[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1120 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1120

 To reduce hunger in the United States by half by 2010, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 25, 2005

   Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Lugar, and Mr. Smith) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
           Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To reduce hunger in the United States by half by 2010, and for other 
                               purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Hunger-Free 
Communities Act of 2005''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
               TITLE I--NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO END HUNGER

Sec. 101. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 102. Data collection.
Sec. 103. Annual hunger report.
               TITLE II--STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY EFFORTS

Sec. 201. Hunger-free communities assessment grants.
Sec. 202. Hunger-free communities infrastructure grants.
Sec. 203. Training and technical assistance grants.
Sec. 204. Report.
               TITLE III--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

Sec. 301. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) food insecurity and hunger are growing problems in the 
        United States;
            (2) in 2003, more than 36,000,000 people, 13,000,000 of 
        whom were children, lived in households that were food 
        insecure, representing an increase of 5,200,000 people in just 
        4 years;
            (3) over 9,600,000 people lived in households in which at 
        least 1 person experienced hunger;
            (4)(A) at the 1996 World Food Summit, the United States, 
        along with 185 other countries, pledged to reduce the number of 
        undernourished people by half by 2015; and
            (B) as a result of this pledge, the Department of Health 
        and Human Services adopted the Healthy People 2010 goal to cut 
        food insecurity in half by 2010, and in doing so reduce hunger;
            (5)(A) the Healthy People 2010 goal measures progress that 
        has been made since the 1996 World Food Summit and urges the 
        Federal Government to reduce food insecurity from the 1995 
        level of 12 percent to 6 percent;
            (B) in 1999, food insecurity decreased to 10.1 percent, and 
        hunger decreased to 3 percent, but no progress has been made 
        since 1999; and
            (C) in 2003, food insecurity increased to 11.2 percent and 
        hunger increased to 3.5 percent, so that the United States 
        needs to reduce food insecurity by approximately 5 percentage 
        points in the next 5 years in order to reach the Healthy People 
        2010 goal;
            (6) anti-hunger organizations in the United States have 
        encouraged Congress to achieve the commitment of the United 
        States to decrease food insecurity and hunger in half by 2010 
        and eliminating food insecurity and hunger by 2015;
            (7) anti-hunger organizations in the United States have 
        identified strategies to cut food insecurity and hunger in half 
        by 2010 and to eliminate food insecurity and hunger by 2015;
            (8)(A) national nutrition programs are among the fastest, 
        most direct ways to efficiently and effectively prevent hunger, 
        reduce food insecurity, and improve nutrition among the 
        populations targeted by a program; and
            (B) the programs are responsible for the absence of 
        widespread hunger and malnutrition among the poorest people, 
        especially children, in the United States;
            (9)(A) although national nutrition programs are essential 
        in the fight against hunger, the programs fail to reach all of 
        the people eligible and entitled to their services;
            (B) according to the Department of Agriculture, only 
        approximately 56 percent of food-insecure households receive 
        assistance from at least 1 of the 3 largest national nutrition 
        programs, the food stamp program, the special supplemental 
        nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC), and 
        the school lunch program;
            (C) the food stamp program reaches only about 54 percent of 
        the households that are eligible for benefits; and
            (D) free and reduced price school breakfasts are served to 
        about \1/2\ of the low-income children who get free or reduced 
        price lunches, and during the summer months, less than 20 
        percent of the children who receive free and reduced price 
        school lunches are served meals;
            (10) in 2001, food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, and 
        emergency shelters helped to feed more than 23,000,000 low-
        income people;
            (11) community-based organizations and charities can help--
                    (A) play an important role in preventing and 
                reducing hunger;
                    (B) measure community food security;
                    (C) develop and implement plans for improving food 
                security;
                    (D) educate community leaders about the problems of 
                and solutions to hunger;
                    (E) ensure that local nutrition programs are 
                implemented effectively; and
                    (F) improve the connection of food insecure people 
                to anti-hunger programs;
            (12) according to the Department of Agriculture, in 2003, 
        hunger was 8 times as prevalent, and food insecurity was nearly 
        6 times as prevalent, in households with incomes below 185 
        percent of the poverty line as in households with incomes at or 
        above 185 percent of the poverty line; and
            (13) in order to achieve the goal of reducing food 
        insecurity and hunger by \1/2\ by 2010, the United States needs 
        to--
                    (A) ensure improved employment and income 
                opportunities, especially for less-skilled workers and 
                single mothers with children; and
                    (B) reduce the strain that rising housing and 
                health care costs place on families with limited or 
                stagnant incomes.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Domestic hunger goal.--The term ``domestic hunger 
        goal'' means--
                    (A) the goal of reducing hunger in the United 
                States to at or below 2 percent by 2010; or
                    (B) the goal of reducing food insecurity in the 
                United States to at or below 6 percent by 2010.
            (2) Emergency feeding organization.--The term ``emergency 
        feeding organization'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 201A of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 
        U.S.C. 7501).
            (3) Food security.--The term ``food security'' means the 
        state in which an individual has access to enough food for an 
        active, healthy life.
            (4) Hunger-free communities goal.--The term ``hunger-free 
        communities goal'' means any of the 14 goals described in the 
        H. Con. Res. 302 (102nd Congress).
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.

