Massachusetts lawmakers speak out on increasing issue of food security across state

A new report is shedding light on the issue of food security in Massachusetts. The report highlights the rising rates of food insecurity statewide, and with federal dollars on the chopping block, lawmakers Tuesday vowed to fight back. The report is the fifth installment of the Greater Boston Food Bank and Mass General Brigham’s food access report, unveiled at the MGH Revere Food Pantry. Some studies have shown that 37% of households experience food insecurity, 67% of food-insecure adults live with at least one chronic health condition and food-insecure children missed three times as many nonschool activities as their food-secure peers. “Food discrepancies and insecurities are real. There is no shame,” said MGH Revere patient Jacqueline Martinez. “Hacking away at a cornerstone program of food assistance in the richest country in the world is just bad policy. Pure and simple,” Kate Walsh, secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, said. Massachusetts Reps. Jim McGovern, Katherine Clark and Ayanna Pressley were all in attendance, speaking out against recent proposals in Washington that could significantly reduce Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. In Massachusetts alone, it’s estimated that it would require a $2 billion annual investment to address the problem of food insecurity.