Representatives Solis and Lee Lead Effort to Support Healthy Foods in the 2007 Farm Bill

Washington, D.C. - Today, Representatives Hilda L. Solis (CA-32) and Barbara Lee (CA-9) joined by 24 other Members of the California delegation, sent a letter to Agriculture Committee Chairman Peterson and Ranking Member Goodlatte urging them to address the problem of hunger and poverty in urban and suburban communities during consideration of the 2007 farm bill.

"Despite California being the country's major provider of fruits and vegetables, many low-income and communities of color cannot afford, or lack access to healthy foods. The lack of nutritious foods has contributed to the alarming increases in rates of obesity and diet-related diseases," said Rep. Solis. "The 2007 farm bill is a historic opportunity to help reverse these trends and emphasize programs that strengthen conservation and local food systems and increase access to healthy foods."

"We need to ensure that people have the resources to eat well and live healthy lives. Increasing food stamp benefits so they offer a meaningful safety net to people in need is part of the solution, and we must also invest in initiatives that bring healthy food into our communities," said Rep. Lee, who earlier this month took the Food Stamp Challenge and lived on the food stamp benefit level of $1 per meal for a week.

The Farm Bill significantly impacts issues of hunger, poverty, and access to quality foods to our communities. The lack of healthy food available in many low-income and communities of color only perpetuates the alarming increases in rates of obesity and diet-related diseases. If current trends continue, one in three Caucasian children and one in two African American and Latino children in California will have diabetes by the time they are eighteen.