Bill Emerson »

The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program serves as a living legacy to late Representative Bill Emerson (January 1, 1938 – June 22, 1996), a Congressional leader in the fight to end hunger.  To all who knew him, Bill Emerson was a man of integrity – a true humanitarian who crossed political lines to bring people together. Representative Emerson’s commitment to the fight to end hunger, and his tireless, bi-partisan work in Congress to advance anti-hunger initiatives, forms the foundation of the Congressional Hunger Center’s anti-hunger work.

Bill Emerson’s Work

Representative Bill Emerson served as a Republican Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri’s 8th district. In his early years, Representative Emerson proudly served as a House Page, an experience influential in his decision to one day run for public office. Representative Emerson participated in countless hearings on the issue of hunger and was the lead sponsor on many important pieces of legislation. He held leadership positions on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Select Committee on Hunger. Representative Emerson was determined to ensure that food banks had the tools necessary to provide for the emergency needs of hungry children and families. With Senator Bob Dole and Representative Leon Panetta, Representative Emerson led the effort to establish The Emergency Food Distribution Program (TEFAP). Representative Emerson was considered a leading congressional advocate of “one-stop shopping,” the concept that public programs’ operations should be harmonized to best meet the needs of low income households. He fought to reduce administrative rules that make food assistance to hungry Americans inaccessible.

During the fifteen years Bill Emerson was a Member of Congress, he emerged as a leader in the fight against hunger in the United States and abroad. Together with Representative Mickey Leland, Representative Emerson took a bipartisan approach in the fight against hunger. Representative Emerson also teamed with friend and former Representative, Ambassador Tony Hall to found CHC in response to the elimination of the House Select Committee on Hunger.

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