1Recognizing the month of September 2013 as "Hunger Action Month"
2in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, September 2013 has been designated as "Hunger Action
4Month" to provide an opportunity for communities in the United
5States to unite to focus attention on the persistent problem of
6domestic hunger; and

7WHEREAS, For one in eight Pennsylvanians, hunger is a
8reality; and

9WHEREAS, Many United States households experience hunger, and
10some people in these households frequently skip meals or eat too
11little, sometimes going without food for a whole day; and

12WHEREAS, In 2012, 14.5% of United States households were food
13insecure (17.6 million households), meaning their access to
14enough food is limited by a lack of money and other resources,

1which remains at nearly the highest recorded prevalence rate of
2food insecurity since 1995 when the first national food security
3survey was conducted; and

4WHEREAS, In 2012, nearly 1.6 million Pennsylvanians were food
5insecure; and

6WHEREAS, In 2011, 20% of Pennsylvania's children experienced
7food insecurity; and

8WHEREAS, Members of these households have lower-quality diets
9or must resort to seeking emergency food because they cannot
10always afford the food they need; and

11WHEREAS, The costs of other essentials, such as home heating,
12gasoline, housing and medical care, have increased
13significantly, and for families caught in the squeeze between
14declining wages and rising costs, the food budget becomes a
15frequent pressure point; and

16WHEREAS, Utilization of emergency food assistance becomes a
17way for these families to keep food on the table while still
18paying the bills; and

19WHEREAS, Food banks, food rescue organizations, soup
20kitchens, food pantries, faith-based organizations, businesses
21and individuals are donating time, raising funds and giving food
22to help their neighbors; and

23WHEREAS, Individuals benefiting from the availability of
24donated food range from infants and toddlers, school-age
25children and adolescents to single mothers, single fathers, two-
26parent families, veterans and their families and seniors; and

27WHEREAS, Research shows that preschool and school-age
28children who experience severe hunger have higher levels of
29chronic illness, anxiety and depression and behavioral problems
30than children with no hunger; therefore be it

1RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
2month of September 2013 as "Hunger Action Month" in
3Pennsylvania.