[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 124 (Tuesday, October 5, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H8136-H8137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HUNTERS FOR THE HUNGRY PROGRAMS ACROSS 
                                THE U.S.

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 481) recognizing the establishment of Hunters 
for the Hungry programs across the United States and the contributions 
of those programs to efforts to decrease hunger and help feed those in 
need.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 481

       Whereas Hunters for the Hungry programs are cooperative 
     efforts among hunters, sportsmen's associations, meat 
     processors, State meat inspectors, and hunger relief 
     organizations to help feed those in need;
       Whereas during the past three years Hunters for the Hungry 
     programs have brought hundreds of thousands of pounds of 
     venison to homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and food banks; 
     and
       Whereas each year donations have multiplied as Hunters for 
     the Hungry programs continue to feed those in need: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the cooperative efforts of hunters, 
     sportsmen's associations, meat processors, State meat 
     inspectors, and hunger relief organizations to establish 
     Hunters for the Hungry programs across the United States; and
       (2) recognizes the contributions of Hunters for the Hungry 
     programs to efforts to decrease hunger and help feed those in 
     need.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) and the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. 
Pomeroy) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte).
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 481, as introduced 
by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).
  This resolution recognizes and encourages Hunters for the Hungry 
programs. These are voluntary, cooperative efforts among hunters, 
sportsmen's associations, meat processors, State meat inspectors, and 
hunger relief organizations to help feed those in need. These programs 
are in place in almost every State. They have brought hundreds of 
thousands of pounds of venison to homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and 
food banks, feeding thousands of needy people.
  Hunters for the Hungry programs are great examples of community 
service. This resolution is intended to bring attention to these 
programs and to promote additional constructive ideas for addressing 
the problem of hunger.
  Hunting season is right around the corner in much of the country, and 
I urge my colleagues to do everything they can to support these 
important programs. Not only does hunting contribute to our rural 
economy, it helps our communities fight hunger.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I congratulate 
the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) for his efforts to move this 
resolution forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H8137]]

