Pelosi Remarks at Press Event Calling on Congress to Reject the Harmful Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill

Contact: Drew Hammill/Evangeline George, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks today at a press event calling on Congress to reject the harmful Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill which would reduce funding for critical nutrition programs and leave millions of children hungry. Below are the Leader’s remarks:

“Good afternoon, everyone. It is, indeed, an honor to be here with each and every one of you. I also want to acknowledge the leadership and championing of this issue of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, of [Congressman] Jim McGovern – the head of our hunger task force, what was it called Caucus before Republicans disbanded it – and of course, our champion on the committee [Congressman] Bobby Scott, our Ranking Member on Education and Labor. And to be here with our colleague [Congressman] Lloyd Doggett, a champion from Texas on this subject. You’ll be hearing from them. But we’re pleased to be here with [Congresswoman] Suzanne Bonamici and with [Congressman] Mark Takano of California.

“But we represent all of the Democrats in the House on this subject. I’m going to be brief because I associate myself with everything that Rosa said, and I want to hear what the others have to say. But I just want to leave you with a couple of thoughts on this. This is about – I’m in politics because of children. I have five, nine grandchildren – adorable, perfect. But also for these boys. Are they adorable? Are they so sweet? Are they so great?

[Applause]

“Because every one of us who is a parent knows that we want our children to live in a wonderful world, and that wonderful world is not one while they may have every advantage that these other children – one in four, one in five in our country going to sleep hungry at night. How could it be in the greatest country that ever existed in the history of the world, one in five children living in poverty? And it comes down to public policy to help feed the children, to have them have good nutrition as well as what that means to their ability to study and to learn.

“Around here in Congress, a lot of people talk about how the religious they are. And I refer them to the gospel of Matthew. Most people quote it as saying: ‘When I was hungry, you gave me food to eat.’ But what it actually says is: ‘When I was hungry, what you didn’t do to the least of my brethren, you didn’t do for me.’ He says it in the negative. And so, how can they ignore the least, in terms of financials assets, certainly not the least, in terms of people? The least of our brethren – and they know that they did not do it for the Lord.

“So I would say to them: show me your values. Show me your budget. They have a budget that will cut nutrition for like 22 million children and cut food, meals for 3 million children. Is that a statement of values? Is that budget a statement of values? Is that a statement of their spirituality? About caring for a person as one of God’s children worthy of dignity and respect?

“So, this is a moral issue – it isn’t even an issue. It’s a value. We’re having a values debate now with the Republicans. They want to give tax cuts to their rich friends and then say, ‘Now we have to balance the budget, so we have to take food out of the mouths of babies to do it.’ It’s just plain wrong, and we are going to do whatever it takes to make sure this bill never sees the light of day on the Floor of the House. We need an outside mobilization to do that. Let’s consider this day an organizing meeting for what we will do next and there are bigger numbers outside the Capitol to call attention to the fact of this grave injustice. And again, Rosa [DeLauro] is relentless, dissatisfied, constantly calling this to everyone’s attention – 1995 – we had the beautiful bill that we passed in 2010, President Obama signed.

“But it’s really, we can talk all we want, the experience of people living the life is what we want to hear from them. We are very blessed to have with us today, Veda Rasheed, who is here with her two adorable boys. I don’t know if they like being called adorable, but I think they’re adorable.

[Laughter]

“I would tell you Veda’s story, but you want to hear it from her. So, please join me in welcoming her – our true VIP, Veda Rasheed.”

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