               TITLE I--NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO END HUNGER

SEC. 101. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) Congress is committed to--
                    (A) achieving domestic hunger goals;
                    (B) achieving hunger-free communities goals; and
                    (C) ending hunger by 2015;
            (2) Federal food and nutrition programs should receive 
        adequate funding to meet the requirements of the programs; and
            (3) the entitlement nature of the child and adult care food 
        program, the food stamp program established by section 4 of the 
        Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2013), the school breakfast 
        and lunch programs, and the summer food service program should 
        be preserved.

SEC. 102. DATA COLLECTION.

    (a) In General.--The American Communities Survey, acting under the 
authority of the Census Bureau pursuant to section 141 of title 13, 
United States Code, shall collect and submit to the Secretary 
information relating to food security.
    (b) Compilation.--Not later than October 31 of each year, the 
Secretary shall compile the information submitted under subsection (a) 
to produce data on food security at the Federal, State, and local 
levels.

SEC. 103. ANNUAL HUNGER REPORT.

    (a) Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a study, and 
        annual updates of the study, of major matters relating to the 
        problem of hunger in the United States, as determined by the 
        Secretary.
            (2) Matters to be assessed.--The matters to be assessed by 
        the Secretary shall include--
                    (A) the information compiled under section 102(b);
                    (B) measures carried out during the previous year 
                by Federal, State, and local governments to achieve 
                domestic hunger goals and hunger-free communities 
                goals; and
                    (C) measures that could be carried out by Federal, 
                State, and local governments to achieve domestic hunger 
                goals and hunger-free communities goals.
    (b) Recommendations.--The Secretary shall develop recommendations 
on--
            (1) removing obstacles to achieving domestic hunger goals 
        and hunger-free communities goals; and
            (2) otherwise reducing domestic hunger.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 
President and Congress a report that contains--
            (1) a detailed statement of the results of the study, or 
        the most recent update to the study, conducted under subsection 
        (a); and
            (2) the most recent recommendations of the Secretary under 
        subsection (b).

               TITLE II--STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY EFFORTS

SEC. 201. HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVE GRANTS.

