[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 6, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5773-S5774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JOHNSON (for himself, Mr. Craig, Mr. Leahy, and Ms. 
        Stabenow):
  S. 996. A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act to ensure an adequate level of commodity purchases under the school 
lunch program; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry.
  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues, Senators 
Craig, Stabenow, and Leahy, to introduce the ``Commodity Distribution 
Act of 2003.'' Senator Craig and I have introduced similar legislation 
in the past, and while it is unfortunate that this legislation is 
necessary, we are pleased to meet the need that currently exists.
  In 1999, Congress enacted the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives 
Improvement Act, which amended the School Lunch Act to require the 
United States Department of Agriculture to count the value of bonus 
commodities when it determines the total amount of commodity assistance 
provided to schools. This change meant a $500 million budget cut to the 
school lunch program over a 9-year period.
  Senator Craig and I have been successful since the passage of the 
Ticket to Work Act in preventing this cut from affecting the School 
Lunch Program for the past 4 years. However, a provision included in 
the 2002 Farm Bill will expire the end of this fiscal year, leaving the 
school lunch program vulnerable to cut of over $50 million per year 
over the next 5 years.
  Our legislation, the Commodity Distribution Act of 2003, would 
prevent this devastating cut to the school lunch program. While not 
large in overall budget terms, $50 million in commodities for school 
lunch programs across the country means a great deal in delivering 
quality meals to our children every day. It also means a great deal to 
the agricultural producers who benefit from having these commodities 
taken out of the marketplace, and used for a valuable purpose.
  Our Nation faces a unique situation when it comes to feeding our 
Nation's children. We live in a country where both hunger and obesity 
co-exist among the children served by our important nutrition programs. 
We can and must form policy that addresses both of these problems.
  The legislation that Senators Craig, Stabenow, and Leahy, and I are 
introducing today takes an important first step in addressing this 
unique situation by maintaining the level of commodity support our 
school districts receive to run their school lunch programs. There 
could be no worse time to take away these valuable assets to their 
programs.
  The Commodity Distribution Act continues the dual purpose of our 
school lunch program--supporting American agriculture, while delivering 
nutritious food to our Nation's children.

[[Page S5774]]

  Mr. President, I ask that this bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 996

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Commodity Distribution Act 
     of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. COMMODITY PURCHASES UNDER SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM.

       Section 6(e) of the Richard B. Russell National School 
     Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755(e)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``in the form of'' and all that follows 
     through ``(A) commodity assistance'' and inserting ``in the 
     form of commodity assistance'';
       (B) by striking ``; or'' and inserting a period; and
       (C) by striking subparagraph (B); and
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``the Secretary shall, to the extent 
     necessary,'' and inserting ``the Secretary--
       ``(A) shall, to the extent necessary,'';
       (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; 
     and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) shall not use commodities provided under the 
     authority of any other Act to meet the requirement for the 
     school year.''.

     SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act and the amendments made by this Act take effect on 
     October 1, 2003.

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleague Senator 
Johnson in introducing the Commodity Distribution Act of 2003.
  Children are our future. I strongly believe each child deserves at 
least one warm, nutritious meal every day. I stand before you today 
with a new bill that will restore $500 million to the School Lunch 
Program. The positive impacts of this program are endless. Children 
should not have to pay the price of not having enough money for food.
  Originally enacted in 1946, the school launch program set goals to 
improve children's nutrition, increase low-income children's access to 
nutritious meals, and to help support the agricultural industry. A 
family of four has to have an income at or below 130 percent of the 
Federal poverty level to qualify for a free lunch. The income for these 
families is tragically low. Congress has a role in providing these 
children with assistance their families cannot provide.
  In 1999, Congress enacted the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives 
Improvement Act. This legislation amended the School Lunch Act to 
require the United States Department of Agriculture to count the value 
of bonus commodities when it determines the total amount of commodity 
assistance provided to schools. This change continues to provide a $500 
million budget cut for the school lunch program over its 9-year 
projection.
  In 2001, the school lunch program comprised over 90 percent of 
schools, with some 99,000 public and private schools enrolling 
approximately 50 million children. Today over 28 million children 
receive free or low-cost lunches every school day. Each State and 
millions of children are affected. This program provides a basic 
requirement of food for needy children.
  The 2002 Farm Bill passed almost a full year ago included language 
that extended this authorization language until the end of this fiscal 
year. Without Congressional action, $50 million will be cut from the 
food budget for school districts. This legislation would further extend 
this support through 2007, when the Richard B. Russell National School 
Lunch act is scheduled for reauthorization.
  It is my belief that no child should be without food. The Commodity 
Distribution Act of 2003 would ensure that schools receive the full 
value of entitlement commodity assistance, and allow the School Lunch 
Program to continue to meet its dual purpose of supporting American 
agriculture when it needs it most while providing nutritious food to 
schools across the country. I urge members to support this bill, 
support children, and support our future.
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