[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 166 (Tuesday, December 4, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H8754-H8758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HUNGER TO HARVEST: DECADE OF SUPPORT FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA RESOLUTION

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Con. Res. 102) relating to efforts to reduce hunger in 
sub-Saharan Africa, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 102

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This concurrent resolution may be cited as the ``Hunger to 
     Harvest: Decade of Support for Sub-Saharan Africa 
     Resolution''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Despite some progress in recent years, sub-Saharan 
     Africa enters the new millennium with many of the world's 
     poorest countries and is the one region of the world where 
     hunger is both pervasive and increasing.
       (2) Thirty-three of the world's 41 poorest debtor countries 
     are in sub-Saharan Africa and an estimated 291,000,000 
     people, nearly one-half of sub-Saharan Africa's total 
     population, currently live in extreme poverty on less than $1 
     a day.
       (3) One in three people in sub-Saharan Africa is 
     chronically undernourished, double the number of three 
     decades ago. One child out of seven dies before the age of 
     five, and one-half of these deaths are due to malnutrition.
       (4) Sub-Saharan Africa is the region in the world most 
     affected by infectious disease, accounting for one-half of 
     the deaths worldwide from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, 
     cholera, and several other diseases.
       (5) Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 70 percent of adults, and 
     80 percent of children, living with the HIV virus, and 75 
     percent of the people worldwide who have died of AIDS lived 
     in Africa.
       (6) The HIV/AIDS pandemic has erased many of the 
     development gains of the past generation in sub-Saharan 
     Africa and now threatens to undermine economic and social 
     progress for the next generation, with life expectancy in 
     parts of sub-Saharan Africa having already decreased by 10-20 
     years as a result of AIDS.
       (7) Despite these immense challenges, the number of sub-
     Saharan African countries that are moving toward open 
     economies and more accountable governments has increased, and 
     these countries are beginning to achieve local solutions to 
     their common problems.
       (8) To make lasting improvements in the lives of their 
     people, sub-Saharan Africa governments need support as they 
     act to solve conflicts, make critical investments in human 
     capacity and infrastructure, combat corruption, reform their 
     economies, stimulate trade and equitable economic growth, and 
     build democracy.
       (9) Despite sub-Saharan Africa's enormous development 
     challenges, United States companies hold approximately 
     $12,800,000,000 in investments in sub-Saharan Africa, greater 
     than United States investments in either the Middle East or 
     Eastern Europe, and total United States trade with sub-
     Saharan Africa currently exceeds that with all of the 
     independent states of the former Soviet Union,

[[Page H8755]]

     including the Russian Federation. This economic relationship 
     could be put at risk unless additional public and private 
     resources are provided to combat poverty and promote 
     equitable economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (10) Bread for the World Institute calculates that the goal 
     of reducing world hunger by one-half by 2015 is achievable 
     through an increase of $4,000,000,000 in annual funding from 
     all donors for poverty-focused development. If the United 
     States were to shoulder one-fourth of this aid burden--
     approximately $1,000,000,000 a year--the cost to each United 
     States citizen would be one penny per day.
       (11) Failure to effectively address sub-Saharan Africa's 
     development needs could result in greater conflict and 
     increased poverty, heightening the prospect of humanitarian 
     intervention and potentially threatening a wide range of 
     United States interests in sub-Saharan Africa.

     SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the United States should declare ``A Decade of Support 
     for Sub-Saharan Africa'';
       (2) not later than 90 days after the date of adoption of 
     this concurrent resolution, the President should submit a 
     report to Congress setting forth a five-year strategy, and a 
     ten-year strategy, to achieve a reversal of current levels of 
     hunger and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, including a 
     commitment to contribute an appropriate United States share 
     of increased bilateral and multilateral poverty-focused 
     resources for sub-Saharan Africa, with an emphasis on--
       (A) health, including efforts to prevent, treat, and 
     control HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other diseases 
     that contribute to malnutrition and hunger, and to promote 
     maternal health and child survival;
       (B) education, with an emphasis on equal access to learning 
     for girls and women;
       (C) agriculture, including strengthening subsistence 
     agriculture as well as the ability to compete in global 
     agricultural markets, and investment in infrastructure and 
     rural development;
       (D) private sector and free market development, to bring 
     sub-Saharan Africa into the global economy, enable people to 
     purchase food, and make health and education investments 
     sustainable;
       (E) democratic institutions and the rule of law, including 
     strengthening civil society and independent judiciaries;
       (F) micro-finance development; and
       (G) debt relief that provides incentives for sub-Saharan 
     African countries to invest in poverty-focused development, 
     and to expand democratic participation, free markets, trade, 
     and investment;
       (3) the President should work with the heads of other donor 
     countries and sub-Saharan African countries, and with United 
     States and sub-Saharan African private and voluntary 
     organizations and other civic organizations, including faith-
     based organizations, to implement the strategies described in 
     paragraph (2);
       (4) Congress should undertake a multi-year commitment to 
     provide the resources to implement those strategies; and
       (5) 120 days after the date of adoption of this concurrent 
     resolution, and every year thereafter, the Administrator of 
     the United States Agency for International Development, in 
     consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal 
     departments and agencies, should submit to Congress a report 
     on the implementation of those strategies, including the 
     action taken under paragraph (3), describing--
       (A) the results of the implementation of those strategies 
     as of the date of the report, including the progress made and 
     any setbacks suffered;
       (B) impediments to, and opportunities for, future progress;
       (C) proposed changes to those strategies, if any; and
       (D) the role and extent of cooperation of the governments 
     of sub-Saharan countries and other donors, both public and 
     private, in combating poverty and promoting equitable 
     economic development.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Iowa (Mr. Leach) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach).


                             General Leave

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 102, the resolution 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Iowa?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the cooperation of the majority leader, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos) for allowing the House to consider this Hunger 
to Harvest: Decade of Support for sub-Saharan Africa Resolution.
  The bill was introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) 
and me earlier this year and currently has 150 cosponsor, including 
many of our colleagues on the Committee on International Relations. The 
amendment in the nature of a substitute that the committee is offering 
today conforms the House version with similar language already passed 
by the Senate.
  This resolution expresses the sense of the Congress that the United 
States should commit itself to acting with its partners in sub-Saharan 
Africa to reduce poverty and hunger on the sub-continent over the next 
decade.
  What is most extraordinary about the 20th century in relation to the 
rest of human history is that economic and social development, coupled 
with modern medicines, caused the life spans of human beings to double 
on much of the planet. Tragically, the exception has been in Africa, 
particularly sub-Saharan Africa, where not only have life spans not 
been extended, but life has been shortened in the last several decades.
  While sub-Saharan Africa has tremendous untapped human and economic 
potential, for the most part the region has not prospered. Indeed, in 
all of the developing regions of the world, the severity of poverty and 
malnutrition is greatest in that sub-continent and is also growing at 
the fastest rate on the Earth. Roughly 290 million people in the 
region, nearly half the total population, live on less than a dollar a 
day.
  Mr. Speaker, 33 of the world's 41 most heavily indebted poor 
countries are in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the World Bank, those 
more vulnerable to poverty live in rural areas in large households 
which are often headed by women.
  In addition, the scourge of HIV/AIDS is fast reversing many of the 
modest social gains which have been achieved in recent years. There are 
many causes for this distressing state of affairs: interstate conflict, 
natural disaster, corruption, underdeveloped private sectors, to name a 
few. While the people of sub-Saharan Africa must take ultimate 
responsibility for the success or failure of these countries, the 
United States has the moral obligation and resources to help improve 
the lives of millions of people living there.
  This resolution directs the Agency for International Development to 
devise 5- and 10-year strategic plans in health, education and 
agriculture, and for promoting free market economies, trade investment, 
democracy, and the rule of law.
  In closing, I would like to acknowledge the extraordinary leadership 
of America's faith-based community, churches, synagogues, mosques and 
associated institutes like Bread for the World and its thoughtful 
president, David Beckman, for compelling support for this resolution. 
It is this private, faith-based community that has awakened the 
conscience of the world on the need to confront the moral and 
development challenges of issues such as debt relief and world hunger. 
In their name, I urge passage of this resolution.
  Before turning to the distinguished ranking member of the committee, 
let me thank the gentleman for his leadership and that of course of the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), which has been so extraordinary 
on this subject.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. First, I 
would like to commend the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) for 
introducing this important resolution. I want to commend our Chair, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde); and I certainly pay tribute to the 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Royce), and to the ranking member, the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Payne), whose contribution on the subject of Africa and indeed on 
all subjects coming before our committee is immeasurable in importance.
  Mr. Speaker, each night more than 800 million people around the 
globe, many of them children, go to bed not knowing if they will have 
enough to eat the next day. Most of these poor and hungry souls live in 
sub-Saharan Africa. In Africa, hunger is both pervasive and growing. 
The sad truth is that hunger, poverty, and disease go hand in hand. A 
poor and hungry mother has few defenses against tuberculosis, malaria, 
cholera, HIV-AIDS, and other

