HOUSE TO PASS MEASURE NAMED AFTER EMERSON

Following a memorial today at the U.S. Capitol to honor U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, the House plans to pass legislation bearing the late congressman's name.

The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act would protect from liability businesses, groups and individuals that donate food items to charitable organizations in good faith. Emerson, who died last month, was a champion of hunger-related issues.

The House is scheduled to approve the measure following the memorial service. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., is one of several lawmakers and other dignitaries scheduled to speak at the service, which begins at 9 a.m. Cape Girardeau time and will be carried live on C-SPAN.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Pat Danner, D-Kansas City, who represents Missouri's 6th District.

Although Emerson was a Republican, Danner named the legislation after him because of his commitment to relieving hunger worldwide. The measure is intended to create an environment more conducive to food donations by protecting donors from civil and criminal liability.

"We should not throw away what we may in good faith give away to the millions of people who are going hungry in this nation," Danner said. "We're not talking about spoiled food. We are dealing with products like day-old dinner rolls. Do you think a hungry person is going to complain about getting day-old bread or cold pizza?"

A patchwork of state laws currently governs charitable food donations, leaving some who would ordinarily donate items fearful of legal backlash.

Danner pursued the legislation to create a uniform federal standard after a St. Joseph business, which had been a major benefactor to a nearby food pantry, ceased contributions because it felt vulnerable to liability under Missouri law.

"Well-intentioned individuals should not have to hire legal teams in order to offer a helping hand to the hungry," Danner said.