Pass the food bank bill for the benefit of all

By Sen. Jeff Danielson

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There should be no such thing as hunger in Iowa. Sadly, Gov. Terry Branstad recently vetoed a $500,000 investment in our statewide food bank system that would have put us on a path to get closer to that goal.

Sadder still, at a moment in time when the public is rightfully frustrated by the inability of legislators to work together, we came together, in a bipartisan way to ensure Iowa, the heart of the nation's bread basket, would have a thoughtful, fiscally responsible answer to those suffering from food insecurity. The governor should have honored that work by signing the bill.

Iowa remains one of the last states to partner with our non-profit food banks and charitable organizations. Nearly every other state invests significantly more than $500,000. Let us not be the last to act. The veto is an opportunity to draw attention to the very real problem of food insecurity right in our own backyard.

A Feeding America study shows that more than 146,000 Iowa children lack access to daily staples that make a healthy diet. Going to bed hungry is bad enough, but it's hard to pay attention in school when your tummy is growling. Further, in the long term, malnourished children face a lifetime of health issues, which can be chronic or life-threatening.

Too many senior citizens in Iowa faced with fixed incomes, find paying for food increasingly difficult. Choosing between medicine and other bills, and making healthy and wise food choices, take a back seat for many seniors. That's why food banks partner with many of our non-profits and churches, who focus on helping vulnerable seniors bridge that gap.

Too many working Iowans have lost jobs or had their incomes cut through no fault of their own. They are relying on local food banks now more than ever to provide for their families. Over 400,000 people in Iowa are food insecure and nearly 42 percent of them are not eligible for any form of government assistance because they make too much money. Demand is up 30 percent at the food banks around Iowa.

Iowan Norman Borlaug said, “Food is the moral right of all who are born into this world.” Let us honor Mr. Borlaug's words with our deeds, by passing the food bank bill again and encouraging Gov. Branstad to finally sign it.

Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls, is President Pro Tempore of the Iowa Senate and chairs the State Government Committee. Comments: jeffdanielson@gmail.com