III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 397 

Designating October 16, 2023, and October 16, 2024, as ‘‘World Food Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 4, 2023 

Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. MORAN, Ms. STABENOW, and Mr. BOOZMAN) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating October 16, 2023, and October 16, 2024, as 

‘‘World Food Day’’. 

Whereas hunger and malnutrition are daily facts of life for 

hundreds of millions of people around the world; 

Whereas women and children suffer the most serious effects 

of hunger and malnutrition; 

Whereas millions of children die each year from hunger-related illness and disease; 

Whereas many people suffer permanent physical or mental 

impairment because of vitamin or protein deficiencies; 

Whereas those in rural areas experience disproportionate levels of hunger; 

Whereas the severity and frequency of food insecurity remained unacceptably high in 2022, represented by— 


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•SRES 397 IS 

(1) the 2,400,000,000 people, nearly 30 percent of 

the global population, who experienced moderate to severe food insecurity in 2022, an increase of 391,000,000 

compared to 2019; 

(2) the more than 3,100,000,000 people, over 40 

percent of the global population, who were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2022, an increase of 134,000,000 

compared to 2019; and 

(3) the approximately 735,000,000 people who faced 

hunger in 2022, an increase of 122,000,000 compared to 

2019; 

Whereas the United States has a long tradition of demonstrating humanitarian concern for the hungry and malnourished people of the world; 

Whereas there is an ever-increasing concern in the United 

States and in other countries about threats to the future 

food supply, including— 

(1) misuse and overuse of land and water; 

(2) loss of biological diversity; 

(3) erosion of genetic resources on a global scale; 

and 

(4) transboundary pests and diseases, such as the 

desert locust for plants and anthrax for livestock; 

Whereas the world community increasingly and consistently 

calls upon the United States to resolve food problems 

stemming from natural- and human-made disasters by 

providing humanitarian assistance; 

Whereas the United States— 

(1) plays a major role in the development and implementation of international food and agricultural trade 

standards and practices; and 


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•SRES 397 IS 

(2) recognizes the positive role that the global food 

trade can play in enhancing human nutrition and alleviating hunger; 

Whereas, although progress has been made in reducing the 

incidence of hunger and malnutrition in the United 

States, certain groups remain vulnerable to malnutrition 

and related diseases; 

Whereas the conservation of natural resources, the preservation of biological diversity, and strong public and private 

agricultural research programs are required for the 

United States to— 

(1) remain food secure; 

(2) continue to aid the hungry and malnourished 

people of the world; 

(3) assist in building a more resilient global food 

system; and 

(4) preserve and sustain our forests, land, oceans, 

and waterways; 

Whereas the United States is a world leader in the development of agricultural innovation and technology aimed at 

enhancing the improved production, safety, and quality of 

the world food supply, and the United States must continue to maintain that role; 

Whereas private voluntary organizations and businesses 

working with national governments and the international 

community is essential in the search for ways to increase 

food production in developing countries and improve food 

distribution to hungry and malnourished people; 

Whereas the Food and Agriculture Organization of the 

United Nations (referred to in this preamble as the 


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•SRES 397 IS 

‘‘FAO’’) is mandated to lead global efforts to address 

food and nutrition security issues; 

Whereas the member nations of the FAO have unanimously 

designated October 16 of each year as ‘‘World Food 

Day’’; 

Whereas the FAO has worked to organize activities and efforts on ‘‘World Food Day’’ in more than 130 countries 

to promote awareness of and action for people suffering 

from hunger and malnutrition; 

Whereas past observances of ‘‘World Food Day’’ have been 

supported— 

(1) by proclamations of Congress, the President, the 

50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth 

of Puerto Rico, and the territories and possessions of the 

United States; and 

(2) by programs of the Department of Agriculture 

and other Federal departments and agencies; 

Whereas private voluntary organizations and community leaders are participating in planning ‘‘World Food Day’’ observances in 2023 and 2024, and a growing number of 

these organizations and leaders are using ‘‘World Food 

Day’’ as a focal point for year-round programs; and 

Whereas the people of the United States can express their 

concern for the plight of hungry and malnourished people 

throughout the world by studying, advocating, and taking 

action: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates October 16, 2023, and October 

3 16, 2024, as ‘‘World Food Day’’; and 


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•SRES 397 IS 

1 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

2 to observe the days with appropriate ceremonies and 

3 activities. 

Æ 


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