[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 63 (Thursday, April 19, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4777-S4780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Smith, 
        Mr. Obama, Mr. Reed, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. 
        Feingold, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Rockefeller, and, Mr. 
        Akaka):
  S. 1172. A bill to reduce hunger in the United States; to the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, President Eisenhower once stated, ``Every 
gun that is made, every warship that is launched, every rocket fired, 
signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not 
fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in armaments is 
not spending its money alone: it is spending the sweat of its laborers, 
the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.''
  In as trying a time as we live in today, his statement cannot ring 
more true. We are in the middle of a war with no seeming end in sight. 
We have daily debates about the numbers in our budget. But President 
Eisenhower was right. We are not spending our money alone.
  In a Nation as rich as ours, we should be able to arrange our 
priorities to meet the needs of our country, but the unfortunate 
reality is that in the United States today, children go hungry. 
Children count on school, not only for education but also for their 
meals. Seniors are forced to make a choice between life-saving 
medicines and groceries for their meals. Families are forced to make 
the difficult choice between paying for food and paying for utilities 
or their rent or mortgage or even their medicine or medical care. This 
is the reality of our America.
  As Senators, we often hear from families that tell us the difficulty 
in making ends meet. More and more working families are turning to food 
banks, pantries and soup kitchens for emergency food assistance. When 
examining the actual costs of housing, food, utilities and other 
necessities, researchers have found that in most areas of the country, 
families need about 200 percent of the poverty level to achieve 
``minimal economic self-sufficiency.'' Individuals and families are 
faced with a cost of living that continues to rise and an increasing 
gap between what low-wage workers earn and what is required to meet 
basic needs.
  In my State of Illinois, over 158,000 Illinois households experienced 
hunger in 2005. If we include households that have had to struggle to 
put food on the table or have had to skip meals to make sure the food 
would last through the week--that's 440,000 households in Illinois 
living with food insecurity--9 percent of Illinois households. These 
are working families who need more to lead healthy, happy lives.
  Fortunately, we have some programs in existence to offer hope. Since 
President Johnson started the war on poverty, we have documented that 
the Federal nutrition programs work to reduce hunger. When people are 
able to use Food Stamps, there are enough groceries to last through the 
week. When new moms are helped by WIC, they and their babies have 
enough milk and eggs and fruit. When senior citizens are near a 
Commodity Supplemental Food Program site, they can take home a box of 
food to fill the pantry AND buy their prescription drugs. Our school 
children can fill their stomachs and then focus on learning--because of 
the Federal school food program. In cases of emergency, like the

[[Page S4778]]

tragic occurrences of hurricanes, our Federal nutrition assistance 
programs have been there to assist families in need. These Federal food 
programs work, but more can be done.
  Last Congress, I introduced the Hunger Free Communities Act with 
Senators Lincoln, Smith and Lugar. The bill creates new grant programs 
that help communities make the most of the Federal nutrition programs 
and build on their successes.
  First, the bill makes grant money available to local groups that are 
working to eliminate hunger in their communities. Each day, soup 
kitchens serve meals, and food pantries give groceries, and volunteers 
collect food, make sandwiches, and deliver food. Our bill creates an 
anti-hunger grant program--the first of its kind--that asks communities 
to assess hunger and hunger relief at the local level. Grant money is 
available to help with that assessment or grant money can be used to 
help fill in the gaps that a local plan identifies.
  Second, we create a funding stream that food banks and soup kitchens 
can use to keep up their buildings and trucks and kitchen equipment. 
The response of the food bank network to the crisis after hurricanes 
Katrina and Rita was remarkable. Tons of food was donated, transported 
and delivered by thousands of volunteers from all over the country. But 
within days, America's Second Harvest recognized the food banks needed 
freezers, forklifts, delivery trucks and repairs to warehouses and 
equipment. My bill creates the only Federal funding stream specifically 
for the capital needs of local hunger relief efforts. Helping these 
organizations is especially important for those organizations in 
underserved areas and areas where rates of food insecurity, hunger, 
poverty, or unemployment are higher than the national average.
  Late last Congress, the Hunger Free Communities Act was passed by the 
Senate. I had hoped that there might be time for the House to act on it 
before the Session ended, but we ran out of time. This was, however, a 
small victory. It was a small step toward progress--a step that both 
Democrats and Republicans want to take for the health and well-being of 
our communities.
  There are still too many parents in this country who skip meals 
because there is not enough money in the family food budget for them 
and their children to eat every night. There are still too many babies 
and toddlers in America who are not getting the nutrition their minds 
and bodies need to develop to their fullest potential. There are too 
many seniors, and children, who go to bed hungry. In the richest Nation 
in the history of the world, that is unacceptable.
  Progress against hunger is possible, even with a war abroad and 
budget deficits at home. I am heartened by the 43 United States 
Senators who agreed with me and cosponsored the Hunger Free Communities 
Act last year. I am heartened by the support of the Illinois Coalition 
on Hunger, Bread for the World and America's Second Harvest. Congress 
will be reauthorizing many nutrition programs this year with the farm 
bill, and the Hunger Free Communities Act should be a part of that. I 
believe this bill can take a modest but meaningful step toward 
eliminating hunger in this country. We tried to make that first step 
when the bill passed the Senate late last year. We can do it again and 
should.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1172

