[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SUPPORTING THE FEDERAL FOOD DONATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I am proud to support the 
Federal Food Donation Act, an important piece of legislation that will 
help address the scourge of hunger in America.
  Each year, 35 million Americans, including 12 million children, go 
hungry, even though we live in the richest nation in the world. In many 
ways, the situation is getting worse, as increasing costs for food, 
energy and housing mean that increasing numbers of working families 
have difficulty affording sufficient food. According to a report by the 
U.S. Conference of Mayors, 80 percent of cities studied reported 
increases in requests for emergency food assistance during the last 
year. Despite this increase in need for food assistance, too little has 
been done to ensure that food banks, pantries and other charitable 
organizations have sufficient resources to address the needs of their 
hungry clients.
  The Federal Food Donation Act will help alleviate the shortage of 
food among organizations that work to serve the hungry. This important 
bill will amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to provide that 
contracts will contain provisions encouraging the donation of excess, 
apparently wholesome food to non-profit organizations working to combat 
hunger. The bill will ensure that excess food acquired for the use of 
the federal government does not go to waste and instead goes to help 
feed the hungry.
  The Federal Food Donation Act represents an important step forward in 
the effort to combat poverty. I am hopeful that the bill will also spur 
more organizations in the private sector to follow suit and to ensure 
that they make good use of excess food. Additionally, I am hopeful that 
Congress will soon pass legislation strengthening the Food Stamp 
program by substantially increasing benefits and easing access to the 
program for eligible beneficiaries, to help ensure that the 25 million 
Americans who receive Food Stamp benefits each year receive sufficient 
assistance to prevent them from becoming hungry.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to express my support for the Federal Food 
Donation Act. Our country must no longer tolerate the presence of 
widespread hunger and I believe that this legislation will play a 
critical role in combating hunger. I am proud to express my full 
support for this legislation and I thank my friend and colleague, Mrs. 
Emerson, for her sponsorship of the bill and for her leadership in 
fighting hunger.

                          ____________________