[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 261 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                       October 5, 2004.
Whereas food insecurity and hunger are a fact of life for millions of low-income 
        Americans and can produce physical, mental, and social impairments;
Whereas recent census data show that almost 13,000,000 children in the United 
        States live in families experiencing hunger or food insecurity;
Whereas the problem of hunger and food insecurity can be found in rural, 
        suburban, and urban America, touching nearly every American community;
Whereas although substantial progress has been made in reducing the incidence of 
        hunger and food insecurity in the United States, certain groups, 
        including the working poor, the elderly, homeless people, children, 
        migrant workers, and Native Americans remain vulnerable to hunger and 
        the negative effects of food deprivation;
Whereas the people of the United States have a long tradition of providing food 
        assistance to hungry people through acts of private generosity and 
        public support programs;
Whereas the Federal Government, through Federal food assistance programs such as 
        the Federal Food Stamp Program, child nutrition programs, and food 
        donation programs, provides essential nutrition support to millions of 
        low-income people;
Whereas there is a growing awareness of the important public and private 
        partnership role that community-based organizations, institutions of 
        faith, and charities provide in assisting hungry and food insecure 
        people;
Whereas more than 50,000 local community-based organizations rely on the support 
        and efforts of more than 1,000,000 volunteers to provide food assistance 
        and services to millions of vulnerable people;
Whereas a diverse group of organizations, including America's Second Harvest, 
        the United States Conference of Mayors, and other organizations have 
        documented substantial increases in requests for emergency food 
        assistance over the past year; and
Whereas all Americans can help participate in hunger relief efforts in their 
        communities by donating food and money, by volunteering, and by 
        supporting public policies aimed at reducing hunger: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the efforts of 
organizations such as Second Harvest to provide emergency food assistance to 
hungry people in the United States, and encourages all Americans to provide 
volunteer services and other support for local antihunger advocacy efforts and 
hunger relief charities, including food banks, food rescue organizations, food 
pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.