Senator Durbin Introduces Hunger-Free Communities Act of 2005

Legislation Establishes Goal to End Hunger in America by 2015

CHICAGO --- May 25, 2005 --- Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Hunger-Free Communities Act of 2005 today to increase federal funding available to local organizations working to reduce hunger in communities nationwide and establishing an ambitious commitment to end hunger in the United States by 2015.  The bill has bipartisan support with Senators Richard Lugar (R-IN), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), and Gordon Smith (R-OR) as cosponsors.

According to the USDA, hunger and food insecurity in the United States has increased for the fourth straight year.  In 2004, more than 36 million Americans—including 13 million children—lived with hunger or on the brink of hunger.

"This critical legislation will enable our Member food banks and food-rescue organizations to better meet the needs of low-income Americans, particularly through enhanced facilities," said Robert Forney, President and CEO of America's Second Harvest--The Nation's Food Bank Network.  "We commend Senator Durbin and his colleagues for their leadership and commitment to addressing hunger in America."

The Hunger-Free Communities Act preserves current funding levels for federal food programs and protects nutrition and hunger-relief initiatives.  Additionally, it directs the Census Bureau to collect annual data on food insecurity in the United States and the United States Department of Agriculture to prepare annual reports on the status of efforts to eliminate domestic hunger and recommendations for reducing hunger.

"Hunger is not a partisan issue, and we now have the opportunity to forge a new bipartisan partnership, committed to addressing hunger in communities all across our country," Durbin said.  "During the 1960s and 1970s, under both Democratic and Republican Administrations, our country put in place programs that substantially reduced the number of people who struggle to feed their families.  Unfortunately, today hunger and food insecurity has been on the rise.  That is why we introduced The Hunger-Free Communities Act."

The Hunger-Free Communities Act enables Congress to establish a first of its kind grant program authorizing up to $50 million a year for five years to help hunger-relief organizations reduce hunger locally through efforts such as infrastructure improvements, training and technical assistance, and expanding access to more nutritious food including protein and produce.  This public-private partnership focuses on addressing hunger at the local level while promoting collaboration among groups with mutual visions.

In 2000, as part of the Healthy People 2010 initiative, the United States government established a goal of cutting food insecurity in half by 2010.  In June 2004, the National Anti-Hunger Organization (NAHO) comprised of 13 national hunger organizations, including America's Second Harvest, issued the Blueprint to End Hunger—a roadmap to end hunger in America—which supports a strategy for reducing hunger in half by 2010.    The Hunger-Free Communities Act reaffirms this commitment.

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Contact: Ross Fraser, Media Relations Manager
Office: 312-263-2303 (Ext.127)
Cell: (312) 307-8470
rfraser@secondharvest.org