§1161 Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows and Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows

Summary

Creates two hunger-fighting fellowship programs and tells who runs them. Director — the head of the Congressional Hunger Center. Fellow — either a Bill Emerson Hunger Fellow or a Mickey Leland Hunger Fellow. Fellowship Programs — the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship and the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship. The programs train future leaders to work in humanitarian and public service, to help low-income and hungry people, to give direct help, and to work on public policy solutions. The Bill Emerson program focuses on hunger and poverty in the United States. The Mickey Leland program focuses on international hunger and other humanitarian needs. The Secretary of Agriculture may give a grant to the Congressional Hunger Center to run the programs, and the Secretary sets the grant terms. The Director must make fellowships available, give training through field placements and policy placements, and approve a work plan for each fellow. Emerson fellowships last up to 15 months; Leland fellowships last up to 2 years. Fellows are chosen by a nationwide competition and must show commitment to humanitarian work, leadership, varied life experience, good communication, and the ability to live in poor or diverse communities. Fellows get a living allowance and an end-of-service award for satisfactory months served. Fellows are not employees of the Department of Agriculture, the Congressional Hunger Center, or host agencies. The Director must run program evaluations and arrange yearly independent financial audits. The Director may accept gifts for the programs but donated money and sale proceeds must be used only for them. The Director must send an annual report on activities, spending, and evaluation/audit results to the Secretary and to the House and Senate agriculture committees. The Secretary may be given whatever funds are needed to run the programs, and that money remains available until spent.