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Hunger-
     Free Communities Act of 2007''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.

               TITLE I--NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO END HUNGER

Sec. 101. Hunger reports.

               TITLE II--STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY EFFORTS

Sec. 121. Hunger-free communities collaborative grants.
Sec. 122. Hunger-free communities infrastructure grants.
Sec. 123. Hunger-free communities training and technical assistance 
              grants.
Sec. 124. Report.
Sec. 125. Authorization of appropriations.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1)(A) at the 1996 World Food Summit, the United States, 
     along with 185 other countries, pledged to reduce the number 
     of undernourished people by half by 2015; and
       (B) as a result of that pledge, the Department of Health 
     and Human Services adopted the Healthy People 2010 goal to 
     cut food insecurity in half by 2010, and in doing so reduce 
     hunger;
       (2) national nutrition programs are among the fastest, most 
     direct ways to efficiently and effectively prevent hunger, 
     reduce food insecurity, and improve nutrition among the 
     populations targeted by a program;
       (3) in 2001, food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, and 
     emergency shelters helped to feed more than 23,000,000 low-
     income people; and
       (4) community-based organizations and charities can help--
       (A) play an important role in preventing and reducing 
     hunger;
       (B) measure community food security;
       (C) develop and implement plans for improving food 
     security;
       (D) educate community leaders about the problems of and 
     solutions to hunger;
       (E) ensure that local nutrition programs are implemented 
     effectively; and
       (F) improve the connection of food insecure people to anti-
     hunger programs.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Domestic hunger goal.--The term ``domestic hunger 
     goal'' means--
       (A) the goal of reducing hunger in the United States to at 
     or below 2 percent by 2010; or
       (B) the goal of reducing food insecurity in the United 
     States to at or below 6 percent by 2010.
       (2) Emergency feeding organization.--The term ``emergency 
     feeding organization'' has the meaning given the term in 
     section 201A of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 
     U.S.C. 7501).
       (3) Food security.--The term ``food security'' means the 
     state in which an individual has access to enough food for an 
     active, healthy life.
       (4) Hunger-free communities goal.--The term ``hunger-free 
     communities goal'' means any of the 14 goals described in the 
     H. Con. Res. 302 (102nd Congress).
       (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Agriculture.

               TITLE I--NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO END HUNGER

     SEC. 101. HUNGER REPORTS.

       (a) Study.--
       (1) Timeline.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a study of 
     major matters relating to the problem of hunger in the United 
     States, as determined by the Secretary.
       (B) Update.--Not later than 5 years after the date on which 
     the study under subparagraph (A) is conducted, the Secretary 
     shall update the study.
       (2) Matters to be assessed.--The matters to be assessed by 
     the Secretary in the study and update under this section 
     shall include--
       (A) data on hunger and food insecurity in the United 
     States;
       (B) measures carried out during the previous year by 
     Federal, State, and local governments to achieve domestic 
     hunger goals and hunger-free communities goals;
       (C) measures that could be carried out by Federal, State, 
     and local governments to achieve domestic hunger goals and 
     hunger-free communities goals; and
       (D) the impact of hunger and household food insecurity on 
     obesity, in the context of poverty and food assistance 
     programs.
       (b) Recommendations.--The Secretary shall develop 
     recommendations on--
       (1) removing obstacles to achieving domestic hunger goals 
     and hunger-free communities goals; and
       (2) otherwise reducing domestic hunger.
       (c) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the President 
     and Congress--
       (1) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, a report that contains--
       (A) a detailed statement of the results of the study, or 
     the most recent update to the study, conducted under 
     subsection (a)(1); and
       (B) the most recent recommendations of the Secretary under 
     subsection (b); and
       (2) not later than 5 years after the date of submission of 
     the report under paragraph (1), an update of the report.

