[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 72 (Thursday, May 3, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S5603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 186--DESIGNATING JUNE 5, 2007, AS ``NATIONAL HUNGER 
 AWARENESS DAY'' AND AUTHORIZING THE SENATE OFFICES OF SENATORS GORDON 
H. SMITH, BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, ELIZABETH DOLE, AND RICHARD J. DURBIN TO 
COLLECT DONATIONS OF FOOD DURING THE PERIOD BEGINNING MAY 7, 2007, AND 
 ENDING JUNE 5, 2007, FROM CONCERNED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND STAFF TO 
   ASSIST FAMILIES SUFFERING FROM HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY IN THE 
                  WASHINGTON, D.C., METROPOLITAN AREA

  Mr. SMITH (for himself, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Durbin, Mr. 
Vitter, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Levin, Mrs. Levin, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Kohl, Mr. 
Salazar, and Ms. Cantwell) submitted the following resolution; which 
was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 186

       Whereas food insecurity and hunger are a fact of life for 
     millions of low-income citizens of the United States and can 
     produce physical, mental, and social impairments;
       Whereas recent data published by the Department of 
     Agriculture show that almost 38,200,000 people in the United 
     States live in households experiencing hunger or food 
     insecurity;
       Whereas the problem of hunger and food insecurity can be 
     found in rural, suburban, and urban portions of the United 
     States, touching nearly every community of the Nation;
       Whereas, although substantial progress has been made in 
     reducing the incidence of hunger and food insecurity in the 
     United States, certain groups remain vulnerable to hunger and 
     the negative effects of food deprivation, including the 
     working poor, the elderly, homeless people, children, migrant 
     workers, and Native Americans;
       Whereas the people of the United States have a long 
     tradition of providing food assistance to hungry people 
     through acts of private generosity and public support 
     programs;
       Whereas the Federal Government provides essential 
     nutritional support to millions of low-income people through 
     numerous Federal food assistance programs, including--
       (1) the Federal food stamp program, as established by the 
     Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
       (2) the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), the special supplemental program for 
     women, infants, and children (WIC) established under section 
     17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), and 
     other child nutrition programs; and
       (3) food donation programs;
       Whereas there is a growing awareness of the important 
     public and private partnership role that community-based 
     organizations, institutions of faith, and charities provide 
     in assisting hungry and food-insecure people;
       Whereas more than 50,000 local community-based 
     organizations rely on the support and efforts of more than 
     1,000,000 volunteers to provide food assistance and services 
     to millions of vulnerable people;
       Whereas all citizens of the United States can help 
     participate in hunger relief efforts in their communities 
     by--
       (1) donating food and money to such efforts;
       (2) volunteering for such efforts; and
       (3) supporting public policies aimed at reducing hunger: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 5, 2007, as ``National Hunger Awareness 
     Day'';
       (2) calls on the people of the United States to observe 
     National Hunger Awareness Day--
       (A) with appropriate ceremonies, volunteer activities, and 
     other support for local anti-hunger advocacy efforts and 
     hunger relief charities, including food banks, food rescue 
     organizations, food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency 
     shelters; and
       (B) by continuing to support programs and public policies 
     that reduce hunger and food insecurity in the United States; 
     and
       (3) authorizes the offices of Senators Gordon H. Smith, 
     Blanche L. Lincoln, Elizabeth Dole, and Richard J. Durbin to 
     collect donations of food during the period beginning May 7, 
     2007, and ending June 5, 2007, from concerned Members of 
     Congress and staff to assist families suffering from hunger 
     and food insecurity in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan 
     area.

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