[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11187]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 156--DESIGNATING JUNE 7, 2005, AS ``NATIONAL HUNGER 
  AWARENESS DAY'' AND AUTHORIZING THAT THE SENATE OFFICES OF SENATORS 
GORDON SMITH, BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, ELIZABETH DOLE, AND RICHARD J. DURBIN 
 BE USED TO COLLECT DONATIONS OF FOOD FROM MAY 26, 2005, UNTIL JUNE 7, 
 2005, FROM CONCERNED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND STAFF TO ASSIST FAMILIES 
   SUFFERING FROM HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. 
                           METROPOLITAN AREA

  Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Dole, and Mr. 
Leahy) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 156

       Whereas food insecurity and hunger are a fact of life for 
     millions of low-income Americans and can produce physical, 
     mental, and social impairments;
       Whereas recent census data show that almost 36,300,000 
     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 America, touching nearly 
     every American community;
       Whereas although substantial progress has been made in 
     reducing the incidence of hunger and food insecurity in the 
     United States, certain groups, including the working poor, 
     the elderly, homeless people, children, migrant workers, and 
     Native Americans remain vulnerable to hunger and the negative 
     effects of food deprivation;
       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 United States Government, through Federal food 
     assistance programs like the Federal Food Stamp Program, 
     child nutrition programs, and food donation programs, 
     provides essential nutrition support to millions of low-
     income people;
       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 a diverse group of organizations have documented 
     substantial increases in requests for emergency food 
     assistance over the past year; and
       Whereas all Americans can help participate in hunger relief 
     efforts in their communities by donating food and money, 
     volunteering, and supporting public policies aimed at 
     reducing hunger: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 7, 2005, as ``National Hunger Awareness 
     Day'';
       (2) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National Hunger Awareness Day''--
       (A) with appropriate ceremonies, volunteer activities, and 
     other support for local antihunger advocacy efforts and 
     hunger relief charities, including food banks, food rescue 
     organizations, food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency 
     shelters; and
       (B) with the year-round support of programs and public 
     policies that reduce hunger and food insecurity in the United 
     States; and
       (3) authorizes the offices of Senators Smith, Lincoln, 
     Dole, and Durbin to collect donations of food from May 26, 
     2005, until June 7, 2005, 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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