[[Page H8756]]

deadly diseases when hunger, too, gnaws at her body and saps her 
spirit.
  Some of Africa's poverty is caused by decades of civil strife where 
the sole purpose of conflict is to rob the nation of its wealth. 
Resource wars fought over diamonds, oil, or simply the largess of the 
state leave little behind for the citizens of the nation. Mr. Speaker, 
this must end. These wars leave farming areas seeded with land mines 
instead of maize. Young boys stripped of their innocence become vicious 
child soldiers instead of school boys. War lords reap millions in 
personal gain.
  Global indifference, Mr. Speaker, has caused some of the Africa's 
poverty. The ubiquitous faces of hungry African children cease to stir 
concern in rich countries as new crises arise that affect our own 
lives. One is only stirred from the seeming banality of Africa's hunger 
when one truly looks into the eyes of a malnourished child or a 
helpless mother. It has become too easy to turn away and worry instead 
about tax relief or global trade or school reform.
  Mr. Speaker, taxes, trade and education matter; but they do not 
relieve us of our obligation to care for Africa's poor and hungry. 
Despite immense challenges, the number of sub-Saharan African countries 
digging deep to find local solutions to their problems is growing. They 
are moving toward open economies and more accountable and transparent 
government. To make long-term, sustainable improvements in the lives of 
their people, African governments need the support that we can give 
them to resolve their conflicts, make critical investment in human 
capacity and infrastructure, combat corruption, reform their economies, 
and ultimately build democracy. They do not need handouts, but they 
certainly do need us to join hands.
  Mr. Speaker, we can come together with those African leaders who are 
ready to act responsibly. We can build strong economic relationships 
that combat poverty and promote equitable economic growth in Africa. 
Together we can address effectively Africa's human needs and bring 
about a continent with a different face, a face no longer filled with 
hunger, hopelessness and despair, but one etched with promise, 
prosperity and hope.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. Speaker, the Hunger to Harvest Resolution is a very important 
piece of legislation. Its passage will put Congress on record in 
support of efforts to alleviate hunger in Africa, and I ask every one 
of our colleagues to vote in support of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce).
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, and I 
rise to commend the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) for his 
humanitarian efforts and his work over the years with AID and his 
efforts to bring focus on this issue of hunger in Africa, and also to 
commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), the ranking member 
of the Subcommittee on Africa, for his efforts to raise before this 
body this critically important issue of what we can do to reduce hunger 
in sub-Saharan Africa.
  Far too little progress has been made over the years in fighting 
hunger. I believe that Congress has taken several tangible steps, in 
addition to this Hunger to Harvest legislation, that have helped in 
some way to reduce poverty and hunger in Africa. One that I wanted to 
focus on for just a minute was the fact that in May of 2000, after 
years of effort, Congress passed and the President signed into law the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act. Although the bill has only been in 
effect for a year, it has had a very positive development impact in 
terms of some of the poorest African countries.
  I will give my colleagues two examples: Malawi and Madagascar, two of 
the world's poorest countries, have experienced a 70 percent and 120 
percent increase respectively in trade with the United States, causing 
a direct increase there in jobs and causing an increase in income to 
the neediest people in those countries; and that means food on the 
plates of children who might otherwise not eat, and shoes on their 
feet.
  Mr. Speaker, we should do more in fighting hunger in Africa, and this 
resolution focuses on that issue, and we should also do more to promote 