    (a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
``eligible entity'' means a public food program service provider or a 
nonprofit organization, including but not limited to an emergency 
feeding organization, that demonstrates the organization has 
collaborated, or will collaborate, with 1 or more local partner 
organizations to achieve at least 1 hunger-free communities goal.
    (b) Program Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall use not more than 50 
        percent of any funds made available under title III to make 
        grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share of the 
        costs of an activity described in subsection (d).
            (2) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of 
        carrying out an activity under this section shall not exceed 80 
        percent.
            (3) Non-federal share.--
                    (A) Calculation.--The non-Federal share of the cost 
                of an activity under this section may be provided in 
                cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including 
                facilities, equipment, or services.
                    (B) Sources.--Any entity may provide the non-
                Federal share of the cost of an activity under this 
                section through a State government, a local government, 
                or a private source.
    (c) Application.--
            (1) In general.--To receive a grant under this section, an 
        eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at 
        the time and in the manner and accompanied by any information 
        the Secretary may require.
            (2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall--
                    (A) identify any activity described in subsection 
                (d) that the grant will be used to fund;
                    (B) describe the means by which an activity 
                identified under subparagraph (A) will reduce hunger in 
                the community of the eligible entity;
                    (C) list any partner organizations of the eligible 
                entity that will participate in an activity funded by 
                the grant;
                    (D) describe any agreement between a partner 
                organization and the eligible entity necessary to carry 
                out an activity funded by the grant; and
                    (E) if an assessment described in subsection (d)(1) 
                has been performed, include--
                            (i) a summary of that assessment; and
                            (ii) information regarding the means by 
                        which the grant will help reduce hunger in the 
                        community of the eligible entity.
            (3) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--
                    (A) demonstrate in the application of the eligible 
                entity that the eligible entity makes collaborative 
                efforts to reduce hunger in the community of the 
                eligible entity; and
                    (B)(i) serve a predominantly rural and 
                geographically underserved area;
                    (ii) serve communities in which the rates of food 
                insecurity, hunger, poverty, or unemployment are 
                demonstrably higher than national average rates;
                    (iii) provide evidence of long-term efforts to 
                reduce hunger in the community;
                    (iv) provide evidence of public support for the 
                efforts of the eligible entity; or
                    (v) demonstrate in the application of the eligible 
                entity a commitment to achieving more than 1 hunger-
                free communities goal.
    (d) Use of Funds.--
            (1) Assessment of hunger in the community.--
                    (A) In general.--An eligible entity in a community 
                that has not performed an assessment described in 
                subparagraph (B) may use a grant received under this 
                section to perform the assessment for the community.
                    (B) Assessment.--The assessment referred to in 
                subparagraph (A) shall include--
                            (i) an analysis of the problem of hunger in 
                        the community served by the eligible entity;
                            (ii) an evaluation of any facility and any 
                        equipment used to achieve a hunger-free 
                        communities goal in the community;
                            (iii) an analysis of the effectiveness and 
                        extent of service of existing nutrition 
                        programs and emergency feeding organizations; 
                        and
                            (iv) a plan to achieve any other hunger-
                        free communities goal in the community.
            (2) Activities.--An eligible entity in a community that has 
        submitted an assessment to the Secretary shall use a grant 
        received under this section for any fiscal year for activities 
        of the eligible entity, including--
                    (A) meeting the immediate needs of people in the 
                community served by the eligible entity who experience 
                hunger by--
                            (i) distributing food;
                            (ii) providing community outreach; or
                            (iii) improving access to food as part of a 
                        comprehensive service;
                    (B) developing new resources and strategies to help 
                reduce hunger in the community;
                    (C) establishing a program to achieve a hunger-free 
                communities goal in the community, including--
                            (i) a program to prevent, monitor, and 
                        treat children in the community experiencing 
                        hunger or poor nutrition; or
                            (ii) a program to provide information to 
                        people in the community on hunger, domestic 
                        hunger goals, and hunger-free communities 
                        goals; and
                    (D) establishing a program to provide food and 
                nutrition services as part of a coordinated community-
                based comprehensive service.

SEC. 202. HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITIES INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS.

