ALFOND INVITED TO SPEAK BEFORE NATIONAL HUNGER COMMISSION

Posted: July 27, 2015 | Senator Alfond

 

PORTLAND–Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond will testify before the National Commission on Hunger on Thursday, July 30th in Portland as part of a national effort to ensure Americans have access to sufficient, healthy food. Testimony will inform the Commission’s recommendations to Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Sen. Justin Alfond of Portland

Sen. Justin Alfond of Portland

The National Commission on Hunger is a congressionally appointed bipartisan commission charged with developing innovative reforms in both public and private food assistance programs to reduce or eliminate food insecurity. The 10-member Commission—in collaboration with  USDA, RTI International, the Maine Hunger Initiative at Preble Street, and the Maine Council of Churches–will host the public hearing from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Lee Community Hall at the Wishcamper Center on the campus of the University of Southern Maine.

 

“The signs of childhood food insecurity are easy to miss but it is a significant statewide problem,” said Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond of Portland. “When a child does not have enough to eat, the consequences are far reaching — from academic performance and school attendance to health issues.”

 

Senator Alfond along with other speakers from Preble Street, Good Shepherd Food Bank, and other statewide stakeholders will testify from 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. followed by general public testimony from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. [Agenda attached]

 

Maine ranks first in New England with the highest number of food insecure children–with one out of four children or more than 86,000 children who are food insecure.

 

Last session, Senator Alfond sponsored LD 933, “An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Task Force To End Student Hunger in Maine,” which was funded in the budget–sets the course for implementing the five-year strategic plan to end childhood hunger in Maine, including:

  • Establishing an ongoing Commission To End Student Hunger, charged with implementing the 5-year plan;
  • Directing the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services to meet quarterly to collaborate on child hunger and nutrition programs, and to provide quarterly reports to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters and to the Commission to End Student Hunger;
  • Requiring child nutrition data to be publicly available on the websites of the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services.

 

The recommendations by the Commission will guide Congress to more effectively use USDA programs and funds. As part of its information-gathering process, the Commission is conducting a series of public hearings across the country. This is the last stop in the Commission’s multi-state tour.

 

Senator Alfond and the Commissioners will be on hand to speak with the press about the significance of the hearing. To learn more about the Commission, the public hearing, invited speakers, and upcoming events, visit the Commission website at https://hungercommission.rti.org/.

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