Congressional Hunger Fellows Act of 1997

Summary: Congressional Hunger Fellows Act of 1997 - Establishes as an independent entity within the executive branch the Congressional Hunger Fellows Program to establish fellowships to develop and train individuals for careers in humanitarian service.  Establishes a Board of Trustees to supervise and direct the Program. 
Limits fellowship periods to 12 months. 
Establishes the Congressional Hunger Fellows Trust Fund for the deposit and receipt of Program funds.  Requires an annual audit of Program accounts. 
Requires the Board to appoint a Program Executive Director. 
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer to the Program a specified amount of the surplus funds available for encouraging exportation and domestic consumption of agricultural products. 
Requires the Board to report annually to the Secretary and the Congress on Program activities.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional 
Hunger Fellows Act of 1997''.
    (b) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) There is a critical need for compassionate individuals 
        who are committed to assisting people who suffer from hunger as 
        well as a need for such individuals to initiate and administer 
        solutions to the hunger problem.
            (2) Bill Emerson, the distinguished late Representative 
        from the 8th District of Missouri, demonstrated his commitment 
        to solving the problem of hunger in a bipartisan manner, his 
        commitment to public service, and his great affection for the 
        institution and the ideals of the United States Congress.
            (3) George T. (Mickey) Leland, the distinguished late 
        Representative from the 18th District of Texas, demonstrated 
        his compassion for those in need, his high regard for public 
        service, and his lively exercise of political talents.
            (4) The special concern that Mr. Emerson and Mr. Leland 
        demonstrated during their lives for the hungry and poor was an 
        inspiration for others to work toward the goals of equality and 
        justice for all.
            (5) These two outstanding leaders maintained a special bond 
        of friendship regardless of political affiliation and worked 
        together to encourage future leaders to recognize and provide 
        service to others, and therefore it is especially appropriate 
        to honor the memory of Mr. Emerson and Mr. Leland by creating a 
        fellowship program to develop and train the future leaders of 
        the United States to pursue careers in humanitarian service.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT; BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

    (a) In General.--There is established as an independent entity of 
the executive branch of the United States Government, the Congressional 
Hunger Fellows Program (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the 
``Program'').
    (b) Board of Trustees.--The Program shall be subject to the 
supervision and direction of a Board of Trustees.
            (1) Appointment.--The Board shall be composed of 7 voting 
        members appointed under subparagraph (A) and 1 nonvoting ex 
        officio member designated in subparagraph (B) as follows:
                    (A) Voting members.--(i) The President in 
                consultation with the Speaker of the House of 
                Representatives and the minority leader, shall appoint 
                4 members.
                    (ii) The President in consultation with the 
                majority leader and the minority leader of the Senate 
                shall appoint 2 members.
                    (iii) The President in consultation with the 
                Secretary of Agriculture shall appoint 1 member.
                    (B) Nonvoting member.--The Executive Director of 
                the Program shall serve as a nonvoting ex officio 
                member.
            (2) Terms.--Members of the Board shall serve a term of 4 
        years.
            (3) Vacancy.--
                    (A) Authority of board.--A vacancy in the 
                membership of the Board does not affect the power of 
                the remaining members to carry out this Act.
                    (B) Appointment of successors.--A vacancy in the 
                membership of the Board shall be filled in the manner 
                in which the original appointment was made.
                    (C) Incomplete term.--If a member of the Board does 
                not serve the full term applicable to the member, the 
                individual appointed to fill the resulting vacancy 
                shall be appointed for the remainder of the term of the 
                predecessor of the individual.
            (4) Chairperson.--As the first order of business of the 
        first meeting of the Board, the members shall elect a 
        Chairperson.
            (5) Compensation.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), 
                members of the Board may not receive compensation for 
                service on the Board.
                    (B) Travel.--Members of the Board may be reimbursed 
                for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses 
                incurred in carrying out the duties of the Program.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES; AUTHORITY OF PROGRAM.

    (a) Purposes.--The purposes of the Program are--
            (1) to encourage future leaders of the United States--
                    (A) to pursue careers in humanitarian service;
                    (B) to recognize the needs of people who are hungry 
                and poor; and
                    (C) to provide assistance and compassion for those 
                in need;
            (2) to increase awareness of the importance of public 
        service; and
            (3) to provide training and development opportunities for 
        such leaders.
    (b) Authority.--The Program is authorized to develop such 
fellowships, activities, and services to carry out the purposes of this 
Act, including the fellowships described in subsection (c).
    (c) Fellowships.--
            (1) In general.--The Program shall establish and develop 
        the following fellowships:
                    (A) The Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship shall 
                address domestic hunger and other humanitarian needs.
                    (B) The Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship shall 
                address international hunger and other humanitarian 
                needs.
            (2) Curriculum.--The fellowships established under 
        paragraph (1) shall provide education and training to develop 
        the skills and understanding of the fellows necessary to 
        improve the humanitarian conditions and the lives of 
        individuals who suffer from hunger, including--
                    (A) training in direct service to the hungry in 
                conjunction with community based organizations through 
                a program of field placement; and
                    (B) experience in policy development through 
                placement in a governmental entity or nonprofit 
                organization.
            (3) Evaluation.--The Program shall from time to time 
        conduct an evaluation of the fellowships under this Act.

