[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 16, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H6786-H6788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1300
   AMERICA SHOULD PROVIDE MEALS AND EDUCATION FOR THE WORLD'S NEEDY 
                                CHILDREN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kirk). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 3, 2001, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. 
McGovern) is recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, over the past 5 weeks, discussions on how 
best to combat terrorism over the longer term have begun in the 
Congress and the Bush administration and in the international 
community.
  The terrible events of September 11 are bringing governments and 
people together to reflect not only on how to meet the immediate 
challenge of rooting out the terrorist leaders and destroying the al-
Qaeda network, but also on how to eliminate poverty, hunger, ignorance 
and intolerance, which often breed despair, disaffection, and deep 
resentment. It is not enough to demonstrate what we are against. We 
need to be equally forceful in showing the world what we are for.
  Perhaps no one has articulated this longer term challenge better than 
Britain's prime minister, Tony Blair. Prime Minister Blair has called 
upon the international community to foster and use the ``power of a 
global community for good.''
  He stated that such a community would encourage political inclusion 
and democratic principles throughout the world. It would more than 
redouble efforts to find just and lasting solutions to the world's 
lingering conflicts, including the Middle East. It would pledge to the 
people of Afghanistan that the West will not just walk away, as we have 
before, at the end of this conflict, leaving unresolved the political, 
social, and economic crises that have worn down Afghanistan for more 
than 2 decades.
  Further, the international community should seize the moment as a new 
opportunity to tackle the serious problems of poverty, hunger, 
illiteracy, disease, and intolerance that have plagued so much of the 
developing world. We should forge partnerships to bring greater social 
and economic opportunities to Africa and other regions of the world.
  This is an exciting agenda, one which will create a stronger 
international

[[Page H6787]]

community linked even more deeply by our joint efforts to better the 
lives of the neediest and most vulnerable population of the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak about one concrete action the Bush 
administration could take in order to create lasting good out of acts 
of such profound evil.
  Inspired by Senators George McGovern and Bob Dole, a $300 million 
pilot program, the Global Food for Education Initiative, was launched 
last year to provide one nutritious meal each day in a school setting 
to nine million of the world's neediest children. Contracts to carry 
out 49 projects in 38 countries were awarded to the United Nations 
World Food Programme and experienced U.S. private voluntary 
organizations, such as Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children, 
CARE, Mercy Corps, Land O'Lakes, and Africare. About half of these 
projects are now underway, with the other half awaiting final 
clearance, including projects in Pakistan and Tajikistan.
  School feeding programs have proven that they attract more children 
to attend school and keep them there, especially girls. Education is a 
critical element in empowering women, regardless of race, religion, or 
class.
  Mr. Speaker, the administration should exercise its discretionary 
authority and announce immediately that it will continue the pilot 
program for a second year and expand the program to include additional 
school-feeding programs for the children of Afghanistan.
  The United States, so blessed with agricultural resources, should 
call upon other donor Nations to contribute to this global effort, not 
just with food, but also with resources to create and expand schools. 
In addition, health resources, such as deworming medicine, 
immunizations, clean water, and vitamins, could be provided by other 
Nations in coordination with these school meals.
  The international community, including the United States, has pledged 
to reduce by half the incidence of hunger in the world by the year 
2015. Over the same period, we have stated our determination to provide 
universal education to all. The Global Food for Education Initiative is 
one concrete action the United States can take to achieve these goals.
  The gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson) and I have introduced 
legislation, H.R. 1700, to establish and fund the Global Food for 
Education Initiative. The farm bill, recently passed by the House, 
authorizes the establishment of this program; and I am hopeful that the 
Senate will include funding for this program in its version of the farm 
bill.
  The administration, using its own discretionary authorities, can act 
now to continue and expand this program. I urge the White House, the 
Department of Agriculture and the Department of State to announce today 
the continuation of the Global Food for Education Initiative. I urge 
the President to reach out to our coalition partners and ask them to 
provide additional education and health resources.
  We can truly make a difference in the lives of the world's neediest 
children. All we need is the political will to make it happen.


