[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.
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