The Senate Select Committee on Children & Poverty to Host a Screening on a Documentary Taking a Closer Look at Hunger and Poverty in America

Currently, 1 in every 4 children in the United States worries about where their next meal will come from. Most Americans might consider hunger only to exist in remote, third-world countries; but, the reality is, hunger is a problem 50 million Americans face every day. “A Place at the Table,” a documentary providing a picture of hunger in America, is aiming toward bringing attention to the hunger crisis in the United States. The West Virginia Legislature will be hosting a screening of the documentary on Monday at 6:00 p.m. in the Capitol Complex Culture Center.

The United States of America is one of the most wealthy, powerful countries in the world, so why are there people struggling to put food on their table every day? According to the documentary, the problem isn’t a shortage of food; the problem is poverty. The hunger crisis in America has gone unnoticed – largely due to the shame those struggling feel and their unwillingness to discuss the hardships of poverty due to the stigma attached to hunger.

In West Virginia alone, 14.1 percent of people are food insecure and around 25 percent of children live in poverty, similar to the national average. While the documentary focuses on a national level, it addresses and helps find solutions to problems West Virginians are far too familiar with. Senate President Jeff Kessler and House Speaker Rick Thompson both agree that poverty is a huge concern for the state and are dedicated to finding solutions.

The documentary focuses not only on the issues of hunger and poverty, but also the correlations these two evils have on other aspects of life including professional and academic progress, malnutrition, and obesity. When families can barely afford to eat, they purchase the least expensive foods – processed foods. Additionally, when people are hungry or distracted thinking about where they’ll get their next meal, they are less likely to focus on work and therefore underperform in the workplace and the classroom.

These problems, and the adverse attitudes that are associated, are addressed through three Americans who struggle to find meals on an almost daily basis. Two of these Americans are elementary school students who struggle in school and face health problems due to their malnutrition while the third is a single mother who finds it hard to keep food on the table for her two children.

The West Virginia Legislature’s screening is an extension of the focus the Legislature has taken on children and poverty in the state. The Senate Select Committee on Children and Poverty has been taking initiative during the legislative session to address the poverty crisis West Virginia is facing. Most recently, the committee presented a bill that will provide free breakfast and lunch to all public school students in the state. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and is now being considered in the House.

Monday’s screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Documentary Director Lori Silverbush and Food Expert Dr. Janet Poppendieck. “A Place at the Table” was released in theaters, on iTunes, and On Demand on March 1, 2013. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. There is no charge for admission.

Legislature Names Flintlock Model 1819 West Virginia’s Official Firearm

Many may wonder how a symbol receives its official state title. The process, similar to the creation of a bill, starts with an idea. Next, research and consideration must be given to this idea, usually by citizens, school children or organizations. If the idea sparks interest amoung citizens and legislators, a request for the formal introduction of a resolution to create an official state symbol is made and the resolution is drafted.

This session the West Virginia Legislature has named the Flintlock Model 1819 rifle the official state firearm. This is the most recent addition to the wide collection of state symbols that have been made official since 2008 when the state Tartan, the “West Virginia Shawl,” was adopted in recognition of the states’ historic Celtic roots. The Timber Rattlesnake, the state’s official reptile, along with Jefferson’s Ground Sloth, the official fossil, were also named official symbols during the 2008 session.

Much like all other official state symbols, the Flintlock Model 1819 also has great history here in West Virginia and through the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution 7, was named the state’s official firearm this week. It was originally manufactured in Harpers Ferry, WV by John H. Hall and was adopted into the United States Army in 1819, the first breech-loading rifle to be adopted by any nation’s military.

Characterized by a block breech that has the ability to be lifted out so the operator can insert the powder and bullet, it created a faster and simpler way to handle a gun. It was also the first entirely machine-made weapon ever manufactured with interchangeable parts. The Flintlock Model continued to be used during the U.S. Civil War. This alone makes it significant to West Virginia because the state was created out of that armed conflict.

As demonstrated through resolutions adopted in past years, West Virginia is a state rich with historical gems that hold great meaning to its citizens. The Flintlock Model 1819 will undoubtedly be a great addition to the state’s menagerie of symbols representing West Virginia today.