HOUSE MEMORIAL 90

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Sarah Maestas Barnes and Joanne J. Ferrary and Deborah A. Armstrong and Rebecca Dow

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CREATE A "HUNGER COUNCIL" MADE UP OF LEGISLATORS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM STATE AGENCIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING TO END HUNGER AND POVERTY STATEWIDE, TO MEET DURING THE 2018 INTERIM AND DRAFT A SINGLE, STATEWIDE PLAN FOR ENDING HUNGER IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, the 2017 "map the meal gap" report from the national anti-hunger organization feeding America indicates that twenty-five percent of children, or one hundred twenty-four thousand nine hundred eighty children, are at risk of hunger in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the 2017 report ranks New Mexico second-highest among the states for childhood hunger, tied with Arkansas; and

     WHEREAS, the map the meal gap report also shows that the overall hunger rate in New Mexico is sixteen percent, whereby three hundred thirty-two thousand six hundred ten New Mexicans are at risk for hunger, ranking New Mexico seventh among states with the worst rates of food insecurity, which ties New Mexico with Ohio; and

     WHEREAS, the meal gap remains high, with nearly sixty million meals missing from the tables of hungry New Mexicans; and

     WHEREAS, hunger is directly linked to poverty; and

     WHEREAS, the 2017 annual KIDS COUNT report compiled by the Annie E. Casey foundation and presented by New Mexico voices for children found that too many children in New Mexico continue to lack access to even the most basic resources needed to thrive; and

     WHEREAS, child poverty is high, and child well-being in New Mexico is poor; and

     WHEREAS, the 2017 KIDS COUNT report provides statistics for 2016, indicating that more than one hundred forty-five thousand children under eighteen years of age in New Mexico were living in poverty; and

     WHEREAS, according to the 2015 KIDS COUNT report, one hundred eleven thousand New Mexico children — nearly one in four New Mexico children — lived in households that were food insecure at some point during 2014; and

     WHEREAS, the 2017 KIDS COUNT report indicates that four hundred four thousand New Mexicans, or roughly one in five state residents, were living in poverty in 2016; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has the highest rate of working families who live below the poverty line, at seventeen percent; and

     WHEREAS, although there are a number of public and private programs that seek to address issues relating to hunger in New Mexico, many of these programs are "siloed", and there is little systematic communication among these programs; and

     WHEREAS, there is a need for a single, statewide plan among policymakers, agencies and organizations for ending hunger in New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to create a "hunger council" made up of legislators from both chambers and political parties, representatives from state agencies, counties and municipalities and representatives from organizations that are working to end hunger and poverty statewide, to meet during the 2018 interim and draft a single, statewide plan for ending hunger in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to invite to participate on the hunger council representatives from the human services department; the aging and long-term services department; the children, youth and families department; the New Mexico association of counties; the New Mexico municipal league; the interfaith hunger coalition and its partners; and representatives of community anti-hunger and anti-poverty organizations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of human services, the secretary of aging and long-term services, the secretary of children, youth and families and the convener of the interfaith hunger coalition.

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