Washington, D.C. – During the November state work period,Alaska Congressman Don Young was awarded with the ‘Hunger Action Hero’ award from the Food Bank of Alaska in recognition of his work in Congress to combat hunger in Alaska and throughout the country.

Alaska Food Bank President Jim Brown presents the Hunger Action Hero Award to Congressman Young.

“Food insecurity is a devastating issue for far too many families in Alaska and across our nation. Hunger affects every community, and the fact of the matter is that food insecurity all too often goes unrecognized, with families suffering silently without access to the nutrition they need. As a father and a grandfather, I strongly believe that no family – and certainly no child – should go hungry, and tackling this issue has always been one of my highest priorities in Congress,” said Congressman Don Young. “I am grateful to the Food Bank of Alaska for honoring me with the Hunger Action Hero Award, but most of all, I am grateful to them for everything they do to fight hunger in communities across our vast state.

Our work continues in the 116th Congress. This year, I have introduced and co-sponsored several pieces of legislation to help ensure that the most vulnerable among us have access to the nutrition and support systems they need to learn, grow, and thrive. Crafting policy to help fight this epidemic requires engaging all stakeholders: businesses, educators, and community leaders who share the goal of ensuring that no person goes hungry. Alaskans have my promise that I will work hard with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to help turn the tide in the fight against hunger.”

“This year Food Bank of Alaska celebrated our 40th anniversary, and as part of that celebration we wanted to honor the people, businesses, and organizations that have supported us along the way,” said Jim Baldwin, CEO of the Food Bank of Alaska. “Congressman Don Young is certainly one of those people, and we are proud to honor the Congressman for his commitment to ending hunger.”

Congressman Young’s legislative initiatives to combat hunger in the 116^th Congress:

• The INFANT Act – legislation to remove an unnecessary rule that limits the number of foods eligible to purchase under the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program. The current WIC policy prohibits certain food combinations from being purchased under the program. The INFANT Act eliminates these unnecessary guidelines and allows mothers and children receiving WIC assistance to purchase healthier and more nutritious foods. Click here to read more.

• The Summer Meals Act – legislation to fight childhood hunger by expanding access to summer meal programs in Alaska and across the country. The Summer Meals Act helps strengthen childhood nutrition by cutting red tape for local organizations serving summer meals and expanding the availability of meals and snacks to students outside of normal school hours. Click here to read more.

• The Wild Game Donation Act – legislation to provide hunters with charitable deductions for the costs associated with donating wild game, such as deer and moose. This legislation also provides a tax deduction for meat processors participating in food donation programs, helping to protect against the use of spoiled and unsafe meat. Click here to read more.

• The Military Hunger Prevention Act – legislation to assist U.S. Military servicemembers who utilize nutrition programs better afford food in areas with high cost-of-living. Congressman Young is the lead Republican sponsor of this legislation. Click here to read more.

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