SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 19

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Howie C. Morales

A JOINT MEMORIAL

DECLARING JULY 14 THROUGH 18, 2014 AS "NEW MEXICO HUNGER WEEK" IN THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE.

     WHEREAS, nationwide, New Mexico has one of the highest rates of overall food insecurity of all residents, including children, veterans, the homeless and seniors; and

     WHEREAS, annual feeding America statistics ranked New Mexico as the most food insecure state for children in the nation; and

     WHEREAS, forty thousand New Mexicans seek food assistance each week; and

     WHEREAS, forty percent of New Mexicans who receive food assistance are children under the age of eighteen, while seven percent of those children are under the age of five; and

     WHEREAS, thirteen percent of people who seek food assistance are senior citizens; and

     WHEREAS, it is a myth that people who need food assistance are homeless or out of work, when, in reality, only eight percent of people seeking assistance are homeless and thirty-two percent of households seeking emergency food assistance include at least one employed adult; and

     WHEREAS, while thousands of New Mexicans receive assistance through the supplemental nutrition assistance program, the funding only provides for less than three weeks of groceries; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans face difficult choices between paying for food and paying for utilities, rent or mortgage, medicine or medical care and transportation; and

     WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to address New Mexico's food insecurity and to eliminate hunger in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, a hunger summit coordinated and sponsored by the north central New Mexico economic development district and the non-metro area agency on aging will be held on July 17-18, 2014 at the Isleta resort and casino in Albuquerque to address these issues; and

     WHEREAS, statewide participation is expected to include federal and state agencies, local governments, nonprofit agencies, food banks, faith-based organizations and other entities that are addressing hunger issues in New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that July 14 through 18, 2014 be declared "New Mexico Hunger Week" in the legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the north central New Mexico economic development district and the non-metro area agency on aging.

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