Legislative Memorials Offer a Vision to End Hunger in New Mexico

Banner from The Food Depot

On February 5, Reps. Sarah Maestas-Barnes and Joanne Ferrary introduced House Memorial 90, which seeks the creation of a "Hunger Council" comprised of legislators, representatives from New Mexico State agencies and local governments and representatives from organizations working to end hunger and poverty statewide.

This bipartisan effort grew out of conversations between two members of the Interfaith Hunger Coalition steering committee, Ellen Buelow and Brenda Sinfield, with Rep. Maestas-Barnes, a Republican from Albuquerque. Rep. Ferrary, a Democrat from Las Cruces (whose sister serves on the board of Roadrunner Food Bank), joined as a lead sponsor.

This effort stems from the IHC vision, presented at the End Hunger Summit in October 2017, in which we urged that we consider the big picture, including how hunger and poverty in rural areas has contributed to our consistently poor rankings for child hunger and overall food insecurity. We recommended the creation of some sort of caucus or commission within or involving the State Legislature that would look at all aspects of hunger (among children, seniors,working families, Native communities, urban areas),

A memorial does not carry the force of law. Rather, this is a document that formally expresses a legislative desire, usually addressed to another governmental body, in the form of a petition or declaration of intent. This was a "simple memorial," which means it did not require the approval or acquiescence of the State Senate.

IHC Display Table at End Hunger Day

If this measure is successful, there is a whole lot of hard work ahead.  Bringing a diverse group  together--legislators, state agencies, anti-hunger organizations-- is the first task. And then agreeing on how to proceed and how to keep the effort sustainable is going to require a significant level of commitment. But we have no choice but to proceed in this manner if we are serious about finding a way to make a significant dent in our levels of hunger and poverty in New Mexico.

A parallel memorial intoduced on Feb. 6 (End Hunger Day),  expressed this desire in a different manner. Sen. Mimi Stewart of Albuquerque introduced Senate Memorial 65, which declared Feb.  6, 2018, as End Hunger Day in New Mexico. This memorial, supported by The Food Depot and the New Mexico Association of Food Banks, supported our efforts at the State Capitol that day to declare to our legislators that a diverse group of agencies and organizations in New Mexico is serious about ending hunger. The NMAFB stepped in admirably after the original planner, the the Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging, was unable to take on the task because of a loss of state funding.

We will post more photos and videos from End Hunger Day in coming days.  In the meantime, here are excerpts from House Memorial 90 and Senate Memorial 65.

Photo: State Legislature website

HOUSE MEMORIAL 90 

53RD LEGISLATURE -
STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
SECOND SESSION, 2018

INTRODUCED BY
Sarah Maestas Barnes
and Joanne J. Ferrary

Ellen Buelow, Rep. Joanne Ferrary

A MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CREATE A "HUNGER COUNCIL" MADE UP OF LEGISLATORS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM STATE AGENCIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING TO END HUNGER AND POVERTY STATEWIDE, TO MEET DURING THE 2018 INTERIM AND DRAFT A SINGLE, STATEWIDE PLAN FOR ENDING HUNGER IN NEW MEXICO.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to create a "hunger council" made up of legislators from both chambers and political parties, representatives from state agencies, counties and municipalities and representatives from organizations that are working to end hunger and poverty statewide, to meet during the 2018 interim and draft a single, statewide plan for ending hunger in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to invite to participate on the hunger council representatives from the human services department; the aging and long-term services department; the children, youth and families department; the New Mexico association of counties; the New Mexico municipal league; the interfaith hunger coalition and its partners; and representatives of community anti-hunger and anti-poverty organizations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of human services, the secretary of aging and long-term services, the secretary of children, youth and families and the convener of the interfaith hunger coalition.  See Full Text

Sen. Stewart speaks at End Hunger Day

SENATE MEMORIAL 65 

53RD LEGISLATURE -
STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
SECOND SESSION, 2018

INTRODUCED BY
Mimi Stewart

A MEMORIAL
DECLARING FEBRUARY 6, 2018 "END HUNGER IN NEW MEXICO DAY" IN THE SENATE.

WHEREAS, seventy-five percent of households report purchasing inexpensive, unhealthy food as the most common way to have at least some food at home to eat; and

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to address New Mexico's food insecurity and to eliminate hunger in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, nonperishable food items will be collected on February 6, 2018 at the state capitol to benefit the food depot;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 6, 2018 be declared "End Hunger in New Mexico Day" in the senate; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of human services and the executive director of the food depot.   See Full Text