IV 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 261

Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the efforts of 

organizations such as Second Harvest to provide emergency food assistance to hungry people in the United States, and encouraging all Americans to provide volunteer services and other support for local antihunger 

advocacy efforts and hunger relief charities, including food banks, food 

rescue organizations, food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency

shelters. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 5, 2003

Mr. WOLF (for himself, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. WALSH, Mr. WAXMAN, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. 

CONYERS, Mr. GIBBONS, Mr. MCNULTY, Ms. LEE, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. 

LANTOS, and Mr. WAMP) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Agriculture 

RESOLUTION

Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for 

the efforts of organizations such as Second Harvest to 

provide emergency food assistance to hungry people in 

the United States, and encouraging all Americans to 

provide volunteer services and other support for local 

antihunger advocacy efforts and hunger relief charities, 

including food banks, food rescue organizations, food 

pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters.
2

•HRES 261 IH 

Whereas food insecurity and hunger are a fact of life for millions of low-income Americans and can produce physical, 

mental, and social impairments; 

Whereas recent census data show that almost 13,000,000 

children in the United States live in families experiencing 

hunger or food insecurity; 

Whereas the problem of hunger and food insecurity can be 

found in rural, suburban, and urban America, touching 

nearly every American community; 

Whereas although substantial progress has been made in reducing the incidence of hunger and food insecurity in the 

United States, certain groups, including the working 

poor, the elderly, homeless people, children, migrant 

workers, and Native Americans remain vulnerable to hunger and the negative effects of food deprivation; 

Whereas the people of the United States have a long tradition 

of providing food assistance to hungry people through 

acts of private generosity and public support programs; 

Whereas the Federal Government, through Federal food assistance programs such as the Federal Food Stamp Program, child nutrition programs, and food donation programs, provides essential nutrition support to millions of 

low-income people; 

Whereas there is a growing awareness of the important public 

and private partnership role that community-based organizations, institutions of faith, and charities provide in 

assisting hungry and food insecure people; 

Whereas more than 50,000 local community-based organizations rely on the support and efforts of more than 

1,000,000 volunteers to provide food assistance and services to millions of vulnerable people; 
3

•HRES 261 IH 

Whereas a diverse group of organizations, including America’s Second Harvest, the United States Conference of 

Mayors, and other organizations have documented substantial increases in requests for emergency food assistance over the past year; and 

Whereas all Americans can help participate in hunger relief 

efforts in their communities by donating food and money, 

by volunteering, and by supporting public policies aimed 

at reducing hunger: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports 

2 the efforts of organizations such as Second Harvest to 

3 provide emergency food assistance to hungry people in the 

4 United States, and encourages all Americans to provide 

5 volunteer services and other support for local antihunger 

6 advocacy efforts and hunger relief charities, including food 

7 banks, food rescue organizations, food pantries, soup 

8 kitchens, and emergency shelters.

Æ