Rep. Mike Levin Leads Bipartisan Congressional Field Hearing in Oceanside on Ending Veteran Hunger

Press Release

U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) led a bipartisan Congressional field hearing in Oceanside on Monday focused on ending hunger among veterans, particularly in response to the effects the COVID-19 pandemic had on food insecurity for veterans and their families. Rep. Levin, who serves as Chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, questioned a number of local experts about the policies needed to ensure all veterans have access to adequate nutrition. Video of the hearing is available here.

House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA) and Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Ranking Member Barry Moore (R-AL) also participated in the hearing. The witnesses included VA San Diego Healthcare System Nutrition and Food Services Chief Mr. Daniel Santibáñez, VA National Food Security Program Coordinator Dr. Christine Going, San Diego Hunger Coalition President and CEO Ms. Anahid Brakke, and others.

"Veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country should never have to wonder where they will find their next meal, but unfortunately that is the reality for thousands of current and former servicemembers and their families," said Rep. Levin. "Just a few months into the pandemic, I attended a Memorial Day event in Oceanside where veterans and military families lined up to receive packages of food, and it was heartbreaking. While our economy has largely recovered from the pandemic, the food insecurity crisis in this country is still real and requires significant action. I'm grateful for the participation of local leaders who are committed to ending hunger insecurity among veterans and all Americans, and I look forward to using their expertise to advance solutions in Congress."

A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study found that from 2015 to 2019, 11.1% of working-age veterans lived in a food insecure household and 5.3% lived in a household with very low food security. While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and USDA have made progress in identifying veterans experiencing food insecurity and connecting them with resources like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the COVID-19 pandemic added new layers of financial and physical hardship to veteran families. Rep. Levin's hearing examined trends in the prevalence of veteran hunger and how government agencies and non-profits adapted their service and resource delivery amid the pandemic.

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