[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 76 (Thursday, June 3, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S6465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD IN SCHOOLS TO HUNGRY OR MALNOURISHED CHILDREN

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 114, submitted 
earlier today by Senator Dole.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will state the concurrent resolution 
by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 114) concerning the 
     importance of the distribution of food in schools to hungry 
     or malnourished children around the world.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to 
this matter be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 114) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 114

       Whereas there are more than 300,000,000 chronically hungry 
     and malnourished children in the world;
       Whereas more than half of these children go to school on an 
     empty stomach, and almost as many do not attend school at 
     all, but might if food were available;
       Whereas the distribution of food in schools is one of the 
     simplest and most effective strategies to fight hunger and 
     malnourishment among children;
       Whereas when school meals are offered to hungry or 
     malnourished children, attendance rates increase 
     significantly, particularly for girls;
       Whereas the distribution of food in schools encourages 
     better school attendance, thereby improving literacy rates 
     and fighting poverty;
       Whereas improvement in the education of girls is one of the 
     most important factors in reducing child malnutrition in 
     developing countries;
       Whereas girls who attend schools tend to marry later in 
     life and have fewer children, thereby helping them escape a 
     life of poverty;
       Whereas by improving literacy rates and increasing job 
     opportunities, education addresses several of the root causes 
     of terrorism;
       Whereas the distribution of food in schools increases 
     attendance of children who might otherwise be susceptible to 
     recruitment by groups that offer them food in return for 
     their attendance at extremist schools or participation in 
     terrorist training camps;
       Whereas the Global Food for Education Initiative pilot 
     program, established in 2001, donated surplus United States 
     agricultural commodities to the United Nations World Food 
     Program and other recipients for distribution to nearly 
     7,000,000 hungry and malnourished children in 38 countries;
       Whereas a recent Department of Agriculture evaluation found 
     that the pilot program created measurable improvements in 
     school attendance (particularly for girls), increased local 
     employment and economic activity, produced greater 
     involvement in local infrastructure and community improvement 
     projects, and increased participation by parents in the 
     schools and in the education of their children;
       Whereas the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
     (Public Law 107-171, 116 Stat. 134) replaced the pilot 
     program with the McGovern-Dole International Food for 
     Education and Child Nutrition Program, which was named after 
     former Senators George McGovern and Robert Dole for their 
     distinguished work to eradicate hunger and poverty around the 
     world; and
       Whereas the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education 
     and Child Nutrition Program provides food to nearly 2,000,000 
     hungry or malnourished children in 21 countries: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) expresses its grave concern about the continuing 
     problem of hunger and the desperate need to feed hungry and 
     malnourished children around the world;
       (2) recognizes that the global distribution of food in 
     schools to children around the world increases attendance, 
     particularly for girls, improves literacy rates, and 
     increases job opportunities, thereby helping to fight 
     poverty;
       (3) recognizes that education of children around the world 
     addresses several of the root causes of international 
     terrorism;
       (4) recognizes that the world will be safer and more 
     promising for children as a result of better school 
     attendance;
       (5) expresses its gratitude to former Senators George 
     McGovern and Robert Dole for supporting the distribution of 
     food in schools around the world to children and for working 
     to eradicate hunger and poverty around the world;
       (6) commends the Department of Agriculture, the Agency for 
     International Development, the Department of State, the 
     United Nations World Food Program, private voluntary 
     organizations, non-governmental organizations, and 
     cooperatives for facilitating the distribution of food in 
     schools around the world;
       (7) expresses its continued support for the distribution of 
     food in schools around the world;
       (8) supports expansion of the McGovern-Dole International 
     Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program; and
       (9) requests the President to work with the United Nations 
     and its member states to expand international contributions 
     for the distribution of food in schools around the world.

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