White House announces $8 billion to fight hunger in US

September 29, 2022 – The Biden administration has announced $8 billion in public and private pledges to end hunger and improve nutrition in the United States.

“That goal is within reach,” President Biden said Wednesday during the first White House hunger summit in 50 years. “In America, no child should go to bed hungry. No parent should die from a preventable disease.”

That White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health comes as food costs rise, supply chain issues from the pandemic persist and food-borne illnesses persist. The government announced a “bold goal” to end hunger by 2030 and increase healthy eating and physical activity.

Among the main proposals:

• Extend free school meals to 9 million more children by 2032
• Allow more people to receive food stamps
• Help with transportation for people who don’t live near grocery stores and farmers markets
• Increase money for nutrition programs that help seniors
• Reduce food waste as a third of all food in the United States is wasted, White House says.

Many of the efforts require Congressional approval. Biden can take action by order of the executive branch.

The Washington Post reported, “The prevalence of diet-related diseases is creating broader problems for the country, White House officials said, impeding military readiness, workforce productivity, academic achievement and mental health.”

The newspaper also reported that the US Department of Agriculture says 10.2% of US households were “food insecure” in 2021. That means they didn’t have enough food to meet everyone’s needs.

CNN said more than 100 organizations have pledged to pay for Biden’s initiatives, including hospitals, healthcare associations, tech companies, philanthropists and the food industry.

At least $2.5 billion will go to start-up companies focused on finding solutions to hunger and food insecurity, according to the White House.