[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1910-E1911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         McGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 28, 2006

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, today, Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (MO) 
and I, along with 23 of our House colleagues, introduced legislation to 
reauthorize the George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food for 
Education and Child Nutrition Program (McGovern-Dole). This unique and 
flexible program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA), helps promote education, child development, and food security 
for the world's poorest children.
  Sadly, an estimated 300 million children go hungry every day around 
the world. Of these children, an estimated 120 million do not attend 
school, in part because of hunger or malnourishment. Because of 
cultural traditions, prejudice, or simple economic need, many of these 
children are girls or children engaged in labor to increase their 
families' basic income. Providing meals in schools has proven to be

[[Page E1911]]

the single most effective incentive for convincing parents to send 
their children to school, including their daughters.
  The McGovern-Dole Program has used American-grown commodities and 
financial and technical assistance to decrease the incidence of child 
hunger and increase educational opportunity for millions of these 
vulnerable children. Nutritious meals, take home rations, or both are 
provided as means to increase food security for children, and increase 
school enrollment and attendance. Official evaluations by USDA document 
how McGovern-Dole has been especially successful at increasing access 
to education for girls and in strengthening parental and community 
commitment and engagement in education, nutrition and agriculture. 
McGovern-Dole has also become a catalyst for other community-based 
projects such as clean water, sanitation, children's health, and HIV/
AIDS education, treatment and prevention programs. These outcomes have 
resulted in broad bipartisan support for the program and especially for 
increased annual funding. The McGovern-Dole Program has also garnered 
the support of farm, commodity and agricultural groups, as well as U.S. 
and international humanitarian, development, education, anti-hunger and 
food security organizations.
  In several projects, the McGovern-Dole Program also supports maternal 
and child health projects when those projects complement school 
feeding, including early learning and early childhood development 
programs that address critical nutritional and developmental needs of 
children under five years of age.
  Named in honor of former Senators George McGovern and Robert Dole, 
who worked closely during their tenures in the U.S. Senate to address 
the problems of hunger and malnutrition in the United States and around 
the world, the McGovern-Dole program was initiated in 2000 by President 
Bill Clinton as a $300 million pilot program, the Global Food for 
Education Initiative (GFEI). From 2001-2003, the GFEI fed nearly 7 
million children through 48 projects in 38 countries. Enrollment 
increased by up to 10 percent in participating schools, and other 
donors provided almost $1 billion of funding to complement the GFEI 
program. In 2003, as part of the Farm Bill Reauthorization, the GFEI 
was established as a permanent program, and renamed the McGovern-Dole 
Program. During 2003-2004, the McGovern-Dole Program used $100 million 
of Commodity Credit Corporation funds and $50 million in appropriated 
funds to support over 4 million children in 26 countries. School 
enrollment overall rose by 14 percent in participating schools, with 
girls enrollment increasing by 17 percent on average. McGovern-Dole 
helped considerably in Afghanistan when the country's leadership 
changed and girls were once again allowed to be educated. The program 
helped to build or renovate schools, provided meals and other 
incentives for children to come to school, and contributed to a 123 
percent increase in overall enrollment in the country. The McGovern-
Dole school feeding programs also received support from other donors, 
private businesses, and local governments and communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I have had the privilege of visiting some McGovern-Dole 
and school feeding programs in Colombia. They were in some of the 
poorest neighborhoods surrounding the capital of Bogota, where 
thousands of people displaced by violence and conflict were trying to 
survive. I remember, in particular, a mother and grandmother who came 
up to me and thanked me and the United States for supporting the school 
and providing these daily meals. They told me how members of the right-
wing paramilitaries and the FARC guerrillas would prowl around the 
edges of their neighborhood, trying to recruit young children as 
soldiers with the promise of a meal. But their children would not be 
lured into becoming child soldiers because they were being fed and 
educated at the school. Mr. Speaker, you can't imagine how proud and 
grateful those words made me feel. I could see the powerful good will 
this modest project had created for America among these poor families.
  I was reminded of the words of these families when I read the 
recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, and more recently, when 
reviewing the declassified judgments of the latest National 
Intelligence Estimate (NIB). Both of these reports noted that the lack 
of sustained social and economic reform and development feed the anger, 
humiliation, powerlessness and sense of hopelessness that are the 
feeding grounds of terrorists and extremists. When mothers and fathers 
have hope for a better future for their children, they turn away from 
extremists. When children have the chance to go to school and stay in 
school, and when hunger no longer impedes their ability to learn, then 
they are on the path that leads to greater economic opportunity. Hope 
and opportunity are among our most powerful weapons in the fight 
against terrorism, Mr. Speaker, and I believe it is programs like 
McGovern-Dole that will ultimately help us win the war against 
extremism.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill we just introduced would reauthorize the 
McGovern-Dole Program for fiscal years 2008 through 2012. It provides 
stable funding with annual increases to expand the reach of current 
programs and initiate new project in more countries, bringing hope and 
opportunity to more children and their families. Such secure funding 
will allow McGovern-Dole programs to work with local communities and 
national governments to make these critical educational, nutritional 
and development programs self-sustaining. The increase in funding over 
time will also support greater project development in early learning 
and early childhood development programs so that more children enter 
school healthy and ready to learn. And by demonstrating a firm, long-
term commitment to this program, I believe this reauthorization will 
serve as a catalyst to increase support from other donors for global 
school feeding programs.
  In the true spirit of George McGovern and Bob Dole, Congresswoman 
Emerson and I are also very proud that this bill reflects the strong 
bipartisan support that the McGovern-Dole Program has received since 
first initiated. In a time of intense partisanship, this bill 
demonstrates that men and women of good will not only can come 
together, but want to come together, on issues and programs that 
genuinely make a difference in children's lives and help make our world 
a better place. I would like to thank Representatives Lantos, Hyde, 
Skelton, Wolf, Pomeroy, Smith (NJ), DeLauro, Leach, Herseth, Osborne, 
Kaptur, Walsh, Boswell, Boustany, McCotter, Payne, Shimkus, Moore (KS), 
English, Snyder, Moran (KS), McCollum (MN), and Solis for joining us as 
original cosponsors of this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask to submit for the Record a copy of a letter 
Senators George McGovern and Robert Dole sent to representatives urging 
Members of Congress to cosponsor the McGovern-Dole Reauthorization Act.


                                               Washington, DC,

                                                    July 21, 2006.
       Dear Representative: We are writing in support of the 
     George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food for Education 
     and Child Nutrition Program and to request that you cosponsor 
     legislation reauthorizing this important program.
       The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and 
     Child Nutrition Program has made a critical difference in the 
     lives of millions of children and provides a clear statement 
     throughout the world about America's compassion and values. 
     The McGovern-Dole Program provides American-grown food to 
     hungry children in schools in the world's poorest countries. 
     It helps ensure that children suffering from hunger receive 
     at least one nutritious meal during the day. In addition, 
     where school feeding programs are offered, enrollment and 
     attendance rates increase significantly--especially for 
     girls. Increasing girls' education has important implications 
     for social and economic progress in the world's poorest 
     communities. It is a model food aid program that is tailor 
     made for the 21st Century and we strongly support its 
     reauthorization.
       Representative Jim McGovern and Representative Jo Ann 
     Emerson are introducing legislation to reauthorize the 
     McGovern-Dole Program. We respectfully urge you to contact 
     either Jim or Jo Ann and add your name as a cosponsor of this 
     important legislation as soon as possible.
           Sincerely,
     George McGovern.
     Robert Dole.

                          ____________________