HR 6127 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To require the President to call a White House Conference on Food and Nutrition.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

May 22, 2008

Mr. MCGOVERN (for himself, Mrs. EMERSON, Ms. SOLIS, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. POMEROY, and Mr. MORAN of Kansas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on AgricultureCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To require the President to call a White House Conference on Food and Nutrition.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `The White House Conference on Food and Nutrition'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Hunger and undernutrition are political conditions that can be solved.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Access to healthy food and good nutrition should be a fundamental right of all Americans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Nearly 40 years have passed since the United States convened a White House conference to comprehensively address the issues of food, hunger, health, and nutrition in America.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) More than 35,500,000 Americans live in households that face a constant struggle against hunger, 12,600,000 of whom are children and 5,000,000 of whom are seniors, the disabled, and the critically ill.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) The Government spends more than $55,000,000,000 every year responding to the concurrent epidemics of hunger and undernutrition, yet the number of Americans facing hunger continues to grow and our Nation's nutritional health is declining.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Conservative cost estimates show that the true cost of hunger and illness related to undernutrition in America is at least $90,000,000,000 a year, more than half of which is paid by Medicare and Medicaid.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) Appropriate food and nutrition can save the United States billions of dollars in health care costs by preventing or delaying the progression to late-stage disease for tens of millions of Americans who live with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, HIV, AIDS, and heart disease. The costs of the effects and treatments of those diseases are significantly exacerbated by hunger, food insecurity, and undernutrition.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) A national discussion of the root causes of hunger, food insecurity, and undernutrition, as well as identification of solutions to these epidemics, can lead to action to implement such solutions and to end hunger in America.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE.

(a) Authority To Call Conference- Not later than December 31, 2010, the President shall call the White House Conference on Food and Nutrition (in this Act referred to as the `Conference') to be convened not later than 18 months after the selection of the Policy Committee established in section 4, in order to make fundamental policy recommendations on ways to end hunger and to improve nutrition in the United States and to implement the purposes set forth in subsection (c).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Planning and Direction- The Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of the Treasury (in this Act referred to as the `Cochairs') shall plan, conduct, and convene the Conference, in consultation with the Surgeon General.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Purposes of the Conference- The purposes of the Conference are to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) identify viable solutions for ending hunger in the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) review the current structure, scope, and effectiveness of existing legislation and programs at the Federal, State, and local levels that provide for the nutritional needs of food-insecure people living in the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) determine the extent to which current Federal, State, and local programs that provide for the nutritional health of Americans can better use available resources and ensure greater coordination among such programs;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) identify new ways to utilize the abundant agricultural resources of the United States to meet the nutritional needs of all Americans;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) highlight emerging and innovative programs from the public and private sectors, including community-based and faith-based organizations that effectively address the nutrition needs of vulnerable Americans and recommend such programs as can be reasonably and cost-effectively replicated;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) identify opportunities for effective partnerships between the Government, industry, labor, healthcare, and the nonprofit sectors to fight hunger in the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) explore the possibility of creating a Federal office within the Department of Agriculture to oversee the Nation's response to persistent and widespread hunger and food insecurity, to include the oversight and coordination of all Federal, State, and local antihunger programs;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) bring public attention to the more than 35,500,000 people living in the United States that face a constant struggle against hunger, food insecurity, and inadequate nutrition;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) illustrate the medical, developmental, and educational impact of hunger, food insecurity, and inadequate nutrition, and the potential savings to the United States health care system, educational system, and other sectors when appropriate food is available to the critically and chronically ill;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) build understanding of the true cost of hunger in the United States, to include lost wages, diminished stamina, reduced capacity to learn, and the impact of despair; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) build understanding that the ever-burgeoning dual epidemic of hunger and undernutrition is a matter of national security.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. POLICY COMMITTEE; RELATED COMMITTEES.

(a) Establishment- Not later than June 30, 2009, there is established a Policy Committee comprising of 17 members to be selected as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES- Nine members shall be selected by the President and shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) 3 members who are officers or employees of the United States, including the Surgeon General; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) 6 members with experience in addressing the needs of food-insecure and undernourished people in the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) HOUSE APPOINTEES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Two members shall be selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives after consultation with the chairperson of the Committee on Education and Labor, the chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means, and the chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Two members shall be selected by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, after consultation with the ranking minority members of such committees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) SENATE APPOINTEES-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Two members shall be selected by the majority leader of the Senate, after consultation with members of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on Finance, of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Two members shall be selected by the minority leader of the Senate, after consultation with members of such committees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Voting; Chairperson-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The Policy Committee shall act by the vote of a majority of the members present. A quorum of Committee members shall not be required to conduct Committee business.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The Surgeon General shall serve as the chairperson of the Policy Committee. The chairperson may vote only to break a tie vote of the other members of the Policy Committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Duties of the Policy Committee- The Policy Committee shall initially meet at the call of the Cochairs, not later than 30 days after the last member is selected under subsection (a). Subsequent meetings of the Policy Committee shall be held at the call of the chairperson. Through meetings, hearings, and working sessions, the Policy Committee shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) make recommendations to the Cochairs to facilitate the timely convening of the Conference;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) submit to the Cochairs a proposed agenda for the Conference not later than 90 days after the first meeting of the Policy Committee;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) make recommendations for the delegates of the Conference;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) establish the number of delegates to be selected under section 5; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) establish an executive committee consisting of 3 members of the Policy Committee to work with delegates of the Conference.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. CONFERENCE DELEGATES.

