Hunger Day Doings

Last week’s National Hunger Awareness Day sparked some legislative action. At least it provided the peg on which legislators could hang two interesting bills. 

Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) introduced two bills. On June 5, they launched the Hunger Relief Trucking Tax Credit Act, which would give a 25-cent tax credit for each mile a donated truck and driver transport recovered food.

Friday, the trio introduced The Food Employment Empowerment and Development Act (The FEED Act), which would give hunger relief agencies $20 million over five years. The bill is a step in the right direction, but it’s just a drop in the bucket. With more than 250 hunger relief groups in the U.S., each would get $16,000 a year. Plus, it’s anyone’s guess whether these bills will pass.

 

On another note: To put my money where my mouth (or blog) is, I’m volunteering at a Hunger Day event today that was pushed back a week. I’ll be at the 4th Annual Potato Drop in Raleigh, bagging donated sweet potatoes to be brought to homeless shelters and food banks. When Sgt. Spud calls, you answer.