trade with Africa, which is good for African countries and, frankly, 
good for America too. With a global economic slowdown underway, Africa 
is one of the few regions in the world, frankly, where we are 
increasing trade, and Africa wants to do business with the United 
States.
  The U.S. has a growing commercial interest there. It has a growing 
strategic interest in Africa which has been described as the ``soft 
underbelly'' in our war against terrorism but, most important for us, 
the U.S. has an important humanitarian interest there. America has 
always had that humanitarian interest in Africa. I want to commend 
these Members of Congress who have routinely tried to keep that focus 
on that issue, and it is that interest that the Hunger to Harvest 
legislation speaks to.
  So I again wanted to commend the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) and 
to commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for their efforts.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield such time as he may 
consume to our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Payne), my dear friend, who has been our leader on our side of the 
aisle on all issues relating to these matters.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 102.
  Let me thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for moving this 
important piece of legislation through and the ranking member, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), whose long interest in foreign 
affairs throughout the world and his own experience has been an example 
of leadership to our committee. Let me commend the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce), who has led the Subcommittee on Africa into a 
forward-moving committee, and the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), who 
not only on this bill dealing with hunger, but his leadership on 
legislation focusing the attention of the Global AIDS Fund with the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who should be commended for his 
tireless effort on behalf of people of the world who are less 
fortunate.
  While the Nation's attention is understandably with the war in 
Afghanistan, Congress has made a firm pledge to poor and hungry people 
in Africa with this legislation, H. Con. Res. 102, Hunger to Harvest: A 
Decade of Concern for Africa, which calls for significant new poverty-
focused development assistance to sub-Saharan Africa. Hunger to Harvest 
would increase poverty-focused assistance to sub-Saharan Africa by $1 
billion. According to Bread for the World, the national grass-roots 
organization that works with antihunger programs, and they have 
actively lobbied for this bill, a commitment of $4 billion a year from 
the G-8 countries would cut world hunger in half by the year 2015. The 
U.S. share of that would be $1 billion, which translates into a mere 
penny a day for each American. We can certainly afford that. We have 
the means to effectively attack hunger and we have the means to feed 
every child in the world where, as it has been mentioned, 200 million 
children out of 800 million people go hungry every day. We have the 
means to save the precious lives of innocent children when, in 
developing countries, 6 million children die every year, mostly because 
of hunger-related illnesses.
  The world produces enough food to feed its growing population, so the 
issue is not the sufficiency of food. The issue is about access and 
distribution. The long-term solution to hunger in sub-Saharan Africa, 
therefore, must include strengthening agriculture as a source of food 
and income and improving basic health and education in sub-Saharan 
Africa.
  We cannot as a country say we are for development and not deal with 
the issue of hunger, which inhibits progress, growth, and life, nor can 
we effectively fight the war on terrorism and win if we do not deal 
with conditions of hunger and poverty which can lead to feelings of 
disillusionment and marginalization. Helping Africa work its way to 
prosperity is not only the right thing to do but it also makes good 
sense to America's workers. The United States holds approximately $13 
billion in investments in sub-Saharan Africa, more than in the Middle 
East or Eastern Europe, and the total U.S. trade with sub-Saharan 
Africa exceeds that of the entire former Soviet Union.

