[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4648 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4648

 To provide for grants to establish the Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland 
                     memorial fellowship programs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 13, 2000

 Mr. Hall of Ohio introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
   the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on 
International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for grants to establish the Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland 
                     memorial fellowship programs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS; PURPOSES.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional 
Hunger Fellows Act of 2000''.
    (b) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) There is a critical need for compassionate individuals 
        who are committed to assisting people who suffer from hunger as 
        well as a need for such individuals to initiate and administer 
        solutions to the hunger problem.
            (2) Bill Emerson, the distinguished late Representative 
        from the 8th District of Missouri, demonstrated his commitment 
        to solving the problem of hunger in a bipartisan manner, his 
        commitment to public service, and his great affection for the 
        institution and the ideals of the United States Congress.
            (3) George T. (Mickey) Leland, the distinguished late 
        Representative from the 18th District of Texas, demonstrated 
        his compassion for those in need, his high regard for public 
        service, and his lively exercise of political talents.
            (4) The special concern that Mr. Emerson and Mr. Leland 
        demonstrated during their lives for the hungry and poor was an 
        inspiration for others to work toward the goals of equality and 
        justice for all.
            (5) These two outstanding leaders maintained a special bond 
        of friendship regardless of political affiliation and worked 
        together to encourage future leaders to recognize and provide 
        service to others, and therefore it is especially appropriate 
        to honor the memory of Mr. Emerson and Mr. Leland by creating a 
        fellowship program to develop and train the future leaders of 
        the United States to pursue careers in humanitarian service.
    (c) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to encourage future leaders of the United States to 
        pursue careers in humanitarian service, to recognize the needs 
        of people who are hungry and poor, and to provide assistance 
        and compassion for those in need;
            (2) to increase awareness of the importance of public 
        service; and
            (3) to provide training and development opportunities for 
        such leaders.

SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR HUNGER FELLOWSHIPS.

    (a) In General.--Subject to amounts appropriated under section 7 
for such purpose, the Secretary shall award a grant to the Center to 
enable the Center to establish and conduct Bill Emerson and Mickey 
Leland Hunger Fellowships.
    (b) Provision for Direct Payment to Center.--Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, amounts appropriated under section 7 may be 
paid directly to the Center.

SEC. 3. DESCRIPTION OF HUNGER FELLOWSHIPS.

    (a) In General.--Amounts received by the Center under section 2 
shall be used to carry out the Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship and the 
Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship.
    (b) Curriculum.--
            (1) In general.--The fellowships shall provide education 
        and training to develop the skills and understanding necessary 
        to improve the humanitarian conditions and the lives of 
        individuals who suffer from hunger, including--
                    (A) training in direct service to the hungry in 
                conjunction with community-based organizations through 
                a program of field placement; and
                    (B) experience in policy development through 
                placement in a governmental entity or nonprofit 
                organization.
            (2) Focus of bill emerson hunger fellowship.--The Bill 
        Emerson Hunger Fellowship shall address hunger and other 
        humanitarian needs in the United States.
            (3) Focus of mickey leland hunger fellowship.--The Mickey 
        Leland Hunger Fellowship shall address international hunger and 
        other humanitarian needs.
    (c) Period of Fellowship.--A fellowship awarded under this section 
shall be for a period of not less than 12 months and not more than 24 
months.
    (d) Selection of Fellows.--
            (1) In general.--A fellowship shall be awarded pursuant to 
        a nationwide competition established by the Center.
            (2) Qualification.--A successful applicant shall be an 
        individual who has demonstrated both a desire to pursue a 
        career in humanitarian service and outstanding potential for 
        such a career.
            (3) Amount of award.--Each individual awarded a fellowship 
        under this section shall receive an educational award and 
        living allowance as determined by the Center.
            (4) Recognition of fellowship award.--
                    (A) Emerson fellow.--An individual awarded a 
                fellowship from the Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship 
                shall be known as an ``Emerson Fellow''.
                    (B) Leland fellow.--An individual awarded a 
                fellowship from the Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship 
                shall be known as a ``Leland Fellow''.
    (e) Evaluation.--The Center shall conduct periodic evaluations of 
the Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowships.

SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    (a) Authority To Invest Funds.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, the Center may hold funds granted to it under section 2 in 
interest-bearing accounts, prior to the disbursement of such funds for 
the uses specified in section 3(a), and may retain for such purposes 
any interest earned on such deposits without returning such interest to 
the Treasury of the United States and without further appropriation by 
the Congress.
    (b) Compensation.--No part of the grant amount available to the 
Center shall inure to the benefit of any board member, officer, or 
employee of the Center, except as salary or reasonable compensation for 
services or expenses associated with carrying out the fellowships under 
section 3. Compensation for board members shall be limited to 
reimbursement for reasonable costs of travel and expenses.
    (c) Audits.--For each fiscal year in which the Center receives a 
grant under section 2, the accounts of the Center may be audited at any 
time by the Secretary. The Center shall keep such records as will 
facilitate effective audits.
    (d) Congressional Oversight.--For each fiscal year in which the 
Center receives a grant under section 2, the Center shall be subject to 
appropriate oversight procedures of Congress.

SEC. 5. REPORT.

    Not later than December 31 of each year, the Center shall submit to 
the Secretary and to Congress a report on the activities of the Bill 
Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowships carried out during the 
previous fiscal year.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Congressional 
        Hunger Center (which is an organization described in subsection 
        (c)(3) of section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and 
        is exempt from taxation under subsection (a) of such section).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums 
as are necessary to make grants under section 2 for each of fiscal 
years 2001 through 2009.
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