  I am here once again representing my ranking member on the Committee 
on Agriculture, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) as he testifies 
before the Committee on Rules, attempting to secure placement of the 
legislation he has offered in support of disaster assistance to 
farmers.
  To reveal the state of play here, the Senate has passed a $3 billion 
disaster bill to help farmers in light of the disastrous losses that 
they have suffered, not just from hurricanes, but we have seen it all, 
a big swath of losses due to drought. In North Dakota, we have even had 
disaster losses of a significant magnitude due to early frost, frost 
coming on August 19.
  There are some in the House discussing a nod to disaster assistance 
to the tune of $500 million, maybe up to close to $1 billion. This does 
not come close to addressing the needs of farmers across this country.
  Mr. Speaker, a $3 billion bill passed by the Senate is a much more 
realistic and substantive response, and I hope that the House is given 
the opportunity by the Committee on Rules, pursuant to the testimony of 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) right now, to consider the full 
disaster package, the $3 billion disaster package.
  Mr. Speaker, when it comes to production agriculture, we have macro 
statistics and we have micro circumstances. The macro statistics may 
reveal that this is just another year in production agriculture, but we 
know from the hurricanes in the State of Florida that it has been 
anything but a normal year in terms of production agriculture.
  If we take you over to the Great Plains States, we will show you a 
drought that is beginning to rival what they saw in the Great 
Depression, the ``Dirty 30s,'' reservoirs drying up, year after year of 
failed production. Up in North Dakota, and I will tell my colleagues 
that I am a farm retailer's kid, I have been close to farming and 
agriculture all of my life, I have never seen a frost on August 19 do 
such harm to the production that we were experiencing.
  This is why this disaster bill is so critically important, and that 
is why I wish the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) well in his 
testimony before the House Committee on Rules.
  I will say of his statement on behalf of this bill, wholehearted 
support, I appreciate very much the chairman's efforts in moving this 
bill forward, and I will go on to read the statement of the gentleman 
from Texas (Ranking Member Stenholm) on behalf of H. Res. 481.
  ``Mr. Speaker, I express my wholehearted support for H. Res. 481 
which recognizes the establishment of the Hunters for the Hungry 
programs across the United States and the vital contributions these 
programs make in the ongoing effort to decrease hunger and help feed 
those in need.
  ``Hunters for the Hungry programs are volunteer and cooperative 
efforts among hunters, sportsmen's associations, meat processors, State 
meat inspectors, and hunger relief organizations to help feed those in 
need.
  ``These programs are not only simple, but also practical. The hunters 
provide the game meat, which is taken to processors who cut, wrap, and 
freeze it. The meat is then distributed through agencies such as food 
banks and other nonprofit organizations which feed the needy.
  ``In my home State of Texas,'' again speaking on behalf of the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), ``the Texas Association of 
Community Action Agencies, Inc., with funding from the Texas Department 
of Housing and Community Affairs, has worked with the hunters' program 
for over 10 years. Since 1991, the Hunters for the Hungry program in 
Texas has distributed over 480,000 pounds of venison to the needy in 
Texas.
  ``Hunters for the Hungry programs provide an excellent example of 
community service in action. The intention of this resolution is more 
than just to congratulate those who participate in these programs for a 
job well done. The resolution also serves to bring attention, encourage 
participation, and promote additional constructive ideas for addressing 
the problem of hunger in the United States.''
  Mr. Speaker, seeing no further requests for time, I yield back the 
balance of our time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, at this time it is my pleasure to yield 
such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Gingrey), the chief sponsor of the legislation.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank the distinguished 
chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, the gentleman from Virginia 
(Mr. Goodlatte), as well as the ranking member, for bringing this 
resolution to the floor today.
  On December 8, 2003, I introduced House Resolution 481 to bring 
attention to an often-overlooked group of hunters and meat processors 
who help feed thousands of homeless and hungry people each year. It was 
my intention to draft a resolution that would praise Hunters for the 
Hungry programs across our country in many States, all States, and 
encourage new and innovative ways of addressing our Nation's hunger 
problem.
  Although these organizations have various names, depending on the 
State or region of the country, Hunters for the Hungry organizations 
show the humanitarian and kind-hearted spirit of our Nation's hunting 
community. Hunters for the Hungry programs are volunteer and 
cooperative efforts among hunters, sportsmen's associations, meat 
processors, State meat inspectors, and hunger relief organizations. All 
of these groups work together to help feed those in need.
  Over the past 3 years, such programs have brought hundreds of 
thousands of pounds of excess venison to homeless shelters, to soup 
kitchens and food banks, feeding thousands of needy people. Each year, 
donations have multiplied and programs now find themselves overflowing 
with thousands of pounds of meat and, at times, they cannot even cover 
the cost of processing, packaging, storing, and distributing the meat.
  Hunters for the Hungry programs are great examples of community 
service. They serve to feed the needy and to prevent waste. Meat is a 
rare commodity for agencies serving the needy, and a supply of venison 
from the Hunters for the Hungry will typically provide the best meal 
these needy people have had for weeks or even months.
  Most importantly, Hunters for the Hungry organizations serve as a 
great example of how our Nation can address issues like hunger without 
government intervention. These organizations receive no government 
money, and they operate from donations and volunteer service. We must 
revise the awareness of these organizations so they can solicit more 
monetary donations and volunteers.
  As Josh Wilson, the operations director for the Farmers and Hunters 
Feeding the Hungry program put it, ``I know it is quite encouraging to 
our FHFH coordinators and to the other venison programs to know that 
their efforts are noticed and appreciated.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to speak in one voice 
of encouragement and gratitude to these organizations for all of their 
community service.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate again the gentleman from 
Georgia and thank him for bringing forward this fine resolution. I urge 
my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 481.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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