Blackburn seeks to end food insecurity for low-income military personnel

The bipartisan Military Hunger Prevention Act of 2021, introduced on April 29 by U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), would create a Basic Needs Allowance to help end food insecurity for the U.S. military in low income and their families.

“The members of our armed forces and their families make tremendous sacrifices for our nation,” said Senator Blackburn. “The last thing our soldiers should be concerned about is putting food on the table for their loved ones.”

Senator Blackburn is the original principal cosponsor of S. 1488 with the sponsor of the bill, United States Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and 13 other original cosponsors. U.S. Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the companion bill, HR 2339, to the U.S. House of Representatives on April 1.

The proposal reflects a bipartisan commitment to military families and a sustained effort to address food insecurity, Senator Blackburn said.

“The barriers that prevent our low-income soldiers and their families from accessing normal food sources like the local grocery store are things Senator Duckworth and I have been working on together since last summer,” she said. Explain. “We will continue to fight for our military and their families for as long as it takes.

If enacted, the Military Hunger Prevention Act would correct a so-called loophole in federal law regarding qualifying calculations for federal food aid programs, which excludes low-income service members receiving an allowance. basic for housing that pays for non-basic or privatized services. military housing, according to Senator Blackburn’s office.

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, the National Association of Military Families and Blue Star Families recently approved the measure.

“Long before the pandemic, military families struggled to put food on the table,” said Besa Pinchotti, acting executive director of the National Association of Military Families. “From frequent moves to high unemployment rates for military spouses, the unique challenges of military life have left too many families with empty closets and empty stomachs. Over the past year, these problems have only worsened. “