A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to the 50th anniversary of the food aid programs established under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954.

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 402 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 402

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to the 50th anniversary
of the food aid programs established under the Agricultural Trade
Development and Assistance Act of 1954.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 9, 2004

Mr. Harkin (for himself, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Daschle, Mr.
Crapo, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Leahy, Mrs.
Lincoln, Mr. Kohl, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Lugar,
and Mr. Dayton) submitted the following resolution; which was
considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to the 50th anniversary
of the food aid programs established under the Agricultural Trade
Development and Assistance Act of 1954.

Whereas, in the aftermath of the Second World War, many countries did not have
sufficient cash to buy the agricultural commodities needed to feed the
people of those countries, especially in war-torn Europe and Asia;
Whereas, during the term of President Dwight David Eisenhower, it became
apparent that the abundance of food available in the United States could
be used as an instrument in building a durable peace after the Second
World War;
Whereas a concessional credit program was established under title I of the
Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (commonly
known as ``P.L. 480'') (7 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), signed into law on July
10, 1954, to allow for sales of agricultural commodities from the United
States to developing countries for dollars on generous credit terms or
for local currencies, with proceeds to be used by participating
governments or nongovernmental private entities to encourage economic
development;
Whereas since the enactment of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance
Act of 1954, the title I program has facilitated sales of agricultural
commodities from the United States, totaling an estimated
$30,000,000,000 to nearly 100 countries;
Whereas the Food for Peace program was established under title II of the
Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1721
et seq.), to provide humanitarian assistance to poor and hungry people
in developing countries, based on legislation originally introduced by
Senator Hubert Humphrey;
Whereas during the half-century since the establishment of the Food for Peace
program, the United States Agency for International Development and the
Department of Agriculture have worked together to provide 107,000,000
tons of food aid to developing countries, helping an estimated
3,400,000,000 people through 2003;
Whereas the Government of the United States has depended on the commitment,
skill, and experience of dozens of private voluntary organizations based
in the United States, as well as the United Nations World Food Program,
to carry out the Food for Peace program on the ground in developing
countries; and
Whereas a number of countries that were early beneficiaries of both programs
have emerged as democracies and strong commercial trading partners,
including South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia,
Singapore, Mexico, and Turkey, in part as a result of development
projects and food distribution programs conducted using agricultural
commodities from the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) on the 50th anniversary of the date of enactment of the
Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (7
U.S.C. 1691 et seq.) on July 10, 1954, recognizes the United
States Agency for International Development, the Department of
Agriculture, and associated partners for--
(A) providing emergency food assistance to address
famine or other extraordinary relief requirements;
(B) forging linkages between the abundance of food
produced under the agricultural system of the United
States and people in need of assistance throughout the
world;
(C) undertaking activities to alleviate hunger;
(D) promoting economic, agricultural, educational,
and community development in developing countries;
(E) identifying the private partners capable of
carrying out the mission of the programs established
under that Act;
(F) implementing procedures governing the use and
evaluation of the programs and funds; and
(G) overseeing the use of taxpayers dollars to
carry out the programs; and
(2) declares that July 10, 2004, is a day that recognizes--
(A) the 50th anniversary of the establishment of
the concessional credit program and the Food for Peace
program under the Agricultural Trade and Development
Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.); and
(B) the accomplishments of the United States Agency
for International Development, the Department of
Agriculture, and associated private voluntary
organization and nongovernmental organization partners
in alleviating hunger and poverty, bolstering
development, and restoring hope around the world.
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