U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern said he doesnt want to see things go back to normal.
Normal wasnt acceptable, he said. Normal was when we had 40 million people in this country who were hungry. We need to do better than normal.
At a remote Town Hall meeting hosted Thursday by Reps. Natalie Blais, D-Sunderland, and Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, McGovern called for the federal government to step up in its efforts to address the nationwide issue of food insecurity.
Two months ago this week, McGovern said, the House of Representatives passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, better known as the HEROES Act, in response to COVID-19s impact on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals and businesses.
In the previous bills that we passed, it really didnt address the issue of food insecurity and hunger adequately. It didnt do anywhere near enough, said McGovern, D-Worcester. In the HEROES Act ... we included things like boosting the maximum SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefit by 15 percent, increasing the monthly minimum SNAP benefit from $16 to $30, and placing a hold on all the harmful rules that have been proposed by the executive branch, by the Trump Administration, that . literally would have thrown millions of people off the benefit.
As good as the act was, McGovern said, he is still waiting for Sen. Mitch McConnell to schedule a vote in the U.S. Senate.
For two months to do nothing, while people in this country go hungry, is unconscionable, he said.
In Western Massachusetts in particular, the issue of hunger and food insecurity is only getting worse, according to Christina Maxwell of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
Before the pandemic began, in Western Mass., approximately 1 in 10 people was food insecure, Maxwell said. By the end of this year, we estimate its gong to be 1 in 7 people, including 1 in 4 kids.
She said the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and 174 member agencies food pantries, meal sites, brown bag programs have served an average of 16 percent more people each month since the pandemic began than at the same time last year.
Were seeing a lot of people who have never needed to get help for finding food before, so they dont know where to go, they have no idea who to call to ask, they dont know how to find these places, she said. So weve been trying to do a lot of outreach to the general community and let people know, Were here, weve got food and we can help you find resources, too.
A number of those resources were represented at the remote meeting on Thursday, including representatives from the Amherst Survival Center, Granby to Go and The Brick House Community Resource Center in Turners Falls.
Erin McAleer, executive director at Project Bread, said she sleeps well at night knowing McGovern is down in Washington, D.C., working on behalf of organizations like her Boston-based nonprofit.
This was a crisis before COVID. Theres no reason that anybody in America should have been hungry prior to COVID-19, McAleer said, noting that the crisis has only gotten worse since the pandemic hit.
She said the good news is there are programs out there, including food pantries, food banks, supplemental assistance programs, school meal sites and Meals on Wheels.
Still, she echoed McGoverns push for the U.S. Senate to take up the HEROES Act.
Our congressional delegation is strong on this, she said. So if you dont want to call them, call friends in other states and tell them to push for it, because it matters to families in Massachusetts that we increase the SNAP allotment.
McGovern said he was inspired to hear about the work being done by various organizations across the state.
For all the great work you all collectively do, he said, speaking to attendees at the meeting who work or volunteer at food banks, food pantries and other social service providers, it is not a substitute for the federal government actually stepping up to the plate and funding these programs in a way that will make a real difference.
He emphasized the importance of remaining focused on addressing the issue of food insecurity.
People are going hungry, he said. We need to make sure people know where they can get relief and we need to be focused on changing our policies.
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 263. Twitter: @MaryEByrne
Link:
McGovern: Federal govt. should 'step up' to address food insecurity - The Recorder
- Recruitment - Wikipedia - January 27th, 2017 [January 27th, 2017]
- Resource-based economy and pay-it-forward | The Moneyless ... - January 30th, 2017 [January 30th, 2017]
- A Resource Based Economy - worldsocialism.org - January 30th, 2017 [January 30th, 2017]
- Trump's Flawed Logic Regarding US-Mexico Relations - Fair Observer - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Economic freedom achievable through knowledge based economy, innovative technical skill development - President - Asian Tribune - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Younger generation inheritors of knowledge-based economy: President - Lanka Business Online - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Morguard - 2017 Real Estate Investment Trends to Watch in Canada - Canada NewsWire (press release) - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Ask Yourself These Two Questions About America's Economic Future - Fortune - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- The Informal Economy and Decent Work: A Policy Resource ... - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Thunder Bay's population experiencing low growth - Tbnewswatch.com - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Substantial investment in agriculture needed to ensure enough food for all - Daily Nation - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Can Russia project power while battered by economic woes? - Asia Times - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- When will Russia finally break its 'resource curse'? - Russia Direct - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- TEA & TWO SLICES | On Giant Snow Penises And Christy Clark's Shudder-Worthy Interview - Scout Magazine (blog) - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Can Russia project power while battered by economic woes ... - MENAFN.COM - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Siemens backs Qatar''s economic ambitions with innovation - MENAFN.COM - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- The 'Dutch disease' reexamined: Resource booms can benefit the wider economy - USAPP American Politics and Policy (blog) - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Charles Lawton: Here's a proposal to create real equality of job opportunity - Press Herald - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- India can't write-off coal-based energy so soon: World Coal Association - Economic Times - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- The pathologies of redistributive resource transfers - Livemint - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Jessica Wright: Well-managed farmland benefits community, watershed - Conway Daily Sun - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Evaluate FLSA for its Ability to Keep Pace with Today's Workplace, SHRM Tells House Subcommittee - SHRM - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Officials hope fiber optic expansion