Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 95.djvu/1035

 PUBLIC LAW 97-61—OCT. 14, 1981

95 STAT. 1009

Public Law 97-61 97th Congress Joint Resolution To authorize and request the President to issue a proclamation designating October 16, 1981, as "World Food Day".

Oct. 14, 1981 [S.J. Res. 98]

Whereas hunger and chronic malnutrition remain daily facts of life for hundreds of millions of people throughout the world; Whereas children are the ones 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 impairment, 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 among native Americans, migrant workers, and the elderly remain vulnerable to malnutrition and related 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 their ability to feed themselves; 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 distribution of food and of the resources required for its production are improved; Whereas the world hunger problem is critical to the security of the United States and the international community; Whereas a key recommendation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger was that efforts be undertaken to increase public awareness of the world hunger problem; and Whereas the one hundred and forty^seven member nations of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations designated October 16, 1981, as "World Food Day" because of the need to alert the public to the increasingly dangerous world food situation: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation designating October 16, 1981, as "World Food Day", and calling upon the people of the United States to observe such day with appropriate activities. Approved October 14, 1981.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 98: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 127 (1981): July 31, considered and passed Senate. Sept. 30, considered and passed House.

World Food Day. Designation authorization.

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