A joint resolution to authorize and request the President to designate October 16, 1983, as "World Food Day".
PL 98-110 (S.J.Res.81), enacted 10/03/1983

PUBLIC LAW 98-110—OCT. 3, 1983 
97 STAT. 747 
Public Law 98-110 
98th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
To authorize and request the President to designate October 16,1983, as "World Food 
Oct. 3, 1983 
Day". 
[S.J. Res. 81] 
Whereas hunger and chronic malnutrition remain daily facts of life 
for hundreds of millions of people throughout the world; 
Whereas the children of the world are those who are suffering the 
most serious effects of hunger and malnutrition, with millions of 
children dying each year from hunger-related illness and disease, 
and many others suffering permanent physical or mental im-
pairment, including blindness, because of vitamin and protein 
deficiencies; 
Whereas although progress has been made in reducing the incidence 
of hunger and malnutrition in the United States, certain groups, 
notably Native Americans, migrant workers, the elderly, and 
children, remain vulnerable to malnutrition and related diseases; 
Whereas the danger posed by malnutrition and related diseases to 
these groups and to other people is intensified by unemployment 
and slow rates of economic growth; 
Whereas national policies concerning food, farmland, and nutrition 
require continuing evaluation and should consider and strive for 
the well-being and protection of all residents of the United States 
and particularly those most at health risk; 
Whereas there is widespread concern that the use and conservation 
of land and water resources required for food production through-
out the United States ensure care for the national patrimony we 
bequeath to future generations; 
Whereas the United States has always supported the principle that 
the health of a nation depends on a strong agricultural foundation 
based on private enterprise and the primacy of the independent 
family farm; 
Whereas a major global food supply crisis appears likely to occur 
within the next twenty years unless the level of world food 
production is significantly increased, and the means for the distri-
bution of food and of the resources required for its production are 
improved; 
Whereas the United States, as the world's largest producer and 
trader of food, has a key role to play in efforts to assist nations 
and peoples to improve the ability to feed themselves; 
Whereas the United States has a long tradition of demonstrating its 
humanitarian concern for helping the hungry and malnourished; 
Whereas efforts to resolve the world hunger problem are critical 
to the security of the United States and the international 
community; 
Whereas the Congress of the United States is acutely conscious of 
the paradox of immense farm surpluses and rising farm foreclo-
sures in America despite the desperate need for food by hundreds 
of millions of people around the world; 
97 STAT. 748 
PUBLIC LAW 98-110—OCT. 3, 1983 
Whereas a key recommendation of the 1980 report of the Presiden-
tial Commission on World Hunger was that efforts be undertaken 
to increase public awareness of the world hunger problem; 
Whereas the member nations of the Food and i^^culture Organiza-
tion of the United Nations designated October 16 of each year as 
World Food Day because of the need to alert the public to the 
increasingly dangerous world food situation; 
Whereas past observances of World Food Day have been supported 
by proclamations of the fifty States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and other territories and posses-
sions of the United States, by resolutions of Congress, by Presiden-
tial proclamations, by programs of the United States Department 
of Agriculture and other Government departments and agencies, 
and by the governments and peoples of many other nations; and 
Whereas more than three hundred national private and voluntary 
organizations plan to participate in World Food Day observances 
this year: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
World Food Day. States of America in Congress assembled. That October 16, 1983, is 
designated "World Food Day". The President is requested to issue a 
proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
that day with appropriate activities to explore ways in which our 
Nation can further contribute to the elimination of hunger in the 
world. 
Approved October 3, 1983. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 81: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 129 (1983): 
Apr. 21, considered and passed Senate. 
Sept. 15, considered and passed House.