Recognizing the establishment of Hunters for the Hungry programs across the United States and the contributions of those programs efforts to decrease hunger and help feed those in need.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank one of our newest and hardworking members of the Republican Conference, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, for generously yielding me time on this resolution today.

As a member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus and author of this resolution, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 270, a resolution recognizing the contribution made by Hunters for the Hungry programs across this country.

I would like to thank Chairman Peterson, Ranking Member Lucas, my colleague from Georgia (Mr. Scott) and all of my colleagues on the Agriculture Committee for bringing this resolution to the floor today in a bipartisan manner.

I also want to thank the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, especially co-chairs Dan Boren and Paul Ryan, for their support. This bipartisan organization, comprised of close to 300 Members of the House and the Senate, focuses on protecting the interests of our Nation's sportsmen. Mr. Speaker, as a proud Member of this caucus, I know that it works diligently for our sportsmen who have historically shaped the character and the quality of America's cultural heritage, natural resources, and our economic vitality.

I first introduced the Hunters for the Hungry resolution in the 108th Congress back in 2003, as well as in each subsequent Congress, to bring attention to an often overlooked group--our Nation's hunters--who feed thousands of homeless and hungry people each year. The purpose of this resolution is to praise the work of Hunters for the Hungry programs across our country. These programs provide a unique way in which to address our Nation's hunger problem.

Although these organizations are called by different names in the 45 States where they are located, Hunters for the Hungry organizations show the humanitarian and the kind-hearted spirit of our Nation's hunting community. These programs are volunteer and cooperative efforts among hunters, sportsmen's associations, meat processors, State meat inspectors and hunger relief organizations. Over the past 3 years, these programs have brought hundreds of thousands of pounds of excess venison to homeless shelters, to soup kitchens, and food banks. Each year, donations have multiplied, and many programs now cannot even cover the costs of processing, of packaging and storing, and distributing the abundant supply of donated venison.

Hunters for the Hungry organizations serve as a great example of how our Nation can address issues like hunger without government intervention. These organizations receive no Federal funding. They operate from donations and volunteer services. We must raise the awareness of these organizations so that they can have the resources and the volunteers to serve America's underprivileged.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that in my home State of Georgia, over 28,000 pounds of venison was donated as a result of this program just last year, raising the overall total in the State to over 200,000 pounds since this program was initiated back in 1993. I commend the kind-hearted hunters of my State, along with those across the country, who donate their time and their money for those people in need.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution so the House can show its gratitude to these selfless hunters across the country to honor their great community service.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 270) recognizing the establishment of Hunters for the Hungry programs across the United States and the contributions of those programs efforts to decrease hunger and help feed those in need.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I come before the House today to encourage the passage of House Resolution 270, which recognizes the establishment of Hunters for the Hungry programs across the United States and recognizing the contributions these programs make to decrease hunger and help feed those in need.

Hunters for the Hungry is a unique and innovative program that addresses hunger in communities nationwide. All across this country, hunters can donate their game and their fowl to Hunters for the Hungry, which processes the meat and provides it to food banks and other feeding programs. This cooperative effort between hunters, processors, and the hunger community is an innovative example of how groups can work together toward a single, worthy goal: working to make sure that no American goes hungry.

When the House Agriculture Committee considered this resolution in the 110th Congress, it received unanimous support; and I strongly encourage the passage of this resolution.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).

Mr. Speaker, I also would like to take a moment to extend my commendations to my distinguished friend from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) for this very worthy, worthy resolution. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize for 2 minutes my distinguished friend and colleague from the great State of Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) who has a sterling reputation for working to make sure that no American goes to bed hungry in our country.

Mr. Speaker, as has been mentioned by each of our speakers, we certainly applaud the Hunters for the Hungry program for the great job that they're doing, but this should serve as also a wake-up call and a challenge to more Americans, more organizations where, as the gentleman from Massachusetts pointed out with his statistics, there's so much more that we must do to reach that goal, that we have no American, no American child, no one in this country going to bed hungry at night for we are the wealthiest country in the world.

And so the Hunters for the Hungry program and H. Res. 270 presents not only an opportunity to celebrate the Hunters for the Hungry program but to accept the challenge for us to do more to make sure no American goes to bed hungry.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I want to thank my friend for yielding and for his leadership on these and so many other important issues.