SEC. 4. TERMS OF FELLOWSHIPS.

    (a) Period of Fellowship.--An applicant selected under subsection 
(b) shall be awarded a fellowship for a period not to exceed 12 months.
    (b) Selection of Fellows.--
            (1) In general.--A fellowship shall be awarded pursuant to 
        a nationwide competition established by the Executive Director 
        with the approval of a majority of the Board. The Executive 
        Director shall establish the procedure for the competition 
        process.
            (2) Qualification.--A successful applicant shall be an 
        individual who has demonstrated--
                    (A) a desire to pursue a career in humanitarian 
                service; and
                    (B) outstanding potential for such a career.
            (3) Amount of award.--The Board shall determine the amount 
        of an educational award and living allowance that a successful 
        applicant will receive under a fellowship.
            (4) Recognition of fellowship receipt.--
                    (A) A recipient of a fellowship from the Bill 
                Emerson Hunger Fellowship shall be known as an 
                ``Emerson Fellow''.
                    (B) A recipient of a fellowship from the Mickey 
                Leland Hunger Fellowship shall be known as a ``Leland 
                Fellow''.

SEC. 5. TRUST FUND.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the Congressional Hunger 
Fellows Trust Fund (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the 
``Fund'') in the Treasury of the United States, consisting of amounts 
appropriated to the Fund under section 8(a), amounts credited to it 
under subsection (c), and amounts received under section 7(c)(2).
    (b) Investment of Funds.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
invest the full amount of the Fund. Each investment shall be made in an 
interest bearing obligation of the United States or an obligation 
guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States that, as 
determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Board, has a 
maturity suitable for the Fund.
    (c) Return on Investment.--Except as provided in section 6(a), the 
Secretary of the Treasury shall credit to the Fund the interest on, and 
the proceeds from sale or redemption of, obligations held in the Fund.

SEC. 6. EXPENDITURES; AUDIT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to 
the Program from the amounts described in section 5(c) and section 
7(c)(2) such sums as the Board determines are necessary to enable the 
Program to carry out the provisions of this Act.
    (b) Limitation.--The Secretary may not transfer to the Program the 
amounts appropriated to the Fund under section 8(a).
    (c) Audit by GAO.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall conduct an annual audit of the accounts of the 
        Program.
            (2) Books.--The Program shall make available to the 
        Comptroller General all books, accounts, financial records, 
        reports, files, and all other papers, things, or property 
        belonging to or in use by the Program and necessary to 
        facilitate such audit.
            (3) Report to congress.--The Comptroller General shall 
        submit a copy of the results of each such audit to the 
        Congress.

SEC. 7. STAFF; POWERS OF PROGRAM.

    (a) Executive Director.--
            (1) In general.--The Board shall appoint an Executive 
        Director of the Program who shall be a nonvoting member of the 
        Board and who shall administer the Program. The Executive 
        Director shall carry out such other functions consistent with 
        the provisions of this Act as the Board shall prescribe.
            (2) Restriction.--The Executive Director may not serve as 
        Chairperson of the Board.
            (3) Compensation.--The Executive Director shall be paid at 
        a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay payable for level 
        GS-15 of the General Schedule.
    (b) Staff.--
            (1) In general.--With the approval of a majority of the 
        Board, the Executive Director may appoint and fix the pay of 
        additional personnel as the Executive Director considers 
        necessary and appropriate to carry out the functions of the 
        provisions of this Act.
            (2) Compensation.--An individual appointed under paragraph 
        (1) shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay 
        payable for level GS-15 of the General Schedule.
    (c) Powers.--In order to carry out the provisions of this Act, the 
Program may perform the following functions:
            (1) Gifts.--The Program may accept, use, and dispose of 
        gifts, bequests, or devises of services or property, both real 
        and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the 
        work of the Program. Gifts, bequests, or devises of money and 
        proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts, 
        bequests, or devises shall be deposited in the Fund and shall 
        be available for disbursement upon order of the Board.
            (2) Experts and consultants.--The Program may procure 
        temporary and intermittent services under section 3109 of title 
        5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to 
        exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic 
        pay payable for GS-15 of the General Schedule.
            (3) Contract authority.--The Program may contract with and 
        compensate government and private agencies or persons without 
        regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5).
            (4) Other necessary expenditures.--The Program shall make 
        such other expenditures which the Program considers necessary 
        to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 8. TRANSFER OF FUNDS; REPORT.

    (a) Transfer of Funds.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall transfer 
$20,000,000 from the surplus funds available under section 32 of the 
Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c).
    (b) Report.--Not later than December 31 of each year, the Board 
shall submit to Secretary of Agriculture and to Congress a report on 
the activities of the Program carried out during the previous fiscal 
year.