    (a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
``eligible entity'' means an emergency feeding organization (as defined 
in section 201A(4) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 
U.S.C. 7501(4))).
    (b) Program Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall use not more than 40 
        percent of any funds made available under title III to make 
        grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share of the 
        costs of an activity described in subsection (d).
            (2) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of 
        carrying out an activity under this section shall not exceed 80 
        percent.
    (c) Application.--
            (1) In general.--To receive a grant under this section, an 
        eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at 
        the time and in the manner and accompanied by any information 
        the Secretary may require.
            (2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall--
                    (A) identify any activity described in subsection 
                (d) that the grant will be used to fund; and
                    (B) describe the means by which an activity 
                identified under subparagraph (A) will reduce hunger in 
                the community of the eligible entity.
            (3) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities the 
        applications of which demonstrate 2 or more of the following:
                    (A) The eligible entity serves a predominantly 
                rural and geographically underserved area.
                    (B) The eligible entity serves a community in which 
                the rates of food insecurity, hunger, poverty, or 
                unemployment are demonstrably higher than national 
                average rates.
                    (C) The eligible entity serves a community that has 
                carried out long-term efforts to reduce hunger in the 
                community.
                    (D) The eligible entity serves a community that 
                provides public support for the efforts of the eligible 
                entity.
                    (E) The eligible entity is committed to achieving 
                more than 1 hunger-free communities goal.
    (d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity shall use a grant received 
under this section for any fiscal year to carry out activities of the 
eligible entity, including--
            (1) constructing, expanding, or repairing a facility or 
        equipment to support hunger relief agencies in the community;
            (2) assisting an emergency feeding organization in the 
        community in obtaining locally-produced produce and protein 
        products; and
            (3) assisting an emergency feeding organization in the 
        community to process and serve wild game.

SEC. 203. HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITIES TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
              GRANTS.

    (a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
``eligible entity'' means a national or regional nonprofit organization 
that carries out an activity described in subsection (d).
    (b) Program Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall use not more than 10 
        percent of any funds made available under title III to make 
        grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share of the 
        costs of an activity described in subsection (d).
            (2) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of 
        carrying out an activity under this section shall not exceed 80 
        percent.
    (c) Application.--
            (1) In general.--To receive a grant under this section, an 
        eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at 
        the time and in the manner and accompanied by any information 
        the Secretary may require.
            (2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall--
                    (A) demonstrate that the eligible entity does not 
                operate for profit;
                    (B) describe any national or regional training 
                program carried out by the eligible entity, including a 
                description of each region served by the eligible 
                entity;
                    (C) describe any national or regional technical 
                assistance provided by the eligible entity, including a 
                description of each region served by the eligible 
                entity; and
                    (D) describe the means by which each organization 
                served by the eligible entity--
                            (i) works to achieve a domestic hunger 
                        goal;
                            (ii) works to achieve a hunger-free 
                        communities goal; or
                            (iii) used a grant received by the 
                        organization under section 201 or 202.
            (3) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities the 
        applications of which demonstrate 2 or more of the following:
                    (A) The eligible entity serves a predominantly 
                rural and geographically underserved area.
                    (B) The eligible entity serves a region in which 
                the rates of food insecurity, hunger, poverty, or 
                unemployment are demonstrably higher than national 
                average rates.
                    (C) The eligible entity serves a region that has 
                carried out long-term efforts to reduce hunger in the 
                region.
                    (D) The eligible entity serves a region that 
                provides public support for the efforts of the eligible 
                entity.
                    (E) The eligible entity is committed to achieving 
                more than 1 hunger-free communities goal.
    (d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity shall use a grant received 
under this section for any fiscal year to carry out national or 
regional training and technical assistance for organizations that--
            (1) work to achieve a domestic hunger goal;
            (2) work to achieve a hunger-free communities goal; or
            (3) receive a grant under section 201 or 202.

SEC. 204. REPORT.

    Not later than September 30, 2011, the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a report describing--
            (1) each grant made under this title, including--
                    (A) a description of any activity funded by such a 
                grant; and
                    (B) the degree of success of each activity funded 
                by such a grant in achieving hunger-free communities 
                goals; and
            (2) the degree of success of all activities funded by 
        grants under this title in achieving domestic hunger goals.

               TITLE III--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out title II 
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2011.
                                 <all>