[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 114 Referred in House (RFH)]

  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 114


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 4, 2004

          Referred to the Committee on International Relations

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Concerning the importance of the distribution of food in schools to 
           hungry or malnourished children around the world.

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.

            Passed the Senate June 3, 2004.

            Attest:

                                             EMILY J. REYNOLDS,

                                                             Secretary.