BOND TOUTS EMERSON FOOD ACT

While the U.S. House paid a final, tender tribute in Washington to late Rep. Bill Emerson by passing legislation in his name Friday, U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond was in Cape Girardeau discussing similar legislation.

Bond visited the FISH Volunteers food pantry on South Sprigg Friday to discuss the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, which he introduced in the Senate this week. The bill, if passed, would encourage food contributions to charity by limiting civil or criminal liability for donors.

There would be exceptions for gross negligence or intentional harm.

"We are extremely proud of the bill," Bond said, standing in front of a shelf full of green beans, corn and other canned goods at the food pantry.

Millions of tons of edible but unused food are thrown away every year. At the same time, 50 percent of all major U.S. cities report that food-assistance programs are not adequately feeding the hungry.

"It's just common sense to try to make it easier for those who would throw the food away to donate it instead," Bond said. "That's what this legislation does."

It seems especially appropriate, Bond said, to name the bill for Emerson, a champion of hunger-related issues. Rep. Pat Danner, D-Mo., is the bill's House sponsor.

"Bill Emerson was tireless in his efforts to fight hunger," Bond said. "He recognized the need to make it easier for restaurants and grocery stores to donate unused food to food pantries and homeless shelters, where it is very much needed for the poor. I am pleased to continue the work he started."

Bond gave a special thanks to those at FISH, who provides food to hungry people in the area. More than 1,000 families and 3,000 individuals have been given food as part of the program.

State Reps. David Schwab, R-Jackson, and Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, were at the pantry and they agreed with the senator.

"It just makes sense," Schwab said. "You couldn't blame a business for not donating when they're subject to liability. They have nothing to gain. Now they can give it and not have the liability."

The Rev. William Burke, president of FISH and a pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene, said he is pleased that this kind of bill is being considered.

"As an organization that is directly providing food, we exist by the donations," Burke said. "We're extremely pleased it's going to be made easier for food to be donated."

Bond said the food may appear unattractive but wouldn't be bad food. He cited day-old bread and cold pizza as examples.

Half the battle is already won: The House of Representatives passed the legislation by a voice vote Friday before honoring Emerson with a memorial service.

"We are in effect saying: Bill, your voice will not be forgotten. The course you charted will be followed," Danner said during her floor speech.

After the vote, the House recessed for the hourlong memorial service held in the Capitol's grand Statuary Hall. A string quartet played hymns such as "Onward Christian Soldiers" for an overflow crowd gathered amongst the marble pillars and oversized statues of great Americans.

Emerson's widow, Jo Ann -- who is running for his 8th District seat -- and his four daughters attended the service, as did dozens of House members, senators, lobbyists, friends and staff.

House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., said Emerson was a "wonderful, wonderful person" whose caring nature was demonstrated in a telephone call to the speaker a few days before Emerson's June 22 death from lung cancer.

"Just a few days before he passed away, he called from the hospital to make sure his staff would be OK, that they would be cared for," said Gingrich, choking back tears. "All of us can go and gain strength from such a person."

During his eight terms in Congress, Emerson focused much of his energy on world hunger problems.

-- The Associated Press provided some information for this story.