To carry out the purposes of the Conference, the Cochairs shall bring together delegates representative of the spectrum of thought in the field of food and nutrition, without regard to political affiliation or past partisan activity, who shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) representatives of Federal, State, and local governments;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) professional people and laypeople who are working in the field of food, health, nutrition, and economic security; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) representatives of the general public who are affected by hunger in the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATION.

(a) Administration- In administering this section, the Cochairs shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) provide written notice to all members of the Policy Committee of each meeting, hearing, or working session of such Committee not later than 48 hours before the occurrence of such meeting, hearing, or working session;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) request the cooperation and assistance of the heads of such other Federal departments and agencies as may be appropriate, including the detailing of personnel;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) make available for public comment a proposed agenda prepared by the Policy Committee, which will reflect to the greatest extent possible the major issues facing the field of food and nutrition consistent with the purposes of the Conference set forth in section 3(c);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) prepare and make available background materials that the Cochairs deem necessary for the use of delegates to the Conference; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) employ such additional personnel as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act without regard to provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Duties- In carrying out the Cochairs's responsibilities and functions under this section, the Cochairs shall ensure that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the proposed agenda prepared under subsection (a)(3) is published in the Federal Register not later than 30 days after such agenda is approved by the Policy Committee;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the personnel employed under subsection (a)(5) are fairly balanced in terms of points of views represented and are appointed without regard to political affiliation or previous partisan activities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the recommendations of the Conference are not inappropriately influenced by any public official or by any special interest, but instead are the result of the independent and collective judgment of the delegates of the Conference; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) before the Conference is convened--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) current and adequate statistical data (including decennial census data) and other information on food and nutrition in the United States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) such information as may be necessary to evaluate Federal programs and policies relating to food and nutrition;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





which the Cochairs may obtain by making grants to or entering into an agreement with, public agencies or nonprofit organizations, are readily available in advance of the Conference to the delegates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Gifts- The Cochairs may accept, on behalf of the United States, gifts (in cash or in kind, including voluntary and uncompensated services), which shall be available to carry out this Act. Gifts of cash shall be available in addition to amounts appropriated to carry out this title. Gifts may be earmarked by the donor or the executive committee for a specific purpose.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Records- The Cochairs shall maintain records regarding--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the sources, amounts, and uses of gifts accepted under subsection (c); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the identity of each person receiving assistance to carry out this Act, and the amount of such assistance received by each such person.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE.

(a) Preliminary Report- Not later than 100 days after the Conference adjourns, the Policy Committee shall prepare a preliminary report on the Conference which shall be published in the Federal Register and submitted to the chief executive officers of the States. The Policy Committee shall request that the chief executive officers of the States submit to the Policy Committee, not later than 45 days after receiving such report, their views and findings on such report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Final Report- Not later than 6 months after the date on which the Conference adjourns, the Policy Committee shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) prepare a final report of the Conference which shall include a compilation of the views and findings of the chief executive officers of the States received under subsection (a); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) publish in the Federal Register, and transmit to the President and to Congress, the recommendations for the administrative action and the legislation necessary to implement the recommendations contained in such report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. STATUS REPORTS.

(a) Initial Status Report- Not later than 2 years after the date on which the Conference adjourns, the Surgeon General shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) prepare a status report documenting the implementation of the recommendations contained in the final report described in section 7(b)(1); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) publish in the Federal Register, and transmit to the President and to Congress, such status report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Subsequent Status Reports- Not later than 5 years after the date on which the Conference adjourns, and every 5 years thereafter until all recommendations in the final report described in section 7(b)(1) are achieved, the Comptroller General shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) prepare a status report documenting the implementation of the recommendations contained in such final report; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) publish in the Federal Register, and transmit to the President and to Congress, such status report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 9. DEFINITION OF STATE.

For the purposes of this Act, the term `State' means any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United States, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) Authorization-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) such sums as may be necessary for the first fiscal year in which the Policy Committee plans the Conference and for the following fiscal year; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) such sums as may be necessary for the fiscal year in which the Conference is held.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) LIMITATION- Any new spending authority or new authority to enter into contracts under this Act, and under which the United States is obligated to make outlays, shall be effective only to the extent, and in such amounts, as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Availability of Funds-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (3), funds appropriated to carry out this Act and funds received as gifts under section 6(c) shall remain available for obligation or expenditure until the expiration of the 1-year period beginning on the date the Conference adjourns.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) UNOBLIGATED FUNDS- Except as provided in paragraph (3), any such funds neither expended nor obligated before the expiration of the 1-year period beginning on the date the Conference adjourns shall be returned to the United States Treasury.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) CONFERENCE NOT CONVENED- If the Conference is not convened before December 31, 2010, a trust fund shall be established and such funds shall only be available for a future Conference on Food and Nutrition.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink