Bill Text: PA HR863 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizing the month of September 2012 as "Hunger Action Month" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 23-8)

Status: (Passed) 2012-10-02 - Adopted (194-0) [HR863 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HR863-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 4091
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 863 Session of2012
INTRODUCED BY MYERS, D. EVANS, WHEATLEY, BISHOP, BRADFORD, BROOKS, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, DAVIS, EVERETT, FRANKEL, GEORGE, HARHART, HESS, JAMES, KIRKLAND, LONGIETTI, MANN, McGEEHAN, MILLARD, M. O'BRIEN, READSHAW, SONNEY, STABACK, SWANGER, WATERS AND YOUNGBLOOD, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of September 2012 as "Hunger Action Month"
in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, September 2012 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 seven Pennsylvanians, 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 2011, 14.7% of United States households were food
insecure (17.5 million households), meaning their access to
enough food is limited by a lack of money and other resources,
which remains the highest recorded prevalence rate of food
insecurity since 1995 when the first national food security
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survey was conducted; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, 5,116,000 Pennsylvanians were food
insecure; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, more than 20% of Pennsylvania's children
experienced food insecurity; 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 Senate of Pennsylvania recognize the month
of September 2012 as "Hunger Action Month" in Pennsylvania.
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