Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee

Chairman Dick Lugar, U.S. Senator for Indiana

Date: 7/27/00

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Lugar Opening Statement on International School Feeding Program

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar delivered the following opening statement today at a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee hearing examining proposals to implement an international school feeding program:

Welcome to this hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee. This morning we convene to hear testimony on recent proposals to implement a school feeding program in developing countries.

Ambassador George McGovern and Senator Bob Dole have worked in recent months to promote a proposed initiative in which the United States, in tandem with other countries, would work with recipient governments and communities to establish a pre-school and school feeding program. In this country, a national school lunch program feeds 27 million children every day to maximize physical and mental development. As Ambassador McGovern has pointed out, approximately 300 million children in the world go hungry each day. He has proposed an initiative based upon the experiences with the U.S. program and carried out internationally to help address this issue.

Given the magnitude of the challenge, the proposal would necessarily command a tremendous amount of resources. The proposal put forward by Ambassador McGovern and Senator Dole calls for an investment, once fully implemented, of approximately 3 billion dollars, shared between the U.S. and other donor nations. Of this 3 billion dollar total, approximately 750 million would be the U.S. share. Clearly, identifying and securing the funding for such an initiative is one of the principal factors we will need to explore in considering the Ambassador's proposal.

This past weekend at the G-8 Summit in Okinawa, the President announced a $300 million initiative to improve school performance in developing countries. The program would use the Commodity Credit Corporation's surplus commodity purchase authority to implement school feeding programs in recipient countries.

A number of questions need to be addressed to move these proposals from paper to implementation. One of the most important factors is to determine the necessary infrastructure that must be in place in potential recipient countries in order to carry this program out effectively. What sort of governmental, agricultural and educational groundwork must be present? How does one guard against fraud and abuse, ensuring that the resources committed to the project are used as intended?

Likewise, I am eager to learn more about exactly how the initiative will be carried out. Will it be simply a donation of commodities or will additional funds be required? How does one translate a commodity donation, as has been suggested by the President, to actual implementation of a school feeding program on the ground? Does the World Food Program assume primary responsibility, as has been suggested in Ambassador McGovern's proposal? What is the role of the private voluntary organizations? What is the role of the private sector agricultural community?

Clearly, these and other questions need to be examined in considering such an ambitious proposal.

I am pleased to have a very distinguished collection of witnesses before the Committee this morning. We are honored to be joined by Ambassador George McGovern and Senator Bob Dole, former colleagues and members of this Committee. Following their testimony, we will hear from Senator Richard Durbin and Congressman Jim McGovern, who have been leaders in their respective chambers in promoting this concept. Next, Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman will appear. We are always pleased to have the Secretary before the Committee and are eager to hear the Administration's perspective and gain additional insight on the President's plans. Following the Secretary, we will hear from the Executive Director of the World Food Program, Catherine Bertini. Following Ms. Bertini will be Dr. Beryl Levinger, widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on international school feeding programs and someone who has extensive experience with the subject. Next we have Ellen Levinson, Executive Director of the Food Aid Coalition, and Ken Hackett, Executive Director of Catholic Relief Services, presenting the private voluntary community's views. Mr. Hackett and CRS have extensive experience in actually implementing school feeding programs in foreign countries, and we are eager to hear his perspective. Next is Carole Brookins, Chairman and CEO of World Perspectives, Incorporated. Ms. Brookins first proposed an international school lunch program several years ago and has presented her own initiative. We look forward to hearing from all of our witnesses, and I thank you all for coming before the Committee this morning.

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