helps diversify Decatur's economy - The Decatur Daily - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- 10th Biennial Nehalem Bay Estuary Cleanup set - Tillamook Headlight-Herald - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Howard gives Barnett a hand on hustings - The West Australian - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- EDITORIAL COMMENT: Let's celebrate President's birthday with ... - Chronicle - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Kentucky Main Street Program Communities Contributed $110M to State Economy in 2016 - WMKY - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- GM, Steelcase see a web of opportunity in the circular economy - GreenBiz - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- The sputtering energy economy: Can it be revved up? - Meridian Star - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- The difference between Malcolm Turnbull and Justin Trudeau - The Australian Financial Review - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- In the Face of a Trump Environmental Rollback, California Stands in ... - Yale Environment 360 - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Report: Boundary Waters nets $77 million from summer visitors - Duluth News Tribune - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- DENIM SPIRIT: An economy based on abundance - Finger Lakes Times - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- HR International to hold confab on African economy - Guardian - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Event promotes innovation and technology expansion - News - Castlegar News - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- The Venus Project Plans to Bring Humanity to the Next Stage of Social Evolution. Here's How. - Futurism - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Best returns since 1900? Resource based countries, including ... - Financial Post - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Economic growth projected for Saskatchewan in 2017 | Regina ... - Regina Leader-Post - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Energy as a Model for US-Mexico Economic Partnership - RealClearEnergy - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Science and Technology: Minister says FG will harness natural ... - Pulse Nigeria - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Montana Jobs Not Well Positioned - Big Sky Business Journal - Big Sky Business Journal - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- The future of WA's economy: Life beyond mining - WAtoday - February 27th, 2017 [February 27th, 2017]
- Verdant Zeal set to celebrate decade of providing media solutions - Guardian - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Lessons from Canada's scientific resistance - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- St Ann can do better Earl Jarrett - Jamaica Gleaner - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Firm canvasses technology strategy - The Nation Newspaper - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Mandryk: Next Saskatchewan boom needs to be from our heritage fund - Regina Leader-Post - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Bank of Canada channels Al Gore - Toronto Sun - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Australia's economy has been growing for 25 years straight Quartz - Quartz - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- The Venus Project envisions a sustainable redesign of our cities and civilization - Inhabitat - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- State's high-tech hits $1 billion economic milestone - Daily Inter Lake - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- The startup economy - Canadian Lawyer Magazine - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Nehalem Bay Estuary Cleanup - North Coast Citizen - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Pipelines to be a 'fundamental' issue for NDP leadership race: Julian - Hill Times (subscription) - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Prime Minister Trudeau, no fan of the middle class - Hill Times (subscription) - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Finally, Democrats Have A Pro Wrestler In Their Corner - Huffington Post - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- WA election: Labor outlines campaign costings and debt reduction plan - ABC Online - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- WA election: Death threats, One Nation legal action, stadium stoush campaign trail action - ABC Online - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Russia, Israeli firm agree to invest $100 mln in Russia's dairy industry - Reuters - March 10th, 2017 [March 10th, 2017]
- Maine deserves a chance to capitalize on the North Woods monument - Bangor Daily News - March 10th, 2017 [March 10th, 2017]
- MAN, RMRDC, others to promote resource-based MSMEs,funding - The Nation Newspaper - March 10th, 2017 [March 10th, 2017]
- Jobs, education focus of Gov. Brown's Prineville visit - KTVZ - KTVZ - March 10th, 2017 [March 10th, 2017]
- HIKE NETARTS BAYOCEAN SPIT - North Coast Citizen - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Jobs versus or for the environment? - Budgeeter News - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Canada Invests $325 Million in the Fish and Seafood Sector - Yahoo Finance - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- We are taking steps to overhaul economy through knowledge-based ... - TheNewsGuru (satire) (press release) (blog) - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Canada Invests $325 Million in the Fish and Seafood Sector - Marketwired (press release) - March 12th, 2017 [March 12th, 2017]
- Saskatchewan gender, immigrant wage gaps among widest in Canada - Saskatoon StarPhoenix - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Week in Film: Endless LOLs, an Acid Western, and Great Advice ... - Bedford + Bowery - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Famous fish the focus of 'steelhead ecology' hike - Tillamook Headlight-Herald - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- 'Explore Nature' sets Cape Lookout hike - Tillamook Headlight-Herald - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Califonria Lawmakers approve billion dollar gas tax | KBAK - Bakersfield Now - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Globe editorial: On pipelines, Ottawa must have the final say - The ... - The Globe and Mail - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Politics biggest determinant of economic future, says Page - Tbnewswatch.com - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Our Turn: Pass SB 129, save 900 New Hampshire jobs - Concord Monitor - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- We'll Always Have Paris: Trump's Impact On The Climate Agreement - HuffPost - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- A strategy that will make Canadian innovation flourish - The Globe and Mail - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Ocean Conference Side Events Highlight Cooperation on SDG 14 ... - IISD Reporting Services - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- We must tap 'blue economy' for progress - Daily Nation - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Minnesota Power Proposes Next Step in EnergyForward Plan - POWER magazine - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]