San Diego, CA – U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, will lead a bipartisan congressional hearing entitled “Ending Veteran Hunger: Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on Food Insecurity” at UC San Diego on Saturday.
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. This hearing will examine trends in the prevalence of veteran hunger and how government agencies and non-profits adapted their service and resource delivery amid the pandemic.
House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA), Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Ranking Member Barry Moore (R-AL), and Representative Scott Peters (D-CA) will also participate in the hearing. The witnesses include San Diego VA Health Care System Director Dr. Robert Smith, VA National Director for Nutrition and Food Services Dr. Anne Utech, San Diego Hunger Coalition President and CEO Ms. Anahid Brakke, and others.
All visitors and guests at UC San Diego onsite events will be expected to provide proof of COVID vaccination or provide a recent (within the last 48 hours) negative COVID test for event participation. Attendees should register here. The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will host a livestream here.
WHAT: Congressional Field Hearing on Ending Veteran Hunger
WHEN: Saturday, October 2, 8:30 AM PT
WHERE: UC San Diego, Lot P416, San Diego, CA 92161
WHO: House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairman Mike Levin (D-CA)
House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA)
House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Ranking Member Barry Moore (R-AL)
Representative Scott Peters (D-CA)
Panel 1:
Dr. Anne Utech National Director, Nutrition & Food Services, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Dr. Robert Smith Director San Diego VA Health Care System
Mr. Matthew Rabbitt Research Economist, Economic Research Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture
Ms. Kimberly Gallo Director of Aging & Independence Services Health and Human Services Agency, County of San Diego
Panel 2
Ms. Anahid Brakke CEO & President SD Hunger Coalition
Mr. Casey Castillo Interim CEO Jacobs/Cushman San Diego Food Bank
Ms. Karla Samayoa Director of Safety Net Services 211 San Diego
Anthony “Tony” Stewart Chief Executive Officer Us4Warriors
Jennifer Gilmore CEO Kitchens for Good
