[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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