[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 71 (Tuesday, June 4, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4982-S4983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DESIGNATING JUNE 5, 2002, AS ``NATIONAL HUNGER AWARENESS DAY''

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 280, submitted earlier by 
Senators Durbin, Lugar, and Smith of Oregon.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will state the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:


[[Page S4983]]


       A resolution (S. Res. 280) designating June 5, 2002, as 
     ``National Hunger Awareness Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
and its preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in 
the Record as if read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 280) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 280

       Whereas food insecurity and hunger are a fact of life for 
     millions of low-income Americans and can produce physical, 
     mental, and social impairments;
       Whereas recent census data show that almost 13,000,000 
     children in the United States live in families experiencing 
     hunger or food insecurity;
       Whereas the problem of hunger and food insecurity can be 
     found in rural, suburban, and urban America, touching nearly 
     every American community;
       Whereas although substantial progress has been made in 
     reducing the incidence of hunger and food insecurity in the 
     United States, certain groups, including the working poor, 
     the elderly, homeless people, children, migrant workers, and 
     Native Americans remain vulnerable to hunger and the negative 
     effects of food deprivation;
       Whereas the people of the United States have a long 
     tradition of providing food assistance to hungry people 
     through acts of private generosity and public support 
     programs;
       Whereas the United States Government, through Federal food 
     assistance programs like the Federal Food Stamp Program, 
     child nutrition programs, and food donation programs, 
     provides essential nutrition support to millions of low-
     income people;
       Whereas there is a growing awareness of the important 
     public and private partnership role that community-based 
     organizations, institutions of faith, and charities provide 
     in assisting hungry and food insecure people;
       Whereas more than 50,000 local community-based 
     organizations rely on the support and efforts of more than 
     1,000,000 volunteers to provide food assistance and services 
     to millions of vulnerable people;
       Whereas a diverse group of organizations, including 
     America's Second Harvest, the United States Conference of 
     Mayors, and other organizations have documented substantial 
     increases in requests for emergency food assistance over the 
     past year; and
       Whereas all Americans can help participate in hunger relief 
     efforts in their communities by donating food and money, by 
     volunteering, and by supporting public policies aimed at 
     reducing hunger: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 5, 2002, as ``National Hunger Awareness 
     Day'';
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National Hunger Awareness Day''--
       (A) with appropriate ceremonies, volunteer activities, and 
     other support for local antihunger advocacy efforts and 
     hunger relief charities, including food banks, food rescue 
     organizations, food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency 
     shelters; and
       (B) with the year-round support of programs and public 
     policies that reduce hunger and food insecurity in the United 
     States; and
       (3) office of Senator Richard J. Durbin is authorized to 
     collect donations of food from June 5, 2002, until June 14, 
     2002, from concerned Members of Congress and staff to assist 
     families suffering from hunger and food insecurity in the 
     Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

                          ____________________