[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 112 (Wednesday, September 20, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1538-E1539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          PARTNERSHIP FOR INTERNATIONAL FOOD RELIEF, H.R. 5224

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 20, 2000

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the International 
Food Relief Partnership Act, H.R. 5224, legislation that authorizes the 
stockpiling and rapid transportation, delivery and distribution of 
shelf stable prepackaged foods to needy individuals in foreign 
countries. This legislation creates a public-private partnerships to 
leverage the donation of nutritious food by volunteers to needy 
families around the globe at times of famine, disaster and other 
critical needs. I am pleased to join the Chairman of the Committee on 
Agriculture, Mr. Combest, the distinguished gentleman from Texas, and 
the Ranking Member of the Committee on Agriculture, the distinguished 
gentleman from Texas, Mr. Stenholm, and the distinguished Chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the International Relations 
Committee, the distinguished gentleman from Nebraska, Mr. Bereuter, in 
introducing this important legislation.
  There is a gap in the United States' traditional international food 
relief effort and food reserve program that makes participation by non-
profit organizations that want to contribute donated food extremely 
difficult. The major barrier to these volunteer contributions is the 
high cost of providing these donated food products to international 
relief organizations that transport and distribute food overseas. Agri-
business efficiently and effectively provides assistance at times of 
greatest need through international food relief organizations that work 
through the Agency for International Development (AID). However, non-
profits have a much more difficult time reaching international relief 
organizations to provide food assistance because of the high cost of 
processing, packaging, maintaining and shipping donated food. 
Consequently, food donated by non-profits is often delayed from 
reaching affected populations, or is simply not used for this purpose.
  The International Food Relief Partnership Act will fill this gap by 
providing grant assistance outside the traditional food relief program

[[Page E1539]]

to non-profits that should be matched 50 cents on the dollar by funds 
raised by non-profits. These grant funds will be used by non-profits to 
ensure that food donated by farmers can be processed, packaged, stored, 
and transported overseas at the time of need. AID would be responsible 
for the administration of this program, although funding for it would 
be made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food for 
Peace program.
  Non-profits such as Breedlove, Child Life International, and Feed the 
Starving Children provide direct hunger assistance at times of 
disaster, famine, or other critical need. Organizations such as these 
are located throughout the United States. These organizations accept 
gleaned crops donated by regional farmers, and help transport and 
distribute this food overseas. Once the donated food is processed, it 
can be stored for years for use in food emergencies. Donated food 
reduces the cost of famine and disaster assistance because these 
products cost only pennies to process and ship and supplement the 
traditional food basket.
  We need to encourage more volunteer efforts from non-profits. The 
International Food Relief Partnership Act accomplishes this objective 
by providing a means for non-profits to accept donated food and process 
it into a product for use in times of disaster, famine, or other 
critical need.
  Through the enactment of this bill we create a new and inexpensive 
mechanism that provides more food relief for less money. The fifty-
percent matching preference included in this legislation also ensures 
that viable and deserving organizations earn the grant funds that they 
seek.
  I have introduced the ``International Food Relief Partnership Act of 
2000'' today because the time to plan for a food crisis is before it 
occurs. I look forward to working with my colleagues in supporting the 
spirit of volunteerism and goodwill by rapidly passing this important 
legislation.

                          ____________________