As a Member of Congress, I consider it one of my top priorities to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens do not go hungry. This means standing up for food and nutrition programs that assist millions of low- and middle-income families, which many in Congress continually attempt to cut. I will work to protect affordable food for low-income seniors, children, and families throughout the State of Indiana.

Protecting Children from Going Hungry 

Across the country, millions of children receive their only nutritious meals at school, through school breakfast and lunch programs. In an effort to help these children obtain the nutrition they need to be healthy, active and successful, I have supported several pieces of legislation that expand funding for these and other programs that provide healthier meals to low-income children. These investments in child nutrition are especially important given evidence that hunger can be an enormous barrier to learning. I will continue to support legislation that helps schools, non-profits and other entities to provide nutritious meals to children.  

Improving Access to Nutritious Foods

Access to nutritious food should be a necessity not a luxury. But today, too many people across Indianapolis and our country are struggling to find the healthy food they need. More and more supermarkets are closing their doors and public transportation is often located a mile or more away. That is why I introduced the Food Deserts Act in Congress. This bill creates new avenues to fund stores in underserved communities by facilitating low interest loans for new and existing grocery stores in food deserts. The bill ensures that recipients of these loans will use them to provide affordable, healthy food, like fresh produce, milk, bread, and meat.

Access to healthy food is something many of us take for granted. But, despite our own experiences, we must remember that millions of Americans are struggling every day to feed their families.

I hope to strengthen existing federal programs around this growing issue and create access to food for communities in need because I believe that all Americans deserve access to the nutritious food.

Encouraging Physical Fitness

Today, obesity rates are dangerously high and continue to rise, with over 30% of adults and 17% of children considered obese.  Studies have shown that obesity results in rising health care costs for many families, reduced productivity at work and less effective learning at school. Promotion of exercise and physical activity has never been a more important public policy.

I have been a strong supporter of fomer First Lady Obama’s Let’s Move campaign to encourage exercise among young people and continue to advocate in Congress for legislation that promotes scientifically based physical fitness guidelines for all Americans. Physical fitness and exercise are critical to the health and well-being of all Americans, making it among my top priorities in Congress.