[[Page H8757]]

  What Congress will do in enthusiastically passing the Hunger to 
Harvest Resolution is join our G-8 partners and the World Bank in 
expressing support for the long-term development initiatives of African 
governments as expressed in the new Program for African Development 
announced by Presidents Mbeki of South Africa, Obasanjo of Nigeria, 
Wade of Senegal, and Bouteflika of Algeria.
  I have been inspired by this bipartisan effort and by the work of 
Bread for the World. With more than a third of the Members of the House 
cosponsoring this resolution from both sides of the aisle, I think 
together we can fight hunger and poverty in Africa. Let me once again 
commend the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) who has fought tirelessly 
to reach this milestone. While our two parties may disagree on some 
issues, it is wonderful to see that ending hunger and aiding in 
Africa's development is something we can all agree on.
  At a time when more and more Americans say the U.S. would benefit 
from greater involvement in world affairs, America has helped put 
Congress on record.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask our colleagues to pass this bill.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  In conclusion, let me again thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), and the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Royce) for their leadership on so many African 
issues. Symbolically, this bill is about the world family, about kids 
and their grandparents. If we keep our priorities right, the likelihood 
of moral and national splintering becomes remote. If, on the other 
hand, we wear blinkers, chaos is inevitable. The American national 
spirit, as well as our national interest, is interlinked with the 
commitment to end despair in the furthest reaches of the globe. Hope is 
the only hope for the world today.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take time to voice my 
support for H. Con. Res. 102. Sub-Saharan Africa is clearly a region 
afflicted by poverty. Despite some positive economic and political 
changes in sub-Saharan Africa, it remains an area of the world where 
hunger is pervasive and steadily increasing with one of every three 
persons being chronically undernourished. This hunger has multiple 
causes, including severe poverty, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, civil wars, 
continued foreign debt, degraded land, and inadequate education.
  African nations need additional U.S. aid to develop their human and 
natural resources--and thereby strengthen their capacity to deal with 
hunger, poverty, and related problems. Sub-Saharan Africa needs 
additional resources to improve farming and support farmer-owned 
businesses; help prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and 
other infectious diseases; encourage the enrollment of more children in 
school; and help develop microenterprises and other business 
opportunities.
  However, assistance alone will not solve their problems. Although 
such poverty-focused development aid has proven effective, our efforts 
to assist sub-Saharan Africans to overcome poverty must remain focused 
on encouraging their participation in the private sector. The 
foundation for sustained economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa depends 
upon the development of an environment receptive to trade and 
investment. This can only be brought about by investments in human 
resources, domestic economic development, the implementation of free 
market policies, and the widespread application of the rule of law and 
democratic governance by the sub-Saharan nations themselves.
  I urge support for this measure.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member rises in strong support of H. 
Con. Res. 102, the Hunger to Harvest Resolution: A Decade of Concern 
for Africa. Additionally, this Member, as a cosponsor of this 
resolution, would like to thank the distinguished gentleman from Iowa 
(Mr. Leach) and the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) 
for introducing this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, the terrorist attacks of September 11th highlighted the 
extent to which American security is placed at risk when the U.S. fails 
to provide development aid and assistance to areas in peril of falling 
into the hands of unfriendly regimes. Indeed, sub-Saharan Africa 
currently faces many of the same conditions which coalesced to create 
the Afghanistan in which the Taliban has thrived. Much of sub-Saharan 
Africa has fought ravaging civil wars, demoralizing poverty, recurring 
droughts, and debilitating disease.
  This country's own long-term security depends to a large extent on 
stability in sub-Saharan Africa. The mirco-enterprise, agriculture 
development, debt relief, and health programs which are outlined in 
this bill have the potential to serve as key investments in preventing 
terrorism against the U.S. and against U.S. interests.
  Mr. Speaker, this Member strongly urges his colleagues to vote for H. 