               TITLE II--STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY EFFORTS

     SEC. 121. HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVE GRANTS.

       (a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the 
     term ``eligible entity'' means a public food program service 
     provider or a nonprofit organization, including but not 
     limited to an emergency feeding organization, that 
     demonstrates the organization has collaborated, or will 
     collaborate, with 1 or more local partner organizations to 
     achieve at least 1 hunger-free communities goal.
       (b) Program Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall use not more than 50 
     percent of any funds made

[[Page S4779]]

     available under section 125 to make grants to eligible 
     entities to pay the Federal share of the costs of an activity 
     described in subsection (d).
       (2) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of 
     carrying out an activity under this section shall not exceed 
     80 percent.
       (3) Non-federal share.--
       (A) Calculation.--The non-Federal share of the cost of an 
     activity under this section may be provided in cash or in 
     kind, fairly evaluated, including facilities, equipment, or 
     services.
       (B) Sources.--Any entity may provide the non-Federal share 
     of the cost of an activity under this section through a State 
     government, a local government, or a private source.
       (c) Application.--
       (1) In general.--To receive a grant under this section, an 
     eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary 
     at the time and in the manner and accompanied by any 
     information the Secretary may require.
       (2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
     (1) shall--
       (A) identify any activity described in subsection (d) that 
     the grant will be used to fund;
       (B) describe the means by which an activity identified 
     under subparagraph (A) will reduce hunger in the community of 
     the eligible entity;
       (C) list any partner organizations of the eligible entity 
     that will participate in an activity funded by the grant;
       (D) describe any agreement between a partner organization 
     and the eligible entity necessary to carry out an activity 
     funded by the grant; and
       (E) if an assessment described in subsection (d)(1) has 
     been performed, include--
       (i) a summary of that assessment; and
       (ii) information regarding the means by which the grant 
     will help reduce hunger in the community of the eligible 
     entity.
       (3) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the 
     Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--
       (A) demonstrate in the application of the eligible entity 
     that the eligible entity makes collaborative efforts to 
     reduce hunger in the community of the eligible entity; and
       (B)(i) serve a predominantly rural and geographically 
     underserved area;
       (ii) serve communities in which the rates of food 
     insecurity, hunger, poverty, or unemployment are demonstrably 
     higher than national average rates;
       (iii) provide evidence of long-term efforts to reduce 
     hunger in the community;
       (iv) provide evidence of public support for the efforts of 
     the eligible entity; or
       (v) demonstrate in the application of the eligible entity a 
     commitment to achieving more than 1 hunger-free communities 
     goal.
       (d) Use of Funds.--
       (1) Assessment of hunger in the community.--
       (A) In general.--An eligible entity in a community that has 
     not performed an assessment described in subparagraph (B) may 
     use a grant received under this section to perform the 
     assessment for the community.
       (B) Assessment.--The assessment referred to in subparagraph 
     (A) shall include--
       (i) an analysis of the problem of hunger in the community 
     served by the eligible entity;
       (ii) an evaluation of any facility and any equipment used 
     to achieve a hunger-free communities goal in the community;
       (iii) an analysis of the effectiveness and extent of 
     service of existing nutrition programs and emergency feeding 
     organizations; and
       (iv) a plan to achieve any other hunger-free communities 
     goal in the community.
       (2) Activities.--An eligible entity in a community that has 
     submitted an assessment to the Secretary shall use a grant 
     received under this section for any fiscal year for 
     activities of the eligible entity, including--
       (A) meeting the immediate needs of people in the community 
     served by the eligible entity who experience hunger by--
       (i) distributing food;
       (ii) providing community outreach; or
       (iii) improving access to food as part of a comprehensive 
     service;
       (B) developing new resources and strategies to help reduce 
     hunger in the community;
       (C) establishing a program to achieve a hunger-free 
     communities goal in the community, including--
       (i) a program to prevent, monitor, and treat children in 
     the community experiencing hunger or poor nutrition; or
       (ii) a program to provide information to people in the 
     community on hunger, domestic hunger goals, and hunger-free 
     communities goals; and
       (D) establishing a program to provide food and nutrition 
     services as part of a coordinated community-based 
     comprehensive service.

     SEC. 122. HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITIES INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS.

