[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 176 (Wednesday, November 14, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S14418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         FEED AMERICA THURSDAY

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 379, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 379) designating Thursday, November 
     15, 2007, as ``Feed America Thursday.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I wish to speak regarding an effort that, 
in recent years, has received the support of many of us in the Senate. 
``Feed America Thursday'' is an effort, promoted by a number of 
charitable organizations, aimed at fostering our Nation's spirit of 
selflessness and sacrifice in order to help those in need.
  According to the Department of Agriculture's most recent numbers, 
roughly 35 million Americans, including 12 million children, live in 
households that do not have an adequate supply of food. As I have said 
in the past, it is simply inexcusable that, in the most prosperous 
nation on Earth, so many children go to bed hungry at night. While 
there are often disputes as to how we should address these problems, I 
believe there are steps that every American can take to help those in 
need.
  The leaders and participants in ``Feed America Thursday'' encourage 
all Americans to sacrifice two meals on the Thursday before 
Thanksgiving Day and to donate the money they would have used for food 
to a charity or religious organization of their choice. The charities 
and churches, in turn, are encouraged to use these funds to feed the 
hungry.
  Today, as I have in previous Congresses, I introduced a resolution 
that would designate this Thursday, November 15, 2007, as ``Feed 
America Thursday.'' I urge my Senate colleagues and every American to 
join me in feeding the hungry and affirming the values that make our 
Nation great.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 379) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 379

       Whereas Thanksgiving Day celebrates the spirit of selfless 
     giving and an appreciation for family and friends;
       Whereas the spirit of Thanksgiving Day is a virtue upon 
     which the Nation was founded;
       Whereas, according to the Department of Agriculture, 
     roughly 35,000,000 people in the United States, including 
     12,000,000 children, continue to live in households that do 
     not have an adequate supply of food; and
       Whereas selfless sacrifice breeds a genuine spirit of 
     thanksgiving, both affirming and restoring fundamental 
     principles in our society: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates Thursday, November 15, 2007, as ``Feed 
     America Thursday''; and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to sacrifice 
     2 meals on Thursday, November 15, 2007, and to donate the 
     money that they would have spent on food to a religious or 
     charitable organization of their choice for the purpose of 
     feeding the hungry.

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