Con. Res. 102.
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful today for the opportunity to 
speak on a topic that is important to all Americans.
  The issue of hunger in sub-Saharan Africa strikes at the very core of 
our nation's values. The current situation in this part of the world is 
both alarming and poignant. Many of the people in this region suffer 
from disease, mal-nutrition, and hunger. The suffering of so many is 
attributed to the lack of such basic needs as food and adequate shelter 
which makes the situation all the more disturbing.
  Currently the American people are focused on overcoming recent 
tragedy and forging new roads toward progress and prosperity. The 
humanity and compassion that the people of this nation have displayed 
transcends geographical borders. As noted in H. Con. Res. 102, the 
majority of Americans want to see the United States, along with the 
rest of the world, join together in a concerted effort to alleviate 
world hunger.
  As the United States leads the world into the twenty-first century, 
we must ensure that we leave no one behind. There is a risk that if 
left unresolved, the gap between rich and poor nations of the world 
will only increase. It is important that the United States lead the 
world in showing a real commitment to eliminating the suffering of the 
world's hungry. While it is important that we act quickly, we must also 
be willing to persevere in order to create real and lasting change.
  Sub-Saharan Africa is a region fraught with many problems. One in 
three people are chronically undernourished, leading one-seventh of all 
children to die before they are five years old. Upwards of 70 percent 
of all AIDS patients reside in sub-Saharan Africa, and though almost 
half of its population survives on less than $1 a day, U.S. companies 
hold $15 billion in investments there--more than either the Middle East 
or Eastern Europe.
  Mr. Speaker, I am confident that this resolution takes the necessary 
steps to begin substantial change. H. Con. Res. 102 calls for the 
engagement of other nations in a multi-lateral effort to be conducted 
for several years. Through a multi-year commitment to funding health, 
education, agriculture, and micro-finance programs, as well as debt 
relief, we can show our commitment to real progress. I encourage my 
colleagues to vote for this resolution, declare ``A Decade of Concern'' 
for sub-Saharan Africa, and begin the process of alleviating this human 
suffering.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong 
support for H. Con. Res. 102. This resolution highlights the stark 
realities facing the African sub-continent at the precipice of this 
millenium, and highlights the commitments that the United States must 
make in order to further the health and safety of the African peoples.
  The findings in this resolution tell a stark story. Africa is the one 
area of the world where hunger is both pervasive and increasing; 33 of 
the 41 poorest debtor countries are in sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly half 
of the total population of this geographic population lives on less 
than $1 a day; 70 percent of the adults and 80 percent of children 
living with HIV are in Africa, and two-thirds of worldwide deaths due 
to the ravages of AIDS have taken place there.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people overwhelmingly think that the U.S. 
should commit to cutting world hunger in half by 2015. Private 
organizations such as Bread of the World estimate that the U.S. burden 
for this project would be around a penny per day. This makes Congress' 
action here that much more important.
  Mr. Speaker, I share the sense of this body that ``a moral people 
cannot tolerate the existence of hunger, poverty, and disease in any 
part of the world.'' This nation should declare a ``Decade of Concern 
for Africa'' and commit to increased levels of poverty focused 
development assistance across sub-Saharan Africa. I agree that this 
support should be focused on the immediate needs of the African 
Diaspora by directing funding toward health and HIV prevention, 
education and equal learning for girls and women, agriculture and 
sustainable development, and bilateral and multilateral debt relief 
that acknowledges the West's role in creating instability in Africa.
  By passing this resolution, this Congress moves closer to my goal of 
a stable, healthy, and viable Africa for all its nations and peoples. 
This body follows the efforts of the Congressional Black Caucus to 
highlight the horrific conditions at play in the region. In light of 
the U.S. actions during the recent U.N. Conference Against Racism held 
in South Africa,

[[Page H8758]]

this resolution establishes that the American people are humane and 
compassionate.
  Mr. Speaker, I am again happy to support this resolution, and 
encourage all members to further its goals of a stable, healthy, and 
hunger-free Africa.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 102, as 
amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________