[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 41 (Monday, March 29, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S3296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. Lieberman):
  S. 2249. A bill to amend the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance 
Act to provide for emergency food and shelter; to the Committee on 
Governmental Affairs.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
reauthorize the Department of Homeland Security's Emergency Food and 
Shelter Program. This vital program enables communities nationwide to 
provide services to help individuals who are at risk of becoming 
homeless or going hungry due to an emergency or economic disaster. As a 
1999 General Accounting Office report concluded, ``in most areas of the 
United States, the Emergency Food and Shelter Program is the only 
source of funding for the prevention of homelessness.''
  I am pleased to have the support of Senator Lieberman, the ranking 
member of the Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees this 
important program as well as the Department of Homeland Security 
generally. I commend Senator Lieberman for his work on this important 
issue, including his efforts in the 107th Congress to pass legislation 
very similar to the bill that we are introducing together today.
  Since its creation 21 years ago, the Emergency Food and Shelter 
Program has provided a helping hand to local social service 
organizations that assist thousands of people in need of food and 
shelter. This program is effective because of the way it is structured. 
A national board, chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
governs the program. The board itself is composed of representatives 
from organizations who work every day to look out for those who are 
less fortunate--representatives of the American Red Cross, Catholic 
Charities, United Jewish Communities, the National Council of the 
Churches, the Salvation Army, and the United Way.
  This program is a model for an effective public-private partnership. 
The volunteer participation by these charitable organizations has kept 
administrative costs to less than 3 percent of the total program, 
making even more funds directly available for communities.
  Funds are distributed by the national board to local boards according 
to a formula that takes into account unemployment and poverty 
statistics in each community. Once local boards in counties and 
municipalities across America receive the funding, they decide how to 
best address the needs of their residents. These local boards are key 
to this process. That is because they are composed of individuals and 
organizations who live and work in the communities they serve. 
Therefore, they can best decide how to meet the needs of those who are 
at risk of becoming homeless.
  In recent years, communities in Maine have put the funding to good 
use. Communities in Cumberland and Franklin Counties, for example, have 
used most of these funds to supplement the efforts of local soup 
kitchens, Meals-on Wheels programs, and food pantries. The Wayside Soup 
Kitchen in Portland, ME, uses this funding to enhance their efforts to 
provide three separate food assistance programs to those in need.
  Demonstrating the flexibility of this program, communities in 
northern Maine's Aroostook County used more than 30 percent of their 
2003 funding to address emergency shelter and housing needs. This 
diversity in how communities spent these funds highlights the 
importance of letting local organizations decide how best to spend 
these resources, tailored to local needs.

  The Emergency Food and Shelter Program helps individuals maintain 
their dignity during difficult times. It also prevents dependency by 
providing emergency services to individuals and families on a limited 
basis so they can remain self-sufficient.
  Although Congress has continued to provide funding, the program's 
authorization expired in 1994. My bill, the Emergency Food and Shelter 
Act of 2004, seeks to again authorize this program and provide modest 
increases to reflect an increasing need.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this legislation to 
help families across America who are at risk of losing their homes or 
going hungry because of circumstances beyond their control.
                                 ______