Rep. McEachin in Suffolk to Distribute Food, Speak about Bill to Eliminate Food Deserts
Suffolk, Va. – Today, Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) distributed food at the East End Baptist Church food pantry and spoke about the bill that he co-introduced in Congress, the Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act (HFAAA). This bipartisan bill would establish a new tax credit and grant program to stimulate investment and healthy nutrition options in food deserts.
“Every person, regardless of where he or she lives, deserves reasonable access to nutritious food. I co-introduced this bill to help the thousands of families in my congressional district who live in areas where food access is a problem,” said Congressman Donald McEachin. “The Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act would incentivize nonprofit organizations and grocery stores to support successful food partnerships like the one we saw today. This bill gets us closer to achieving our goal of eliminating food deserts.”
Congressman Donald McEachin is committed to addressing hunger, and food insecurity felt across the 4th Congressional District, and across the country.
“For so many Americans with limited financial resources, putting healthy food on the table is a challenge. Sometimes our food pantry partner network is a family’s immediate option for consistently accessing fresh fruits, vegetables and protein,” said Ruth Jones Nichols, CEO of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. “The bill co-sponsored by Representative McEachin will expand the work of our Foodbank and pantry partners by bringing more markets or grocery stores into neighborhoods so families can experience increased access to nutritious, affordable food.”
“We are thrilled to be here today with Rep. McEachin and our friends from the Foodbank” said Yvonne Green, Food Pantry Director of the East End Baptist Church. “We couldn’t exist without the food we receive from the Foodbank, and this bill will help them provide more fresh food to organizations like us.”
This bill was also introduced in the United States Senate by Senator Mark Warner. If signed into law, the HFAAA will incentivize food service providers such as grocers, retailers, and nonprofits to help eradicate food deserts.
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Contact: Jamitress Bowden
(202) 306-0546