[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 91 (Thursday, July 13, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO JIM MORRIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD 
                               PROGRAMME

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE PENCE

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2006

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Jim Morris, 
who over the last five years has guided the U.N. World Food Programme 
through five years of vital, life-saving support to millions of victims 
of war and natural disaster across the globe.
  A former Indianapolis business executive, president of the Indiana 
University Board of Trustees and head of the Lilly Endowment, Jim 
Morris could have retired to private life. Instead, Jim accepted the 
call and rose to the challenge to manage the world's largest food aid 
organization. Since 2002, Jim has been an eloquent spokesman and 
tireless administrator for relief programs stretching from Sudan to 
Iraq, Africa to Asia.
  Under Jim's stewardship, the World Food Programme (WFP) provided food 
aid to over 4 million Ethiopian drought victims in 2003. That year, he 
also successfully guided WFP in carrying out the largest humanitarian 
operation in history, feeding 26 million Iraqis.
  When tropical storm Jeanne struck Haiti in 2004, WFP showed up big 
for the 160,000 flood victims. In Darfur, Sudan, WFP battles insecurity 
and bad roads to get food aid to the 2 million refugees who have fled 
their homes in response to the conflict.
  Reacting to the 2005 tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands of 
people from Indonesia to Somalia and left hundreds of thousands more 
without their homes or livelihoods, WFP mounted one of its most complex 
emergency operations ever. Using helicopters, aircraft, cargo ships, 
landing craft and traditional trucks, WFP provided essential food aid 
to 1.75 million tsunami survivors, averting starvation and widespread 
malnutrition in the wake of the disaster.
  Under Jim's leadership, the WFP has made a difference, time and again 
by quickly getting food to millions of hungry and hurting people who 
desperately need it. Jim Morris is to be commended for his tireless 
advocacy for the world's poorest children, which has raised awareness 
and support for hunger programs, including in this body.
  To this heroic Hoosier, who for five years has led the global effort 
to combat the daily hunger faced by more than 800 million people 
worldwide, I say, ``Well done, good and faithful servant.''

                          ____________________