                                               Washington, DC,

                                               September 27, 2001.
     Hon. Ann M. Veneman,
     Secretary of Agriculture, Jamie L. Whitten Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Veneman: We are writing to ask you to 
     continue funding for the Global Food for Education Initiative 
     (GFEI) for fiscal year 2002, using your authority under 
     Section 416(b) of the Agricultural Trade Development and 
     Assistance Act of 1954. Most of the projects initiated under 
     this pilot program have operated for less than a full year, 
     and some have not yet even been initiated. Clearly, the pilot 
     program requires at least one more year of continued funding 
     before evaluating how it has affected the incidence of child 
     hunger, school enrollment and attendance, and the other 
     indicators established by the USDA.
       We are proud to be working closely with former Senators 
     George McGovern and Bob Dole, who initially conceived this 
     idea, to promote the pilot program and, hopefully, to 
     establish it as a permanent program. It is critical that the 
     GFEI pilot program not be abandoned at this very early stage. 
     We fear that, were this program to abruptly end after so 
     brief a venture, recipient countries and other donor nations 
     might interpret this as a demonsration of U.S. disregard for 
     the need to address the roots of poverty, hunger, illiteracy 
     and intolerance. In these very difficult times, it is 
     important that the United States continue to demonstrate its 
     long-standing commitment to help better the condition of the 
     world's neediest children and to share our prosperity with 
     less fortunate peoples.
       Once again, we urge you to exercise your discretionary 
     authority under Section 416(b) to continue the GFEI pilot 
     program. We look forward to working with you and other 
     members of the Administration to make the vision articulated 
     by George McGovern and Bob Dole a reality.
           Sincerely,
     James P. McGovern,
       Member of Congress.
     Jo Ann Emerson,
       Member of Congress.
                                  ____

         The Coalition in Support of the George McGovern-Robert 
           Dole International Food for Education and Child 
           Nutrition Act,
                                  Washington, DC, October 3, 2001.
     Hon. Ann M. Veneman,
     Secretary of Agriculture, Jamie L. Whitten Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Veneman: Our coalition, comprised of members 
     of the agriculture community, transportation sector, business 
     associations, private voluntary organizations and 
     international Food aid agencies, respectfully requests that 
     you continue funding for the Global Food for Education 
     Initiative for fiscal year 2002, using your authority under 
     section 416(b) of the Agricultural Trade Development and 
     Assistance Act of 1954. Most of the projects initiated under 
     this pilot program have operated for less than a full year. 
     Accordingly, there has not been ample time to evaluate 
     changes in school enrollment, child nutrition and other 
     potential indicators of the program's effectiveness.
       The importance and potential impact of the initiative is 
     far-reaching. Over 300 million children are chronically 
     undernourished in the world today and more than 130 million 
     children do not attend school. By providing meals at schools, 
     global school feeding programs help to alleviate hunger among 
     school children and increase attendance rates by providing an 
     incentive for families to send children to school. We are 
     proud to be working closely with USDA to implement and 
     support these programs.
       We fear that an abrupt end to this initiative will send a 
     negative message to many countries, institutions and people 
     involved in this effort. It is important that both developing 
     and developed countries have confidence in our continued 
     commitment to help better the conditions of the world's 
     neediest children. The United States has a proud tradition of 
     being the world's largest donor of food assistance. In these 
     especially difficult times, it is important to continue that 
     American tradition.
       Thank you for your consideration of this request and we 
     look forward to continuing our partnership with the 
     Department of Agriculture in support of global school feeding 
     programs.
           Sincerely,
         American Soybean Association; American School Food 
           Service Association; Archer Daniels Midland/ADM Milling 
           Co.; Bartlett Grain Co.; California Farm Bureau; 
           Cargill; Congressional Hunger Center; Cereal Food 
           Processing Company; CHS Coops; Dry Bean Council; 
           Friends of the World Food Program.
         Land O'Lakes, Inc.; National Farmers Union; National 
           Cooperative Business Association; North American 
           Millers Association; Opportunities Industrialization 
           Centers; International; Pacific Agribusiness; Port of 
           Lake Charles; Siberia Project; US Dairy Export Council; 
           USA Rice Federation.
                                   ____
                                 

        [From the International Herald Tribune, Sept. 11, 2001]

               School Food Can Stem the Pangs of Poverty

                          (By George McGovern)

       There are more than 300 million chronically hungry children 
     in the world today who are condemned to lives of disease, 
     illiteracy and, in many cases, physical deformity. Trapped in 
     city slums, desolate villages, settlements and refugee camps, 
     these children often live short lives of poverty and despair.
       At the United Nations Special Session on Children this 
     week, participants will review the progress made over the 
     past decade for the world's poor children and will try to 
     agree on what needs to be done. At the first such session, 
     held in 1990, heads of state adopted a set of goals that 
     included to improve living conditions, to create more 
     educational opportunities and to provide essential food to 
     malnourished children.
       Unfortunately, 11 years later, only mixed results have been 
     achieved. In a 141-page report the UN secretary-general, Kofi 
     Annan, said that the progress has been offset by setbacks 
     that are ``serious enough to threaten earlier gains.''
       Before we find ourselves 10 years on with similar 
     disappointing results, I would like to urge this year's 
     special session participants to commit to a simple and 
     effective idea that, if fully implemented, would dramatically 
     improve the lives of these impoverished children. That idea 
     is a global school feeding program.
       Of the world's 300 million chronically hungry children, 170 
     million are often forced to learn on empty stomachs because 
     they receive no food at school; 130 million don't attend 
     class at all. More than 60 percent of these children are 
     girls.

