Remarks by the Second Gentleman at the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities Event

[As Prepared for Delivery]

SECOND GENTLEMAN DOUGLAS EMHOFF: Good morning, everyone.

Mo'ne, you are an incredible role model for young women. I remember watching you pitch in the 2014 Little League World Series, and I am so proud to see how you have continued to break barriers for women in sports. The Vice President and I can't wait to see what you do next.

And, of course, I need to thank my good friend, chef José Andrés, and WNBA player Elena Delle Donne for their leadership on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.

Sports play a unique and critical role in uniting our country and our world.

They have the ability to bring people together and encourage us to live active and healthy lives.

And as Second Gentleman, I have proudly led on sports diplomacy and met with athletes all over the world, including leading the Presidential Delegation to the Women's World Cup in New Zealand and meeting amazing NBA and WNBA players at All-Star Weekend in Indiana.

Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, our administration is working to build a healthier future for all Americans.

In 2022, President Biden hosted the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in 50 years. It was long overdue.

At that conference I spoke with Ambassador Rice and young leaders about their efforts to combat food insecurity in their communities.

We brought together Americans from across the country and worked to enact 60 public and private commitments, totaling over $8 billion, to fight hunger and diet-related diseases.

President Biden also announced the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.

The strategy outlines an ambitious goal to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030, and importantly, close disparities among the most impacted communities.

Through the five pillars of the plan, the Biden-Harris Administration is working to: improve food access and affordability; ensure that our health care system addresses the nutrition needs of all people; empower consumers with updated and more accessible food labeling; make it easier for people to be more physically active by building environments that promote physical activity; and enhance nutrition and food security research.

We know we can't do this work alone. That's why we've brought everyone together again to keep the momentum going.

Last year, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities: a nationwide call-to-action to inspire stakeholders across the country to make bold commitments.

And earlier this month, I was proud to announce one of these new commitments: a historic partnership between the sports leagues, players associations, and the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition to boost physical activity and increase nutrition programming across the country.

Today, I'm honored to announce 141 new external commitments, totaling nearly $1.7 billion from a wide range of partners in the public and private sectors.

Among the commitments being announced:

16 mayors are taking wide-ranging action in their communities, including launching their own strategies to reduce hunger and diet-related diseases.

The Harlem Globetrotters will partner with our friends at KABOOM!, who I've worked with before, to host events in 6 cities across the country that will focus on play and nutrition education.

And in Las Vegas, the Venetian Resort and the Just One Project are partnering to increase food access through the Food Rescue Alliance: a new initiative that will use prepared and unused food from the resort to create 250,000 meals annually for local community members.

These efforts will make a real difference in real lives. I want to thank all of you for being partners in this critical work.

With your help, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the entire Biden-Harris Administration will continue to make progress in the fight to end hunger and build healthy communities in America.

Thank you. And now I'll turn it over to Mayor Benjamin.