       (a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the 
     term ``eligible entity'' means an emergency feeding 
     organization (as defined in section 201A(4) of the Emergency 
     Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501(4))).
       (b) Program Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall use not more than 40 
     percent of any funds made available under section 125 to make 
     grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share of the 
     costs of an activity described in subsection (d).
       (2) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of 
     carrying out an activity under this section shall not exceed 
     80 percent.
       (c) Application.--
       (1) In general.--To receive a grant under this section, an 
     eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary 
     at the time and in the manner and accompanied by any 
     information the Secretary may require.
       (2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
     (1) shall--
       (A) identify any activity described in subsection (d) that 
     the grant will be used to fund; and
       (B) describe the means by which an activity identified 
     under subparagraph (A) will reduce hunger in the community of 
     the eligible entity.
       (3) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the 
     Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities the 
     applications of which demonstrate 2 or more of the following:
       (A) The eligible entity serves a predominantly rural and 
     geographically underserved area.
       (B) The eligible entity serves a community in which the 
     rates of food insecurity, hunger, poverty, or unemployment 
     are demonstrably higher than national average rates.
       (C) The eligible entity serves a community that has carried 
     out long-term efforts to reduce hunger in the community.
       (D) The eligible entity serves a community that provides 
     public support for the efforts of the eligible entity.
       (E) The eligible entity is committed to achieving more than 
     1 hunger-free communities goal.
       (d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity shall use a grant 
     received under this section for any fiscal year to carry out 
     activities of the eligible entity, including--
       (1) constructing, expanding, or repairing a facility or 
     equipment to support hunger relief agencies in the community;
       (2) assisting an emergency feeding organization in the 
     community in obtaining locally-produced produce and protein 
     products; and
       (3) assisting an emergency feeding organization in the 
     community to process and serve wild game.

     SEC. 123. HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITIES TRAINING AND TECHNICAL 
                   ASSISTANCE GRANTS.

       (a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the 
     term ``eligible entity'' means a national or regional 
     nonprofit organization that carries out an activity described 
     in subsection (d).
       (b) Program Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall use not more than 10 
     percent of any funds made available under section 125 to make 
     grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share of the 
     costs of an activity described in subsection (d).
       (2) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of 
     carrying out an activity under this section shall not exceed 
     80 percent.
       (c) Application.--
       (1) In general.--To receive a grant under this section, an 
     eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary 
     at the time and in the manner and accompanied by any 
     information the Secretary may require.
       (2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
     (1) shall--
       (A) demonstrate that the eligible entity does not operate 
     for profit;
       (B) describe any national or regional training program 
     carried out by the eligible entity, including a description 
     of each region served by the eligible entity;
       (C) describe any national or regional technical assistance 
     provided by the eligible entity, including a description of 
     each region served by the eligible entity; and
       (D) describe the means by which each organization served by 
     the eligible entity--
       (i) works to achieve a domestic hunger goal;
       (ii) works to achieve a hunger-free communities goal; or
       (iii) used a grant received by the organization under 
     section 121 or 122.
       (3) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the 
     Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities the 
     applications of which demonstrate 2 or more of the following:
       (A) The eligible entity serves a predominantly rural and 
     geographically underserved area.
       (B) The eligible entity serves a region in which the rates 
     of food insecurity, hunger, poverty, or unemployment are 
     demonstrably higher than national average rates.
       (C) The eligible entity serves a region that has carried 
     out long-term efforts to reduce hunger in the region.
       (D) The eligible entity serves a region that provides 
     public support for the efforts of the eligible entity.
       (E) The eligible entity is committed to achieving more than 
     1 hunger-free communities goal.
       (d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity shall use a grant 
     received under this section for any fiscal year to carry out 
     national or regional training and technical assistance for 
     organizations that--
       (1) work to achieve a domestic hunger goal;
       (2) work to achieve a hunger-free communities goal; or
       (3) receive a grant under section 121 or 122.

     SEC. 124. REPORT.

       Not later than September 30, 2013, the Secretary shall 
     submit to Congress a report describing--

[[Page S4780]]

       (1) each grant made under this title, including--
       (A) a description of any activity funded by such a grant; 
     and
       (B) the degree of success of each activity funded by such a 
     grant in achieving hunger-free communities goals; and
       (2) the degree of success of all activities funded by 
     grants under this title in achieving domestic hunger goals.

     SEC. 125. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     title $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2013.
                                 ______