[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 10, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S7671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BOND (for himself and Mr. Santorum):
  S. 1938. A bill to enact the model Good Samaritan Act Food Donation 
Act, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Labor and Human 
Resources.


           THE BILL EMERSON GOOD SAMARITAN FOOD DONATION ACT

 Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I pay tribute to my good friend and 
colleague from Missouri, Congressman Bill Emerson, who represented 
southeast Missouri's Eighth Congressional District for 16 years. Bill 
Emerson was well known in this body, and certainly to many around this 
city, and was loved by the people of southeast Missouri. He had a long 
and distinguished career of service in the U.S. Congress.
  Bill was especially well known for his work in agriculture and in the 
fight against hunger, including being an ardent supporter of food 
distribution programs. One of his legislative priorities this session 
was a bill that would make it easier for millions of tons of unused 
food by restaurants, supermarkets, and other private businesses to end 
up in food pantries and shelters rather than in garbage cans and 
dumpsters.
  In honor of Bill Emerson, I now send to the desk the Bill Emerson 
Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, which is identical to legislation 
championed by Bill Emerson before his death. In the past, private 
donors have been reluctant to make contributions to non-profit 
organizations because they are concerned about potential civil and 
criminal liability. With this legislation, private donors will be 
protected from such liability, except in cases of gross negligence and 
intentional misconduct. Those in need will truly benefit from this 
legislation.
  I am happy to continue Bill Emerson's effort, and I will work hard to 
ensure that the Senate passes this common sense approach to fight 
hunger. I hope my colleagues will join me in this effort.
                                 ______