[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 114 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

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[DOCID: f:sc114enr.txt]

        S.Con.Res.114
                                         Agreed to July 19, 2004        

                       One Hundred Eighth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
           the twentieth day of January, two thousand and four


                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas there are more than 300,000,000 chronically hungry and 
  malnourished children in the world;
Whereas more than half of these children go to school on an empty 
  stomach, and almost as many do not attend school at all, but might if 
  food were available;
Whereas the distribution of food in schools is one of the simplest and 
  most effective strategies to fight hunger and malnourishment among 
  children;
Whereas when school meals are offered to hungry or malnourished 
  children, attendance rates increase significantly, particularly for 
  girls;
Whereas the distribution of food in schools encourages better school 
  attendance, thereby improving literacy rates and fighting poverty;
Whereas improvement in the education of girls is one of the most 
  important factors in reducing child malnutrition in developing 
  countries;
Whereas girls who attend schools tend to marry later in life and have 
  fewer children, thereby helping them escape a life of poverty;
Whereas by improving literacy rates and increasing job opportunities, 
  education addresses several of the root causes of terrorism;
Whereas the distribution of food in schools increases attendance of 
  children who might otherwise be susceptible to recruitment by groups 
  that offer them food in return for their attendance at extremist 
  schools or participation in terrorist training camps;
Whereas the Global Food for Education Initiative pilot program, 
  established in 2001, donated surplus United States agricultural 
  commodities to the United Nations World Food Program and other 
  recipients for distribution to nearly 7,000,000 hungry and 
  malnourished children in 38 countries;
Whereas a recent Department of Agriculture evaluation found that the 
  pilot program created measurable improvements in school attendance 
  (particularly for girls), increased local employment and economic 
  activity, produced greater involvement in local infrastructure and 
  community improvement projects, and increased participation by 
  parents in the schools and in the education of their children;
Whereas the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Public Law 
  107-171, 116 Stat. 134) replaced the pilot program with the McGovern-
  Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, 
  which was named after former Senators George McGovern and Robert Dole 
  for their distinguished work to eradicate hunger and poverty around 
  the world; and
Whereas the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child 
  Nutrition Program provides food to nearly 2,000,000 hungry or 
  malnourished children in 21 countries: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
        (1) expresses its grave concern about the continuing problem of 
    hunger and the desperate need to feed hungry and malnourished 
    children around the world;
        (2) recognizes that the global distribution of food in schools 
    to children around the world increases attendance, particularly for 
    girls, improves literacy rates, and increases job opportunities, 
    thereby helping to fight poverty;
        (3) recognizes that education of children around the world 
    addresses several of the root causes of international terrorism;
        (4) recognizes that the world will be safer and more promising 
    for children as a result of better school attendance;
        (5) expresses its gratitude to former Senators George McGovern 
    and Robert Dole for supporting the distribution of food in schools 
    around the world to children and for working to eradicate hunger 
    and poverty around the world;
        (6) commends the Department of Agriculture, the Agency for 
    International Development, the Department of State, the United 
    Nations World Food Program, private voluntary organizations, non-
    governmental organizations, and cooperatives for facilitating the 
    distribution of food in schools around the world;
        (7) expresses its continued support for the distribution of 
    food in schools around the world;
        (8) supports expansion of the McGovern-Dole International Food 
    for Education and Child Nutrition Program; and
        (9) requests the President to work with the United Nations and 
    its member states to expand international contributions for the 
    distribution of food in schools around the world.
  Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.

  Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.