Issue Position: Hunger & Human Rights

Issue Position

"I believe that hunger is a political condition. We have the resources to eliminate hunger - particularly childhood hunger - around the world. What we need is the political will to make it happen. I also believe that the United States must take the lead in supporting human rights."-Jim McGovern

Jim's Vision:

Jim McGovern believes that by providing at least one nutritious meal in a school setting to children around the world, we can send a powerful message - that the United States is a powerful force for good. The generosity of the American people is extraordinary, and it can be harnessed to improve the lives of millions of children who go hungry every day. Jim also believes in the fundamental dignity of every human being. Human rights must be a central focus of our foreign policy.

Jim's Record:

* Jim McGovern is a leader in Congress to end hunger among children and increase their opportunities to go to school and get an education. Congressman McGovern is the driving force behind the Global Food for Education pilot program, which provided nutritious meals in a school setting to nearly 9 million of the world's poorest children In 2002, he led the successful fight to make this program permanent when the George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program was included in the farm bill reauthorization. This global school feeding program reduces the incidence of child hunger, increases educational opportunity, especially for girls, and is carried out by U.S. development organizations and the World Food Program. At the same time, it helps American farmers, ports and transportation systems in the growing, milling and transportation of food commodities that are often the basic ingredients of these school meals.

* Reaching out to the Third District. Jim has worked to raise awareness of hunger issues in the Third Congressional District. He has been a strong supporter of the Worcester County food bank, as well as other social service providers. He has also invited Gerda Klein, a Holocaust survivor and leading anti-hunger activist, to Massachusetts to speak with students about the scourge of hunger, and about how students can make a difference.

* Jim is leading the way in Congress on Hunger issues. Because of his leadership in Congress on anti-hunger issues, Congressman McGovern was appointed Co-Chair of the Congressional Hunger Center, a bipartisan-supported non-profit organization dedicated to training the next generation of leaders on addressing domestic and global hunger.

* Jim is working to make sure our foreign aid is used wisely. Working in a bipartisan partnership with his colleague Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), Congressman McGovern supported the establishment of the HELP Commission, which will review U.S. food assistance programs to ensure that food aid reaches the intended beneficiaries and is not wasted or used as a political or coercive tool by corrupt governments, organizations or individuals; and to identify how these food aid programs might be improved or better implemented.

* Congressman McGovern is a leader in the promotion of human rights and the rule of law around the world.

* Congressman McGovern works closely with Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, Physicians for Human Rights, the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International and other national and international organizations in support of human rights, religious freedom, the rule of law, an end to torture and for the freedom of prisoners of conscience. From Central America, Cuba and Colombia to Vietnam, China and Cambodia to Turkey, Sudan, Syria and Pakistan, Congressman McGovern has directly petitioned foreign governments to change policies and free prisoners jailed for exercising their basic human rights and religious faith. He has been an original cosponsor of legislation such as the Torture Victims Relief Act, the Human Rights Information Act, the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, Reaffirming Support of the Genocide Convention Act, and others to end many of the most egregious human rights violations and to protect and support victims and their families.

* Congressman McGovern strongly supports increased awareness and engagement in world affairs by American citizens and students. Congressman McGovern is a strong supporter of increased funding for foreign language training for Americans of all ages, understanding that succeeding in the global economy and winning in the court of international public affairs requires a citizenry knowledgeable about other nations and cultures. He also strongly supports greater engagement by Americans in people-to-people educational, professional and volunteer opportunities. To promote such engagement, he has introduced H. Res. 636 to promote greater involvement by American citizens in world affairs.

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