[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 40 (Monday, October 7, 1996)]
[Page 1943]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.
    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.