gave birth. She is unable to find a job as a nurse's assistant, even though she is well trained to do that. She runs short of food, and she relies on, as does Norm, neighborhood food programs, such as the Cleveland Food Bank and other church groups in greater Cleveland. In too many cases there is no dinner on the table. In too many cases there is no food at Christmas time. In too many cases there is just not enough food. We are the wealthiest Nation in the world. Yet we cannot feed our own people. This is an emergency. This is an outrage.”