Candidates explain stands on hunger issues

By Mary Johnson and Dave Zwart on October 24, 2008
© Holland Sentinel

Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. To this end, the Holland area chapter of Bread sent questionnaires to our area's Republican and Democratic congressional candidates. House candidates Fred Johnson and Pete Hoekstra and Senate candidate Carl Levin responded to our inquiry;  Senate candidate Jack Hoogendyk did not. We are heartened by the responses of all three respondents.

Internationally, the candidates indicate support for increased development aid and a stronger commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. Johnson has witnessed first-hand in Africa and the Philippines the struggle of people to feed their families; he describes the experience as heartbreaking. Hoekstra points to his work on several of the development goals. Levin cites his efforts to amend trade agreements in ways that promote development. All respondents also support reform of our foreign-aid system, which has seen little modification since the 1960s.

Domestically, the responding candidates support strengthening nutrition programs. Johnson cites his experience of being in a single-parent home in need of food assistance and his desire to spare others such pain and humiliation. Hoekstra refers to his support of the farm bill. Finally, Johnson and Levin explicitly support establishing a goal to cut hunger and poverty in half within 10 years. Hoekstra's response is less optimistic. He cites the need to strengthen the economy and increase jobs and job training, but also states that previous efforts to reduce poverty have had only limited success.

Mary Johnson and Dave Zwart

Holland