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Eliminating Hunger and Increasing Access to Healthy Food

I strongly believe, particularly in these tough economic times, that lifelines to help low-income seniors, children, and families must be protected. Hunger is a real problem in our community and too many Michigan families are already making tough choices about whether they will pay for groceries, rent or prescription drugs. In conversations about the need to reduce spending and balance our budget, there are some things that we must negotiate on. But I will never support a policy that would take food away from hungry children.

Here is my legislative record of working to end hunger in our community and increase access to healthy foods:

  • On the House floor, I spoke out strongly against Paul Ryan’s FY 2013 budget that would give even more tax cuts to millionaires while slashing nearly $3 trillion in funding from critical programs such as SNAP food assistance, Medicare and Medicaid.
     
  • In 2011, when Governor Snyder proposed a policy that would force families facing tough economic challenges to choose between food or their vehicle, I introduced the Eliminate Auto Test (EAT) Act of 2011. Because out of work Michiganders need their car to find and keep a job, this bill would amend the Food and Nutrition Act to exclude household vehicles from the resource limitation for purposes of SNAP food assistance eligibility. As a lifelong advocate in the fight against hunger, I've led community roundtable discussions with community food banks and anti-poverty organizations.
     
  • I sponsored Let's Grow Act of 2012 directing the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the Green and Healthy Corner Store Initiative to help qualified convenience stores expand their offering of fruits and vegetables and convert abandoned or foreclosed property for urban agriculture. I also strongly support the expansion of community urban farming initiatives in Greater Detroit.
     
  • I strongly supported passage of the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act to reauthorize and improve federal childhood nutrition programs like school meals and the WIC program.