Hunger in America

Floor Speech

(Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Chairman Paul Ryan held a hearing on poverty--a timely and necessary conversation. But the problem is that not one single person living in poverty was a witness at that hearing, and that is really a shame.

There are plenty of men and women, like Barbie Izquierdo or Tianna Gaines Turner from the Witnesses to Hunger, who should be invited here to describe what it is like to be hungry or cold simply because there isn't enough money to heat a house and buy enough food to eat. They can describe for Mr. Ryan how difficult it is to stretch a SNAP allotment for the entire month and, most importantly, how hard it is to make ends meet with a job that pays an inadequate wage.

We need to hear from those who struggle with poverty and not just those think tank gurus. We need to hear what is working and what is not working on the ground in our communities.

Chairman Ryan's hearing missed the mark. When it comes to issues involving poverty and hunger, Mr. Speaker, this majority that runs this House doesn't have a clue.

I urge everyone to listen to real people who are struggling in poverty. Perhaps if we did, this Congress wouldn't be so cruel to poor people.

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