Concerning the Importance of the Distribution of Food in Schools to Hungry or Malnourished Children Around the World

CONCERNING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD IN SCHOOLS TO HUNGRY OR MALNOURISHED CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD -- (House of Representatives - July 14, 2004)

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 114) concerning the importance of the distribution of food in schools to hungry or malnourished children around the world.

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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California for yielding me this time.

I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 422, concerning the importance of the distribution of food in schools to hungry or malnourished children around the world. This bill is a step forward in giving hope to many hungry and malnourished children around the world.

There are more than 300 million chronically hungry and malnourished children around the world, and more than half of them go to school on an empty stomach. Distribution of food in schools is one of the simplest and most effective ways to fight hunger and malnourishment among children.

Providing school meals to hungry or malnourished children increases and encourages attendance rates significantly, especially for girls. In developing countries, illiterate girls often marry as early as 11 years old and before the age of 18 may have as many as seven children. Studies have shown that girls who attend schools tend to marry later in life, practice greater restraint in spacing births, and have an average of 50 percent fewer children.

In a study by the International Food Policy Research Institute, it found that 44 percent of the reduction in child malnutrition between 1970 and 1995 was attributed to an increase in women's education, which shows what we all know: Education is one of the major keys in fighting poverty. So when we supply meals to school children, not only do we reduce illiteracy but we also help fight poverty.

I simply rise in strong support. I commend the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for his introduction of this legislation.

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Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, S. Con. Res. 114, sponsored by my good friend and colleague from Massachusetts, Jim McGovern, calls to attention one of America's most important humanitarian missions-alleviating the suffering of the world's starving children. Hunger claims more lives worldwide than HIV and AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined; a tragedy.

Critical to feeding starving children is the McGovern-Dole International Food and Education and Child Nutrition Program, which provides hungry children around the world at least one nutritious meal each day in a school setting. This program has proven effective at reducing child hunger, increasing academic attendance and performance, and strengthening community commitment to education.

The McGovern-Dole program currently feeds two million children a year. That's two million children who will attend school. Two million children who will not have to suffer through an afternoon of stomach pain from too little nutrition. Two million children who will grow up knowing that America cares, that America is willing to help those most in need. Today, more than ever, it is vital that individuals living in impoverish areas across the world look to the United States as an ally, and more than that, a partner.

For these reasons, I am encouraged to see that the Agriculture Appropriations bill for the upcoming fiscal year, that the House overwhelmingly passed yesterday, included a $25 million increase for the McGovern-Dole program. Chairman Henry Bonilla of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, of which I am a member, demonstrated his compassion for the world's malnourished children by supporting the President's proposed increase for this program. This increase will make a significant difference.

This resolution is right on target: A humanitarian crisis exists in the world and the McGovern-Dole program is part of the solution. I urge my colleagues to support this meaningful resolution.

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