End Hunger Now

Floor Speech

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Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, imagine not having access to the food that you need to keep yourself or your child healthy. For the 2,000 infants every year who are diagnosed with an inherited metabolic disorder, that nightmare is a reality.

It is why I introduced the bipartisan Medical Nutrition Equity Act with my friend, Representative John Rutherford, to require all public and private insurance to cover medically necessary nutrition for these individuals.

Tomorrow, advocates who have been trying to get this bill passed for almost two decades will be here on the Hill. Here are just a few of their stories:

Caroline was born with PKU and requires a strict regimen of low protein foods and medical formula.

Zola was born with PKU, and her family has fought to get insurance coverage for formula that costs $75 per can.

Caleb has a condition called EoE. He and his family fought for access to the formula he needed to grow up healthy, and now he is a college athlete.

Mr. Speaker, no one should have to struggle accessing lifesaving foods. Let's pass the MNEA as we work to end hunger now. Let's also remember that food is medicine.

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