[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 23, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H5381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page H5381]]

             FEEDING THE HUNGRY THROUGH THE PRIVATE SECTOR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of May 
12, 1995, the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Manzullo] is recognized 
during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, the Hunger Connection of Rockford, IL, is 
a privately financed organization that resources food from wholesalers, 
retailers, and food processors and then makes it available to over 90 
agencies which, in turn, distribute the food to the needy. Not 1 cent 
of Government money is used for this purpose.
  In addition, the Hunger Connection, led by Mary Cunningham, the 
executive director, also helps the community through a service called 
Community Share. In the Community Share Program, people do meaningful 
volunteer work in the community in exchange for 2 hours of work plus 
$14 in cash, $28, to $32 in groceries.
  The Hunger Connection is an example of the type of organization that 
is leading community service efforts. We are saddled with a massive 
debt. Therefore, the time has come to recognize private organizations 
such as the Hunger Connection for innovative, cost efficient solutions 
to our problems.
  Besides that, it has always been the American spirit of charity and 
good works that has spearheaded the country's efforts in alleviating 
the plight of the needy. Thus we have an obligation to carry on this 
work and still strive to keep this Nation from taking on further 
financial burdens.
  We are approaching a national debt of $5 trillion with annual budget 
deficits routinely exceeding $200 billion a year. That means $200 
billion a year is added to the national debt. What is also alarming are 
the taxes that future generations will pay if Congress continues 
expensive spending habits.
  The President's official budget contains an analysis called 
generational forecast. This projects the future tax burden on the 
American people and takes into consideration our national debt and 
current policies for Federal spending. It predicts that children born 
after 1992, by the time they enter the work force, will have a combined 
local, State, and Federal tax rate of between 84 and 94 percent.
  That means your child or grandchild will be able to keep only $600 to 
$1,200 for every $10,000 he or she earns.
  That is not the legacy we want to leave our children.
  The findings of the Bipartisan Commission on Entitlements and Tax 
Reform show that, absent policy changes, entitlement spending and 
interest on the national debt alone will consume all Federal revenues 
by the year 2012.
  Our Nation is not on the verge of bankruptcy. It is in bankruptcy, 
and it is hemorrhaging profusely. If we fail to act, we have made a 
choice that greatly threatens the economic future of our children and 
our Nation.
  Given this financial crisis, we must reevaluate our budgetary 
priorities. If we are gong to be serious about reducing our debt and 
balancing the budget, then every program not absolutely essential to 
the function of the Federal Government must be on the table for 
consideration. That is why original private sector endeavors like the 
Hunger Connection are so important. The Hunger Connection and Community 
Share represent the spirit of Americans working together to solve 
problems. These are people looking to each other instead of Government 
to solve the problems of this Nation.


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