[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 98 (Friday, July 11, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1400-E1401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      LEGISLATION THAT MAKES SENSE

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                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 10, 1997

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member highly commends to his 
colleagues this editorial which appeared in the Omaha World-Herald on 
July 4, 1997. This editorial brings attention to the positive effect of 
a law passed by the Nebraska Legislature in 1981 referred to as the 
``Good Samaritan'' law which protects anyone donating food from civil 
lawsuits. Without passage of this law in my home State of Nebraska, 
thousands of pounds of food that now feeds needy individuals would 
instead be thrown out each and every day. This Member would also like 
to commend the many businesses in my home State that contribute their 
unsold and left-over food and also to commend the charitable 
organizations that ensure that the food is distributed to needy people.

              [From the Omaha World-Herald, July 4, 1997]

                    Less Food Goes to Waste in Omaha

       More than one-fourth of the food produced in the United 
     States goes to waste, according to an Agriculture Department 
     study. But in Omaha, the picture is different.
       Nationally, more than 96 billion pounds of food of all 
     kinds was lost in 1995, the government study indicated. It 
     spoiled in the home refrigerator. It became outdated or 
     damaged in grocery stores. It was left over, unserved, at 
     restaurants and wedding receptions, in company lunchrooms and 
     fast-food places, taco stands and bagel shops across the 
     country.
       In Omaha, a gratifying amount of food isn't wasted. Thanks 
     to the generosity of businesses and the determination of the 
     community's charitable organizations, a lot of good, 
     healthful food that might have been tossed out is feeding 
     hundreds of homeless and needy people.
       Paul Koch, executive director of Siena-Francis House, said 
     his organization serves 205,000 meals a year on a food budget 
     of less than $2,000. Most food is donated. Fast-food 
     restaurants, donut shops, food stores, restaurants and large 
     corporations all helped, he said.
       The Open Door Mission also benefits from local generosity. 
     Pastor Bob Timberlake said the mission serves 900 meals a 
     day, more than 328,000 a year, and 95 percent of the food is 
     donated. He said mission trucks go to Mutual of Omaha, where 
     they pick up all the

[[Page E1401]]

     food not served in the company cafeteria. That provides 30 
     percent of the food the mission needs, he said.
       Sixteen Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets give the chicken 
     that was partially fried but not sold. ConAgra and Campbell's 
     pass on extra or unneeded edibles. When Roberts Dairy trucks 
     return from deliveries, their unsold dairy products are 
     loaded directly into mission vans.
       Food donations in Omaha are made easier by a far-sighted 
     ``Good Samaritan'' law passed by the Nebraska Legislature in 
     1981 protecting anyone donating food from civil lawsuits.
       The fact that the idea is working so well in Omaha is a 
     credit to the city, a credit to charities that handle the 
     food and a credit to good-hearted people.

     

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