(Special to The Dallas Examiner) – Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, TX-30, joined Congressman Zach Nunn, IA-03, Monday in introducing the Delivering For Rural Seniors Act. Crockett originally introduced the act, alongside Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro in the 118th Congress.
“It’s my responsibility to help ensure North Texas families have access to food,” Crockett said. “Everyone needs to eat, but lingering inflation is impacting grocery prices and fueling food insecurity among low-income families – especially seniors on fixed incomes.”
This bipartisan legislation would support seniors living in rural areas, seniors with disabilities and individuals facing mobility or transportation challenges by providing them with access to home delivery services through food banks participating in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. The act would authorize the creation of a program that directs federal funding to food banks, enabling them to expand or establish home delivery services.
Food banks will be able to either enhance their existing delivery infrastructure or enter into partnerships with private delivery providers to ensure that senior food boxes reach those in need. This legislation recognizes the unique challenges faced by seniors, especially in remote or underserved areas, and aims to improve their access to nutritious food through tailored delivery options. By funding the expansion of delivery services, the act seeks to remove transportation barriers, ensuring that vulnerable seniors can receive their food assistance without having to leave their homes.
“The Delivering for Rural Seniors Act would create a pilot program that provides funding to food banks, allowing them to develop innovative last-mile delivery systems for residents with limited mobility,” Crockett said. “Local food banks, such as Tarrant Area Food Bank, which serves my district, have supported this bill and are as excited as I am for this initiative. While this is vital for North Texas, this is also an important issue for the United States as a whole. As Congress works through a farm bill – ensuring all individuals have access to nutritious food should be a top priority. This bill brings us one step closer to turning the food deserts of North Texas – and across the country – into food oases!”
The poverty rate for residents 65 years old and older that live in rural areas is higher than those living in urban areas. The poverty rate for Black, Hispanic and Native American seniors in rural areas is double that of White seniors in rural areas, especially in Southern states, according to the USDA.
“Right now, more than 100,000 eligible seniors are missing out on food assistance, often because they can’t travel to distribution locations,” Nunn said. “This is a commonsense solution that will deliver for our seniors – literally.”