Monday, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a forum entitled “Ending Veteran Hunger: Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on Food Insecurity” at the Veterans Association of North County, California.
Ranking member U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) spoke at the hearing, highlighting the “important issue of veteran hunger.”
“Food security for veterans, as well as for all Americans, is an essential component of a stable life,” he advised. “Food insecurity can also be detrimental to a person’s mental health.”
Helping ensure our veterans have enough food to eat is a critical part of our commitment to them. I was glad to participate in a field hearing in my colleague @RepMikeLevin's district on this problem. I am committed to serving our brave veterans and their families! pic.twitter.com/Kz2ep5RHrA
— Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) July 12, 2022
In his opening statement, the congressman said it was important to review how the federal government had been addressing the issue thus far.
“It is important for us to evaluate the way we are providing this security to ensure that it is being administered in the most effective manner to help those who need it the most,” Moore said. “We also need to do this in an intelligent manner for American taxpayers as well. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other assistance programs are vital for veterans and others to have food security.”
He also highlighted the slow economic recovery coming out of the pandemic and how that played a role in the ability of veterans to afford basic needs for their families.
“It is important for us to evaluate the way we are providing this security to ensure that it is being administered in the most effective manner to help those who need it the most,” Moore outlined. “We also need to do this in an intelligent manner for American taxpayers as well. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other assistance programs are vital for veterans and others to have food security.”
Later in the hearing, Moore talked about how Alabama’s license reciprocity guarantee had already gone a long way in helping veterans secure good-paying jobs.
“In Alabama, we passed a law, license reciprocity,” he explained. “So, if you were stationed at Fort Benning and your wife was a hairdresser, and she transitioned to Alabama, and she didn’t have a license to cut hair in Alabama, she couldn’t make a living. Uncle Sam doesn’t poll you when they want to move you.”
He argued other states should look at adopting license reciprocity guarantees to help the economic opportunities of veterans who often have to move from state to state for their military careers.
“[T]hat would be helpful,” he advised, “because it was such a good bill for us. And what happened, other than medical professionals, these spouses that taught schools, certificates, whatever it was – we could actually allow that wife, spouse, husband, whatever to come into Alabama and go straight to work.”
Watch the full hearing here:
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” Weekdays 9-11am on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
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