The press conference was conducted by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who introduced the proposed legislation identified as Senate Bill 1120. The bipartisan bill would authorize $50 million for grants to coalitions addressing hunger at local levels and would make a national commitment to ending hunger in the United States. To read more of the legislation and the need, please see Ending Hunger.
“Bread for the World believes that hunger is a problem we can solve,” said Adam Phillips, an Evangelical Covenant Church pastor who works with Bread for the World as a church relations associate. Phillips has been called to be a pastor at Cuyler Covenant Church in Chicago. He worked on the Hunger-Free Communities Act while in Washington and has been rallying church and seminary support Chicago and around the nation. The accompanying photo shows Phillips addressing the crowd with Sen. Dick Durbin at right.
“To end hunger, we’re all going to have to work together – churches, synagogues, mosques, charities, businesses and all levels of government,” Phillips told media representatives and community supporters gathered at Faith Tabernacle Church in Chicago. “The Hunger Free Communities Act brings those sectors together and encourages their collaboration in the fight to end hunger. It also commits us as a nation to ending hunger.
“I want to thank Sen. Durbin . . . for his tireless efforts on behalf of hungry and poor people,” Phillips continued, pointing out that more than 38 million Americans face hunger every day. Phillips expressed optimism that the proposed legislation will be approved when the Senate returns in September. “Sen. Durbin has made this a priority in the midst of many competing issues in Washington, and for that he should be especially recognized.”
In addition to Sen. Durbin and Phillips, speakers included Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of America’s Second Harvest; Diane Doherty, executive director of Illinois Hunger Coalition; Kate Maehr, executive director of the Greater Chicago Food Depository; and an individual named Thomas who is a client at Faith Tabernacle’s food pantry.
