[Pages H1224-H1225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FOOD BANKS FACING URGENT CRISIS

  (Ms. McBride of Delaware was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Ms. McBRIDE. Mr. Speaker, across the country, food banks are facing 
an urgent crisis, and Delaware is no exception. Millions of dollars' 
worth of deliveries of vital food aid have been halted to food banks.
  In February alone, more than 50 percent of the food that the Food 
Bank of Delaware distributed came from the Federal Government. Now, 
with shipments frozen and no clarity on whether they will be restored, 
they are in uncharted territory.
  The Food Bank of Delaware is now uncertain whether they will receive 
14 truckloads over the next 4 months. These halted deliveries represent 
over a quarter of the food expected to be received from the Federal 
Government for the rest of this fiscal year. Cathy Kanefsky, the CEO of 
the Food Bank of Delaware, shared with me that this would be 
devastating.
  This is not an abstract issue. It is not a partisan issue. This is 
about families, working parents, seniors, veterans, and children. These 
are people who rely on food banks to get through the month.
  One in eight Delawareans face food insecurity, and the Food Bank of 
Delaware has been a lifeline for thousands of families.

  The truckloads in question represent over 600,000 meals that the food 
bank will not be able to put on the tables of Delawareans.
  Yes, the Food Bank of Delaware plays a frontline role in combating 
hunger, but they offer more than just food. They provide dignity, hope, 
and a sense of community.
  Food banks, which are already stretched thin, are now being asked to 
do even more with even less. The loss of Federal support jeopardizes 
their ability to serve effectively, placing additional strain on State 
and local resources.
  At a time when grocery prices remain high and demand for assistance 
is great, the loss of these shipments could mean fewer meals for 
families in every corner of my State.
  Further cuts at the hands of the administration to the USDA's local 
food purchasing assistance program only add to this crisis. At the 
direction of this administration, the USDA axed two programs that give 
schools and food banks assistance to buy food from local farms and 
ranchers. In Delaware alone, this will amount to $2 million in cuts.
  Just last month, I stood on this floor to raise the alarm about $10 
million in funding owed to Delaware farmers. Now, I stand here again to 
raise the alarm about the Trump administration taking their chain saw 
to another lifesaving service that supports our farmers in feeding 
Delaware. All of this will result in fewer customers for Delaware's 
farmers and higher prices at the grocery store for Delaware's families.
  The Trump administration has broken their promise time and time again 
to the American people, ripping funding and literal food from the hands 
of my constituents.
  The USDA must restore these shipments and funding before the 
consequences become dire to families across Delaware.


                  Celebrating Seaford's Transformation

  Ms. McBRIDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
transformation happening in Seaford, Delaware, an investment in 
economic growth, opportunity, and the future of western Sussex County.
  Seaford is a small city rich in history. Just last week, I had the 
privilege of meeting with Seaford's leadership to discuss the city's 
progress and their vision for the future.
  Over the last decade, Seaford has transformed its small but vibrant 
downtown through Delaware's innovative Downtown Development District 
program, started by our former Governor, Jack Markell. Through hard 
work and dedicated investment, Seaford's Main Street has gone from 90 
percent vacancy to more than 90 percent occupancy.
  At the center of the next phase of Seaford's revitalization effort is 
the Nylon Capital Center, a project that will breathe new life into a 
space that was once a focal point of Seaford and

[[Page H1225]]

will soon serve as a hub for education, healthcare, and commerce.
  With a $60 million investment, including $20 million in American 
Rescue Plan funds, the new Nylon Capital Center will expand access to 
education and workforce training with a new DelTech facility. It will 
make healthcare more accessible with a new TidalHealth medical site. 
Small businesses will have new space to grow, and a coworking center, 
the Mill, will foster entrepreneurship. Critically, it will remain home 
to the beloved Sal's Italian Restaurant.
  This is a model of public and private partnership coming together to 
create shared prosperity. With local, State, Federal, and private 
investments, the future of Seaford is exactly what we should hope for 
in our small cities and towns across America. The leaders of Seaford, 
along with partners from across the State, are demonstrating what is 
possible when communities come together. I am proud to stand with them 
in this effort, and I look forward to seeing Seaford become a symbol of 
progress and opportunities for generations to come.

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