    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [October 1, 1996]
    [Pages 1737-1738]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act
    October 1, 1996

        Today, I am pleased to sign into law H.R. 2428, a bill that will
    facilitate the donation of food and grocery products to needy
    individuals. The bill, known as the ``Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food
    Donation Act,'' exempts those who recover or donate apparently fit food
    and groceries from criminal or civil liability arising from those
    activities.
        Through food recovery and donation, Americans can share with the
    hungry a portion of our country's immense food resources that would
    otherwise be wasted. The Department of Agriculture has supported the
    recovery and donation of packaged food for years. Moreover, during this
    Administration, the Department has undertaken a national initiative to
    help Americans ``rescue'' food of a highly perishable, but nutritious
    nature. Most of this food is prepared in restaurants, hotels,
    cafeterias, and other institutional settings and would otherwise have
    been thrown away. Through this important effort, thousands of hungry
    people have been fed at no cost to the Federal taxpayer.
        In working with various private sector donors and food banks,
    however, it has come to light that liability concerns are often an
    impediment to food recovery and donation efforts. Although many States
    have enacted their own ``Good Samaritan'' laws to support food recovery
    and donation efforts, many businesses have advised that these varying
    State statutes hinder food donations.

    [[Page 1738]]

        This legislation will end the confusion regarding liability for food
    recovery and donation operations through uniform definitions in one
    national law. This will encourage the charitable and well-intentioned
    donation of food to the needy, while preserving governmental authority
    to protect health and food safety. For these reasons, I am pleased to
    sign this bill into law.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    October 1, 1996.

    Note: H.R. 2428, approved October 1, was assigned Public Law No. 104-
    210. This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    October 2.