THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MYERS, HANNA, BISHOP, BOBACK, BOYD, BRADFORD, BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA, CRUZ, DERMODY, DONATUCCI, DRUCKER, D. EVANS, FLECK, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GRUCELA, HELM, HESS, HORNAMAN, HOUGHTON, JOHNSON, JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MANDERINO, MANN, MARSHALL, McCALL, McGEEHAN, MELIO, MENSCH, MILLARD, MOUL, MUNDY, MURT, M. O'BRIEN, OLIVER, PALLONE, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PAYTON, PRESTON, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, STABACK, SWANGER, THOMAS, VULAKOVICH, WATERS, WHEATLEY, WILLIAMS AND YOUNGBLOOD, AUGUST 31, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, AUGUST 31, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing September 2009 as "Hunger Action Month" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, September 2009 has been designated as "Hunger Action

Month" to provide an opportunity for communities in the United

States to unite to focus attention on the persistent problem of

domestic hunger; and

WHEREAS, For one in eight Americans, hunger is a reality; and

WHEREAS, Many United States households experience hunger, and

some people in these households frequently skip meals or eat too

little, sometimes going without food for a whole day; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, food-insecure households were 17 times more

likely than food-secure households to have obtained food from a

food pantry; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, 53.9% of food-insecure households

participated in at least one of the three major Federal food

assistance programs, Food Stamp Program, National School Lunch

Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for

Women, Infants and Children; and

WHEREAS, Members of these households have lower-quality diets

or must resort to seeking emergency food because they cannot

always afford the food they need; and

WHEREAS, The costs of other essentials, such as home heating,

gasoline, housing and medical care, have increased

significantly, and for families caught in the squeeze between

declining wages and rising costs, the food budget becomes a

frequent pressure point; and

WHEREAS, Utilization of emergency food assistance becomes a

way for these families to keep food on the table while still

paying the bills; and

WHEREAS, Food banks, food rescue organizations, soup

kitchens, food pantries, faith-based organizations, businesses

and individuals are donating time, raising funds and giving food

to help their neighbors; and

WHEREAS, Individuals benefiting from the availability of

donated food range from infants and toddlers, school-age

children and adolescents to single mothers, single fathers, two-

parent families, veterans and their families and seniors; and

WHEREAS, Research shows that preschool and school-age

children who experience severe hunger have higher levels of

chronic illness, anxiety and depression and behavioral problems

than children with no hunger; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize

September 2009 as "Hunger Action Month" in Pennsylvania.