[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 199 (Thursday, December 14, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2362-E2363]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   FOOD AID MUST CONTINUE, H.R. 2775

                                 ______


                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 13, 1995

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have worked long and hard on the issue of 
world hunger. Key U.S. Government initiatives, like the Food for Peace 
and Food for Progress 

[[Page E2363]]
Programs, are the cornerstones of our efforts to wipe out hunger.
  Recently, the Department of Agriculture and the Agency for 
International Development approached my committee, asking to extend the 
authorities of these programs which are set to expire at the end of 
this year. While a new farm bill would be the preferred way of 
extending the life of these programs, it is becoming clear that will 
not be possible during this session of Congress. I have been working 
with Chairman Roberts and Chairman Lugar hopefully to preserve these 
programs while a new farm bill is finalized.
  Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill that has been cosponsored 
by the ranking Democratic member of our committee, Mr. Hamilton of 
Indiana. It protects authorities for programs that directly save lives. 
For example, one-third of all Bosnians depend on this program for food. 
We can all agree that keeping the food flowing to Bosnia is a key part 
of our peace efforts in that region of the world.
  This bill will extend the authority of the title II minimum tonnage 
requirements, the Food Consultative Group, the Food for Progress Act, 
and the authorities for Agricultural Exports to Emerging Democracies 
under the Food, Agriculture and Conservation Trade Act of 1990.
  This bill is needed to keep these life-saving programs functioning 
while a new farm bill is finished. As chairman of the International 
Relations Committee, I will call on my committee to mark up this bill 
shortly. I will also work with the Agriculture Committees of both House 
and Senate as well as the administration to seek its swift passage in 
the Congress.
  I request that the full text of H.R. 2775 be inserted at this point 
in the Record.

                               H.R. 2775

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

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES UNDER PUBLIC LAW 480.

       (a) Levels of Assistance for Title II.--
       (1) Minimum assistance.--Section 204(a)(1)(E) of the 
     Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 
     U.S.C. 1724(a)(1)(E)) is amended by striking ``for fiscal 
     year 1995'' and inserting ``for each of the fiscal years 1995 
     and 1996''.
       (2) Minimum non-emergency assistance.--Section 204(a)(2)(E) 
     of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1724(a)(2)(E)) is amended by striking 
     ``for fiscal year 1995'' and inserting ``for each of the 
     fiscal years 1995 and 1996''.
       (b) Food Aid Consultative Group.--Section 205(f) of such 
     Act (7 U.S.C. 1725(f)) is amended by striking ``1995'' and 
     inserting ``1996''.
       (c) Expiration Date for Assistance.--Section 408 of such 
     Act (7 U.S.C. 1736b) is amended by striking ``1995'' and 
     inserting ``1996''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES UNDER THE FOOD FOR PROGRESS 
                   ACT OF 1985.

       (a) Effective and Termination Dates.--Section 1110 of the 
     Food Security Act of 1985 (known as the ``Food for Progress 
     Act of 1985''; 7 U.S.C. 1736o) is amended in subsection (k) 
     by striking ``1995'' and inserting ``1996''.
       (b) Additional Assistance in Administration of Food 
     Assistance Programs.--Section 1110 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 
     1736o) is amended in subsection (l)(1) by striking ``1995'' 
     and inserting ``1996''.

     SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES FOR AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS TO 
                   EMERGING DEMOCRACIES UNDER THE FOOD, 
                   AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION, AND TRADE ACT OF 
                   1990.

       Section 1542(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
     Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5622 note) is amended by striking 
     ``1995'' and inserting ``1996''.

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