IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 422
Concerning the importance of the distribution of food in schools to hungry 
or malnourished children around the world. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 13, 2004
Mr. MCGOVERN (for himself, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. WOLF, Mr. 
BEREUTER, Mr. HOUGHTON, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. DELAHUNT, 
Ms. LEE, Mr. CROWLEY, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. HOEFFEL, 
Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. OTTER, Mr. KIND, Mr. LEACH, Mr. 
FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. MOORE, and Mr. MORAN of Kansas) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
International Relations 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Concerning the importance of the distribution of food in 
schools to hungry or malnourished children around the world.
Whereas there are more than 300,000,000 chronically hungry 
and malnourished children in the world; 
Whereas more than half of these children go to school on an 
empty stomach, and almost as many do not attend school 
at all, but might if food were available; 
Whereas the distribution of food in schools is one of the sim-
plest and most effective strategies to fight hunger and 
malnourishment among children;
•HCON 422 IH 
Whereas, when school meals are offered to hungry or mal-
nourished children, attendance rates increase signifi-
cantly, particularly for girls; 
Whereas the distribution of food in schools encourages better 
school attendance, thereby improving literacy rates and 
fighting poverty; 
Whereas improvement in the education of girls is one of the 
most important factors in reducing child malnutrition in 
developing countries; 
Whereas girls who attend schools tend to marry later in life 
and have fewer children, thereby helping them escape a 
life of poverty; 
Whereas, by improving literacy rates and increasing job op-
portunities, education addresses several of the root causes 
of terrorism; 
Whereas the distribution of food in schools increases attend-
ance of children who might otherwise be susceptible to re-
cruitment by groups that offer them food in return for 
their attendance at extremist schools or participation in 
terrorist training camps; 
Whereas the Global Food for Education Initiative pilot pro-
gram, established in 2001, donated surplus United States 
agricultural commodities to the United Nations World 
Food Program and other recipients for distribution to 
nearly 7,000,000 hungry and malnourished children in 
38 countries; 
Whereas a recent Department of Agriculture evaluation 
found that the pilot program created measurable im-
provements in school attendance (particularly for girls), 
increased local employment and economic activity, pro-
duced greater involvement in local infrastructure and
•HCON 422 IH 
community improvement projects, and increased partici-
pation by parents in the schools and the education of 
their children; 
Whereas the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 
2002 replaced the pilot program with the George McGov-
ern-Robert Dole International Food for Education and 
Child Nutrition Program, which was named after former 
Senators McGovern and Dole for their distinguished work 
to eradicate hunger and poverty around the world; and 
Whereas the George McGovern-Robert Dole International 
Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program pro-
vides food to nearly 2,000,000 hungry or malnourished 
children in 28 countries: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) expresses its grave concern about the con-
tinuing problem of hunger and the desperate need to 
feed hungry and malnourished children around the 
world; 
(2) recognizes that the global distribution of 
food in schools to children around the world in-
creases attendance, particularly for girls, and im-
proves literacy rates and increases job opportunities, 
thereby helping to fight poverty; 
(3) recognizes that education of children around 
the world addresses several of the root causes of 
international terrorism;
•HCON 422 IH 
(4) recognizes that the world will be safer and 
more promising for children as a result of better 
school attendance; 
(5) expresses its gratitude to former Senators 
George McGovern and Robert Dole for supporting 
the distribution of food in schools around the world 
to children and for working to eradicate hunger and 
poverty around the world; 
(6) commends the Department of Agriculture, 
the Agency for International Development, the De-
partment of State, the United Nations World Food 
Program, private voluntary organizations, non-gov-
ernmental organizations, and cooperatives for facili-
tating the distribution of food in schools around the 
world; 
(7) expresses its continued support for the dis-
tribution of food in schools around the world; 
(8) supports expansion of the George McGov-
ern-Robert Dole International Food for Education 
and Child Nutrition Program; and 
(9) requests the President to work with the 
United Nations and its member states to expand 
international contributions for the distribution of 
food in schools around the world. 
Æ