Sen. Cornyn visits Food Bank, talks on rising food costs

Discusses Impact Energy Crisis is Having on all Texas Families and Business

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, (photo) R-Texas, today visited the Houston Food Bank (HFB) to discuss the impact rising fuel and food costs are having on non-profits like HFB and their ability to provide assistance to those in need. Sen. Cornyn was joined by HFB’s Board of Directors and representatives from participating agencies.

“With the average price of gas at $4 a gallon for the first time in our nation’s history, the burden of record fuel prices is being felt across the board. From squeezed family budgets to airline cutbacks, from large corporate layoffs to soaring food prices—today’s fuel crisis is impacting every American family and business.

Here in Houston, the high price of groceries and gasoline are causing more and more individuals to turn to non-profits like the Houston Food Bank for assistance. Every year these organizations help to deliver compassionate care to thousands in the Houston area who are in need. But even these non-profits are not immune to the burden of record fuel and food prices.

They are being forced to cut back on food purchases, their donations are down, and they risk losing volunteers because of the high cost of transportation,” Sen. Cornyn said.

“The Senate recently enacted significant increases in federal resources for organizations like the Houston Food Bank that are committed to helping Texas families going through difficult times. I also will continue to work to push through the partisan gridlock in Congress to pass meaningful short and long-term solutions to our nation’s energy crisis, including increasing domestic energy production and making America more energy-independent.”

Brian Greene, President and CEO of the Houston Food Bank, made the following statement: "As prices for gasoline and groceries continue to rise, our partners in hunger relief tell us they're seeing new faces at food pantries. People who have never asked for help in the past are now seeking emergency food assistance. We expect the situation will get worse over the summer months, when children are no longer receiving school breakfasts and lunches."

Background The Houston Food Bank aims to end hunger for the estimated 891,000 people confronted with poverty each year in the Greater Houston area. The Food Bank is the largest source of food for charities that serve hungry individuals, annually distributing more than 35 million pounds of food through soup kitchens, church food pantries, shelters, and meal sites for children and the elderly.

Over the past six months, the number of people in need calling on HFB and food banks across the country has skyrocketed as a result of high food and fuel prices. As they grapple with rising energy costs to power their facilities and refrigeration units, food banks are cutting their budgets and purchasing fewer goods. The food they do purchase is more expensive due to food inflation stemming from record energy prices.

On the flipside, food bank donations are down. According to America’s Second Harvest, while food bank client rosters are up 20 percent, donations to food banks have dropped 9 percent.

Sen. Cornyn recently supported the 2008 Farm Bill which doubled funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program—the primary means by which food banks received federal assistance.

Sen. Cornyn has also been working to pass legislation in the Senate to significantly increase domestic energy production that would bring down gas prices for all Texas businesses and families. Unfortunately, partisanship has gotten in the way of meaningful solutions to the current energy crisis, but Sen. Cornyn remains committed to working toward increased refinery capacity in the U.S. and more domestic energy production to bring down fuel prices and make America more energy-independent.

Reprinted from the Texas Insider.org