Rep. Panetta and Local Food Banks Highlight Federal and Community Action To Address Food Insecurity
San Jose, CA – Today, United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, and Second Harvest of Santa Cruz County highlighted new federal legislation to address community food insecurity. Rep. Panetta is co-leading the Farmers Feeding America Act, a bill that would help food banks meet demand and help ensure families stay fed and healthy by expanding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ability to purchase food directly from producers. This legislation represents one of the most significant federal investments to address food insecurity since the COVID-19 pandemic. Rep. Panetta plans to push for this legislation in the upcoming Farm Bill.
In an area of vast wealth, some of our neighbors are heading into the holiday season with less support than they have had in years. With higher prices and reduced government support, working parents, college students, and seniors on fixed incomes are struggling to make ends meet in this expensive area. Second Harvest of Silicon Valley is serving an average of 500,000 people every month. A staggering one in six people in Silicon Valley are turning to the organization for help.
“Despite the bounty that exists in California’s 19th Congressional District, rising food insecurity has put exceptional demands on our community food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens,” said Rep. Panetta. “I helped author and introduce the Farmers Feeding America Act to significantly increase federal support for food banks working to fill shelves, transport and store food, and build additional partnerships with local producers. By better supporting organizations like Second Harvest to provide nutritious meals, we can strengthen families, the bonds of community, and our country as a whole.”
“With inflation in gas and food prices, things continue to be incredibly difficult for our community. Food banks are here to close that gap,” said Tracy Weatherby, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley Vice President of Strategy and Advocacy. “It's so important that people in our community get involved, that they donate, and volunteer. The majority of our donations do come from individuals, but the support of the federal government is absolutely crucial as that baseline.”
“The Farmers Feeding America Act would not just be a win, it would actually be a lifeline for many who need support to ensure good nourishment of themselves and their children,” said Erica Padilla-Chavez, Santa Cruz Food Bank CEO. “Because the food bank is dependent on the Farm Bill, Congressman Panetta, I want to thank you for your bold action to ensure the food security of Americans and people across the nation.”
More than 44.2 million Americans lived in households that struggled with hunger in 2022, according to a recent report by the USDA, an increase of 10.3 million over the previous year. One in 8 U.S. households struggled with hunger in 2022, with 13.4 million children living in households that experienced food insecurity. Rates of food insecurity were higher for Black and Latino households and 33.1 percent of single-parent households headed by women experienced food insecurity.
Full press conference can be viewed, here.
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