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“McGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION PROGRAM” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1910-E1911 on Sept. 29, 2006.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
McGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION PROGRAM
______
HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN
of massachusetts
in the house of representatives
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, today, Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (MO) and I, along with 23 of our House colleagues, introduced legislation to reauthorize the George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (McGovern-Dole). This unique and flexible program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), helps promote education, child development, and food security for the world's poorest children.
Sadly, an estimated 300 million children go hungry every day around the world. Of these children, an estimated 120 million do not attend school, in part because of hunger or malnourishment. Because of cultural traditions, prejudice, or simple economic need, many of these children are girls or children engaged in labor to increase their families' basic income. Providing meals in schools has proven to be the single most effective incentive for convincing parents to send their children to school, including their daughters.
The McGovern-Dole Program has used American-grown commodities and financial and technical assistance to decrease the incidence of child hunger and increase educational opportunity for millions of these vulnerable children. Nutritious meals, take home rations, or both are provided as means to increase food security for children, and increase school enrollment and attendance. Official evaluations by USDA document how McGovern-Dole has been especially successful at increasing access to education for girls and in strengthening parental and community commitment and engagement in education, nutrition and agriculture. McGovern-Dole has also become a catalyst for other community-based projects such as clean water, sanitation, children's health, and HIV/
AIDS education, treatment and prevention programs. These outcomes have resulted in broad bipartisan support for the program and especially for increased annual funding. The McGovern-Dole Program has also garnered the support of farm, commodity and agricultural groups, as well as U.S. and international humanitarian, development, education, anti-hunger and food security organizations.
In several projects, the McGovern-Dole Program also supports maternal and child health projects when those projects complement school feeding, including early learning and early childhood development programs that address critical nutritional and developmental needs of children under five years of age.
Named in honor of former Senators George McGovern and Robert Dole, who worked closely during their tenures in the U.S. Senate to address the problems of hunger and malnutrition in the United States and around the world, the McGovern-Dole program was initiated in 2000 by President Bill Clinton as a $300 million pilot program, the Global Food for Education Initiative (GFEI). From 2001-2003, the GFEI fed nearly 7 million children through 48 projects in 38 countries. Enrollment increased by up to 10 percent in participating schools, and other donors provided almost $1 billion of funding to complement the GFEI program. In 2003, as part of the Farm Bill Reauthorization, the GFEI was established as a permanent program, and renamed the McGovern-Dole Program. During 2003-2004, the McGovern-Dole Program used $100 million of Commodity Credit Corporation funds and $50 million in appropriated funds to support over 4 million children in 26 countries. School enrollment overall rose by 14 percent in participating schools, with girls enrollment increasing by 17 percent on average. McGovern-Dole helped considerably in Afghanistan when the country's leadership changed and girls were once again allowed to be educated. The program helped to build or renovate schools, provided meals and other incentives for children to come to school, and contributed to a 123 percent increase in overall enrollment in the country. The McGovern-
Dole school feeding programs also received support from other donors, private businesses, and local governments and communities.
Mr. Speaker, I have had the privilege of visiting some McGovern-Dole and school feeding programs in Colombia. They were in some of the poorest neighborhoods surrounding the capital of Bogota, where thousands of people displaced by violence and conflict were trying to survive. I remember, in particular, a mother and grandmother who came up to me and thanked me and the United States for supporting the school and providing these daily meals. They told me how members of the right-
wing paramilitaries and the FARC guerrillas would prowl around the edges of their neighborhood, trying to recruit young children as soldiers with the promise of a meal. But their children would not be lured into becoming child soldiers because they were being fed and educated at the school. Mr. Speaker, you can't imagine how proud and grateful those words made me feel. I could see the powerful good will this modest project had created for America among these poor families.
I was reminded of the words of these families when I read the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, and more recently, when reviewing the declassified judgments of the latest National Intelligence Estimate (NIB). Both of these reports noted that the lack of sustained social and economic reform and development feed the anger, humiliation, powerlessness and sense of hopelessness that are the feeding grounds of terrorists and extremists. When mothers and fathers have hope for a better future for their children, they turn away from extremists. When children have the chance to go to school and stay in school, and when hunger no longer impedes their ability to learn, then they are on the path that leads to greater economic opportunity. Hope and opportunity are among our most powerful weapons in the fight against terrorism, Mr. Speaker, and I believe it is programs like McGovern-Dole that will ultimately help us win the war against extremism.
Mr. Speaker, the bill we just introduced would reauthorize the McGovern-Dole Program for fiscal years 2008 through 2012. It provides stable funding with annual increases to expand the reach of current programs and initiate new project in more countries, bringing hope and opportunity to more children and their families. Such secure funding will allow McGovern-Dole programs to work with local communities and national governments to make these critical educational, nutritional and development programs self-sustaining. The increase in funding over time will also support greater project development in early learning and early childhood development programs so that more children enter school healthy and ready to learn. And by demonstrating a firm, long-
term commitment to this program, I believe this reauthorization will serve as a catalyst to increase support from other donors for global school feeding programs.
In the true spirit of George McGovern and Bob Dole, Congresswoman Emerson and I are also very proud that this bill reflects the strong bipartisan support that the McGovern-Dole Program has received since first initiated. In a time of intense partisanship, this bill demonstrates that men and women of good will not only can come together, but want to come together, on issues and programs that genuinely make a difference in children's lives and help make our world a better place. I would like to thank Representatives Lantos, Hyde, Skelton, Wolf, Pomeroy, Smith (NJ), DeLauro, Leach, Herseth, Osborne, Kaptur, Walsh, Boswell, Boustany, McCotter, Payne, Shimkus, Moore (KS), English, Snyder, Moran (KS), McCollum (MN), and Solis for joining us as original cosponsors of this important legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I ask to submit for the Record a copy of a letter Senators George McGovern and Robert Dole sent to representatives urging Members of Congress to cosponsor the McGovern-Dole Reauthorization Act.
Washington, DC,
July 21, 2006.
Dear Representative: We are writing in support of the George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program and to request that you cosponsor legislation reauthorizing this important program.
The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program has made a critical difference in the lives of millions of children and provides a clear statement throughout the world about America's compassion and values. The McGovern-Dole Program provides American-grown food to hungry children in schools in the world's poorest countries. It helps ensure that children suffering from hunger receive at least one nutritious meal during the day. In addition, where school feeding programs are offered, enrollment and attendance rates increase significantly--especially for girls. Increasing girls' education has important implications for social and economic progress in the world's poorest communities. It is a model food aid program that is tailor made for the 21st Century and we strongly support its reauthorization.
Representative Jim McGovern and Representative Jo Ann Emerson are introducing legislation to reauthorize the McGovern-Dole Program. We respectfully urge you to contact either Jim or Jo Ann and add your name as a cosponsor of this important legislation as soon as possible.
Sincerely,George McGovern.Robert Dole.
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