Speech #990000759

While conditions here at home are not as grave as in Africa. there is documentation which shows we are not doing all we can to assure adequate nutrition for all Americans. The Nations declining total Infant mortality and low birth weight rates conceal much higher rates for the groups which are most vulnerable to hunger. specifically blacks. Hispanics. and migrants. For example. approximately 1 out of every 8 black infants is born at low birth weight compared to approximately 1 out of every 18 white infants. black infant mortality rates are nearly twice as high as white. According to the most recent statistics. nearly onefourth of the Nations children live in poverty25 percent of all preschool children and 21 percent of schoolage children live in households with income below the official poverty line.