[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 130 (Monday, October 11, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1960-E1961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SUPPORT OF WORLD FOOD DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, October 9, 2004

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of myself and Mr. Payne 
to recognize World Food Day on October 16.
  It is imperative to reflect on one of the greatest problems facing 
humanity today, hunger. Statistics show that close to a billion people 
around the globe suffer from the effects of hunger and malnutrition. 
Sixteen thousand children die daily of hunger-related illnesses.
  The United Nations Hunger Task Force estimates that, globally, 50 
percent of hungry people are in farm households; 22 percent are the 
rural landless; 20 percent are urban; and 8 percent are directly 
dependent on natural resources. The fight against hunger must target 
rural populations in developing countries.
  The World Food Summit and the first Millennium Development Goal, MDG, 
aim to reduce the number of hungry by 2015.
  Increasing a population's productivity lends itself to community 
development and access to resources. These resources can be used to 
facilitate agricultural and educational programs, which from people can 
learn and teach themselves to grow. As a result, healthy women are more 
likely to pass on these positive aspects to their children.
  In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt took the initiative to 
address concerns about world hunger. He assembled 44 governments in Hot 
Springs, VA, to establish a permanent organization for food and 
agriculture. Two years later that assembly became the FAO--the Food and 
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  Since its establishment in 1945, FAO has committed itself to raising 
levels of nutrition, improving agricultural productivity, for the 
betterment of people residing in rural areas. Each year on October 16, 
FAO's commemorates its founding with World Food Day (WFD). The theme 
for 2004, ``Biodiversity for Food Security,'' addresses biodiversity's 
role in ensuring that people have sustainable access to enough high-
quality food to lead active and healthy lives, www.fao.org/wfd.
  More than 150 countries observe World Food Day. Numerous activities 
take place on this day to promote awareness within the United States. 
Examples of these are the World Prize Award Ceremony and Symposium in 
Des Moines; hundreds of WFD teleconference sites at colleges across 
America and at U.S. Embassies around the world; ``Restaurants against 
Hunger'' in New York, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, 
Chicago and Boston; 2204 CROP walks sponsored by Church World Service 
in some 2,000 communities. Jacques Diouf, Director General of FAO will 
keynote observances at the United Nations in New York on October 18 and 
at Howard University's Law School on Tuesday, October 19.
  While conflict and harsh climate--the more publicized conditions--
often create hunger emergencies; chronic malnutrition claims the 
majority of the lives lost in the battle against hunger. The world 
possesses the capabilities to alleviate hunger. Lacking are stabilized 
governments in developing areas and proper distribution of desperately 
needed materials, where it be food, medication, or equipment.
  The U.S. Alliance Against Hunger is working on the following: making 
hunger an election issue, helping develop the International Alliance 
Against Hunger and encouraging business, religious and nongovernmental 
organizations to build the public will to overcome hunger.
  The International Alliance Against Hunger, IAAH, assists in building 
national alliances around the globe. These alliances composed of 
governments, international organizations, civil society organizations 
and the private sector work to raise public awareness about the 2015 
hunger goal. Eighty-four countries have expressed interested in being 
part of this global effort.

[[Page E1961]]

  Individual governments must do more to indicate change of these 
staggering numbers. Bread for the World estimates, that Congress' 
bipartisan agreement increased poverty-focused development assistance 
by nearly 30 percent in 2003. The Millennium Challenge Account, MCA, 
has provided new hope to selected countries. Sadly, appropriations for 
the MCA have been cut in half in 2004 by the president's request, and 
neither the President nor Congress is currently keeping the promises 
they have made. These funds must be resorted in order to make progress 
against worldwide hunger.
  In closing Mr. Speaker, we stand in full support of World Food Day 
and the efforts of the international community to end hunger throughout 
the world.

                          ____________________