Congress needs to deal with food insecurity in the military

It's no secret that I'm anti-militarist, and that I support massive cuts to the complex, starting with going after waste, fraud, and profiteering. But that doesn't mean servicemembers should get screwed like this.

The military reduced grocery prices at military bases last fall, to an average of 22 percent less than in civilian grocery stores. Bill Moore, director and CEO at DeCA, said the savings for military families should exceed 25 percent for the current fiscal year.

Despite the cuts, many active-duty service members struggle to feed their families. A recent RAND Corporation report found that more than 15 percent of all active-duty military personnel are food insecure...

(Basic Allowance for Subsistence) has risen by 28 percent in the last decade, but accessing healthy and affordable food is still difficult for soldiers, both financially and socially. And while the House and Senate have been debating the limitations of BAS and other military quality-of-life concerns recently, they have yet to make any significant changes. In the meantime, philanthropic charities have been stepping up to respond to the daily needs of military families. - Civil Eats

The pending hunger crisis

In relative terms, that is. Given the vast quantities of overproduction and waste in our corrupt food system, any hunger, anywhere in the U.S., is a crisis that shouldn’t be happening.

A poll released by the U.S. Census Bureau (last) week revealed that at least nine million American households that include children are unsure whether they'll be able to access enough food in the next four weeks and millions more are experiencing housing insecurity during the coronavirus pandemic.

The bureau's weekly Household Pulse Survey, taken between May 14 and 19, asked respondents about their loss of employment, food security, overall health, and other issues they are facing during the pandemic. - Common Dreams

Trump policy is leaving people, including kids, hungry

The rule took effect February 24. As this article notes, the rule itself isn't entirely the issue. From a news search just now, there is at least one legal challenge pending.

Across the country, fear and confusion about the Trump administration’s “public charge” rule has prompted immigrants and their families to drop out or stay out of public nutrition programs, even when they are eligible, according to immigrant and anti-hunger groups. Enrollment in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and school food programs has been affected, although they are not covered by the new rule, say the advocates. - Mother Jones