[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 114 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
<DOC>
[DOCID: f:sc114enr.txt]
S.Con.Res.114
Agreed to July 19, 2004
One Hundred Eighth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the twentieth day of January, two thousand and four
Concurrent Resolution
Whereas there are more than 300,000,000 chronically hungry and
malnourished children in the world;
Whereas more than half of these children go to school on an empty
stomach, and almost as many do not attend school at all, but might if
food were available;
Whereas the distribution of food in schools is one of the simplest and
most effective strategies to fight hunger and malnourishment among
children;
Whereas when school meals are offered to hungry or malnourished
children, attendance rates increase significantly, particularly for
girls;
Whereas the distribution of food in schools encourages better school
attendance, thereby improving literacy rates and fighting poverty;
Whereas improvement in the education of girls is one of the most
important factors in reducing child malnutrition in developing
countries;
Whereas girls who attend schools tend to marry later in life and have
fewer children, thereby helping them escape a life of poverty;
Whereas by improving literacy rates and increasing job opportunities,
education addresses several of the root causes of terrorism;
Whereas the distribution of food in schools increases attendance of
children who might otherwise be susceptible to recruitment by groups
that offer them food in return for their attendance at extremist
schools or participation in terrorist training camps;
Whereas the Global Food for Education Initiative pilot program,
established in 2001, donated surplus United States agricultural
commodities to the United Nations World Food Program and other
recipients for distribution to nearly 7,000,000 hungry and
malnourished children in 38 countries;
Whereas a recent Department of Agriculture evaluation found that the
pilot program created measurable improvements in school attendance
(particularly for girls), increased local employment and economic
activity, produced greater involvement in local infrastructure and
community improvement projects, and increased participation by
parents in the schools and in the education of their children;
Whereas the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Public Law
107-171, 116 Stat. 134) replaced the pilot program with the McGovern-
Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program,
which was named after former Senators George McGovern and Robert Dole
for their distinguished work to eradicate hunger and poverty around
the world; and
Whereas the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child
Nutrition Program provides food to nearly 2,000,000 hungry or
malnourished children in 21 countries: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),
That Congress--
(1) expresses its grave concern about the continuing problem of
hunger and the desperate need to feed hungry and malnourished
children around the world;
(2) recognizes that the global distribution of food in schools
to children around the world increases attendance, particularly for
girls, improves literacy rates, and increases job opportunities,
thereby helping to fight poverty;
(3) recognizes that education of children around the world
addresses several of the root causes of international terrorism;
(4) recognizes that the world will be safer and more promising
for children as a result of better school attendance;
(5) expresses its gratitude to former Senators George McGovern
and Robert Dole for supporting the distribution of food in schools
around the world to children and for working to eradicate hunger
and poverty around the world;
(6) commends the Department of Agriculture, the Agency for
International Development, the Department of State, the United
Nations World Food Program, private voluntary organizations, non-
governmental organizations, and cooperatives for facilitating the
distribution of food in schools around the world;
(7) expresses its continued support for the distribution of
food in schools around the world;
(8) supports expansion of the McGovern-Dole International Food
for Education and Child Nutrition Program; and
(9) requests the President to work with the United Nations and
its member states to expand international contributions for the
distribution of food in schools around the world.
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate.
Attest:
Clerk of the House of Representatives.