Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 96 Part 1.djvu/1255

 PUBLIC LAW 97-282—OCT. 5, 1982

96 STAT. 1213

Public Law 97-282 97th Congress Joint Resolution To authorize and request the President to designate October 16, 1982, as "World Food Day".

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 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 Native Americans, migrant workers, the elderly, and children, remain vulnerable to malnutrition and related diseases; Whereas there is widespread concern that the use and conservation of land and water resources required for food production throughout the United States ensure care for the national patrimony we bequeath to future generations; 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 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 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 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 problems are critical to the security of the United States and the international community; Whereas d ^ e y recommendation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger was that efforts be undertaken to increase public awareness of the world hunger problem; Whereas the first World Food Day on October 16, 1981, was supported by proclamations of the Governors of all fifty States, a resolution of Congress, a Presidential proclamation, efforts of the United States Department of Agriculture, and by more than one hundred and seventy-five national private and voluntary organizations; and Whereas the one hundred and fifty-two nations of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations designated October 16, 1982, as "World Food Day" because of the need to alert the

Oct. 5, 1982 [S.J. Res. 174]

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