I wanted to rise as well in support of the resolution by my colleague from Georgia, Mr. Gingrey. I think it's an important resolution, and I think the Hunters for the Hungry organization deserve praise for their work trying to respond to a real need in this country, and that is the issue of people who are food insecure or are hungry.

This is a problem that is getting worse in the United States of America, I am sad to say, and this is an issue that we need to talk more about on this House floor. And I appreciate and I support the efforts of hunters and a whole bunch of other volunteer organizations across the country in their efforts to respond to this crisis, and we need to do everything we can to congratulate them, express our appreciation and urge them to do more.

I would also add that I think we have a moral imperative to do more as a country and as a government to respond to this need. There are more than 36 million Americans who are food insecure or hungry. Every one of us should be ashamed of that fact, and we need to respond to this crisis, and we need to do more than we are doing now.

I'm the co-chair of the House Hunger Caucus, and we are urging all Members of Congress to take only 1 hour, at least 1 hour, out of their busy schedules during the August recess and visit a hunger relief organization, visit a food pantry, visit a food bank, and see firsthand what is happening. And what people are going to see, what my colleagues will see is not only the incredible work that is going on to help respond to this crisis, but the fact is that these food banks and these food pantries are chock full. They're at capacity. They cannot respond to the need that they are faced with.

And so as we debate other legislation down the road, I hope we will keep these people in mind, but I did want to rise to congratulate and to thank my friend Mr. Gingrey for his leadership on this issue. I think it is important that we do what we can to acknowledge the good work of people who are in the forefront of fighting on behalf of people who are food insecure and hungry, and I want to thank him.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I started my political activism by being the government affairs vice president for Safari Club International, and the Safari Club has been very much engaged in trying to feed the hungry through a program called Hunters for the Hungry, and it's something that's absolutely critical for us to promote this type of idea. I congratulate my colleague, dear friend from Georgia, Dr. Gingrey, for bringing this legislation to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, hunters all over this country are willing to provide some of their deer and elk meat to feed the hungry, and I think it's a proper role for us as Members of Congress to promote this type of philosophy, of letting the private sector take care of the poor, the widows and fatherless as biblically we're charged to do. In fact, I believe very firmly that the private sector can provide for the needs of those disadvantaged in this country a whole lot better than government can.

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to rise and speak for a minute in behalf of this bill. I fully support it. I congratulate Dr. Gingrey for bringing this important legislation, and I congratulate my other colleague from Georgia for speaking in favor of the bill and look forward to its passage and look forward to promoting other kinds of ideas, Mr. Speaker, where we can stimulate the private sector, provide for those things that are desperately needed by those that are disadvantaged around this country. They really need some help. They need some help in feeding themselves. They need some help in providing jobs, and the private sector's the best way to do that. We over and over on our side introduce legislation that would stimulate the economy, would create jobs, instead of robbing our grandchildren of their future as we see going on here in this Congress.

So, Mr. Speaker, I do rise in support of this bill, and I hope that we will pass it unanimously once it comes for a vote.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 270, which recognizes the collaborative efforts of hunters, sportsmen's associations, meat processors, State meat inspectors, and hunger relief organizations to establish Hunters for the Hungry programs across the United States. Such programs have brought hundreds of thousands of pounds for venison to homeless shelters, soup kitchens and food banks.

Since 1991, Pennsylvania's Hunters Sharing the Harvest program has provided hundreds of thousands of meals to needy Pennsylvanians. Last year, the program coordinated the delivery of nearly 200,000 meals that included venison.

Americans are generous people, and many individuals work through private organizations to donate food to help needy families. Given our economic climate, more and more people are turning to soup kitchens and food banks for food assistance, and that is where programs like Hunters for the Hungry make a valuable contribution and difference.

Great strides are being made to provide nutritious, high-quality venison to those experiencing hunger in our communities. I commend the generosity of America's hunters and all who participate in the Hunters for the Hungry program. The contributions of these individuals are a step in the right direction in the fight against hunger, and I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 270.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize my good friend from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) for such time as he may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to Dr. Broun.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank my colleagues for certainly supporting this legislation. It truly fulfills the spirit that builds and makes America great, where neighbors assist neighbors.

I don't believe I have any additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.