[[Page H6788]]

       Many factors contribute to their hunger. Those who attend 
     class often lack money to buy breakfast or lunch or must 
     travel long distances to get to school, meaning they arrive 
     hungry. Trying to learn on an empty stomach is nearly 
     impossible.
       Children who don't go to school at all are usually involved 
     in helping their families make a living. An education for 
     these children is not an option.
       It is widely agreed that basic education is the best 
     investment to improve the physical, social and economic 
     conditions of the poor. A Unesco survey showed that in 
     countries with an adult literacy rate of about 40 percent, 
     gross national product per capita averaged $210 annually; in 
     those countries with at least 80 percent literacy, GNP per 
     capita was $1,000 and above.
       Education is particularly critical for women and girls. 
     Research shows that girls who go to school marry later, 
     practice greater restraint in spacing births and have an 
     average of 50 percent fewer children. They are also more 
     informed about health risks, like the AIDS virus, and can 
     better protect themselves and their children.
       The catalyst for educating poor children is food. Research 
     and decades of experience by aid agencies like the UN World 
     Food Program show that school feeding can alleviate hunger, 
     dramatically increase attendance and improve school 
     performance. It also compensates poor parents for the loss of 
     their children's labor while they attend class.
       Using food to attract poor children to school and to keep 
     them there may seem like a surprisingly simple way to make an 
     impact. And it is. For an average of just 19 cents per day, 
     or 34 dollars annually, a child can be fed for 180 schooldays 
     a year.
       Aid agencies have the expertise and global reach to make it 
     happen. And donor governments are interested. Already, the 
     U.S. Congress is contemplating a bill, endorsed by both 
     former Republican Senator Bob Dole and me, which would commit 
     the United States to an annual contribution toward a global 
     program. I urge Congress and President George W. Bush to 
     support this bill, and for other heads of state and leaders 
     in the private sector and aid community to take up a similar 
     commitment.
       This week's special session is the place to begin. A 
     simple, focused and realistic plan of action could help 
     resolve the two most devastating burdens that poor children 
     must carry today: malnutrition and illiteracy. School feeding 
     is the key.
                                  ____


                [From the Washington Post, Oct. 8, 2001]

                           Mr. Blair's Vision

       The United States took the lead in the military strike 
     yesterday, as it will take the lead in the broader offensive 
     against terrorist networks. But the broad coalition 
     supporting and participating in the offensive showed that 
     this is not a fight of America against the world but of the 
     world against lawlessness. Some nations may join in because 
     they fear the terrorists, some, because they want to stay on 
     America's good side. But most--the allies who will be 
     valuable over time--join in because they understand the 
     importance of the values that came under attack September 11.
       The spokesman for this most valued category is indisputably 
     Tony Blair, the British prime minister. His government 
     committed its forces to the armed campaign that began 
     yesterday. He had credibly presented to the world the most 
     cogent outline of the evidence against Osama bin Laden and 
     the al Qaeda network. He had personally carried the 
     diplomatic effort to Pakistan and his condolences to New York 
     City. And perhaps more valuable than any of that has been his 
     staunch refutation of the anti-American compromisers who by 
     finding fault with the United States--often real fault--would 
     excuse the terrorists; he has coupled his response with 
     eloquent explanation of the stakes involved in this new war. 
     Now that a new military phase has begun, it is worth 
     recalling a preview Mr. Blair provided in a speech to his 
     Labor Party conference last week.
       ``The action we take will be proportionate, targeted,'' the 
     prime minister said. ``We will do all we humanly can to avoid 
     civilian casualties. But understand what we are dealing with 
     . . . They have no moral inhibition on the slaughter of the 
     innocent. If they could have murdered not 7,000 but 70,000, 
     does anyone doubt they would have done so and rejoiced in it? 
     There is no compromise possible with such people, no meeting 
     of minds, no point of understanding with such terror. Just a 
     choice: Defeat it or be defeated by it. And defeat it we 
     must.''
       To his own people, Mr. Blair urged confidence in ultimate 
     victory in this ``fight for freedom'' because ``our way of 
     life is a great deal stronger and will last a great deal 
     longer than the actions of fanatics, small in number and now 
     facing a united world against them.'' To the Americans, Mr. 
     Blair promised simply: ``We were with you at the first. We 
     will stay with you to the last.''
       Finally, Mr. Blair offered his vision of victory in this 
     unorthodox campaign: ``It is that out of the shadow of this 
     evil should emerge lasting good: destruction of the machinery 
     of terrorism wherever it is found; hope amongst all nations 
     of a new beginning where we seek to resolve differences in a 
     calm and ordered way; greater understanding between nations 
     and between faiths; and above all justice and prosperity for 
     the poor and dispossessed, so that people everywhere can see 
     the chance of a better future through the hard work and 
     creative power of the free citizen, not the violence and 
     savagery of the fanatic.'' Not a bad set of goals to keep in 
     mind as a long campaign begins.

                          ____________________