The President 
The White House 
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:
The White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health, convened by President Richard Nixon on December 2, 1969, may well have been one of the country's most productive and far-reaching White House conferences. At the time, President Nixon said that the conference was "intended to focus national attention and resources on our country's remaining-- and changing-- nutrition problems." In hindsight, it achieved that and much more.

So much has been accomplished since that historic White House conference. With bipartisan support in Congress, the food stamp program has been reformed and expanded; school nutrition programs have been improved and now reach over 27 million children each school day; WIC was created; and nutrition labels now appear on most food items.

At the same time, however, the mission is not complete. While 16 million children participate in the free and reduced school lunch program, in the summer many children go without. There are those who qualify for reduced price meals in North Carolina, and throughout the country, but cannot afford even this nominal fee. America's Second Harvest, an extraordinary organization, reports that demand often exceeds the supply of food in local communities. Further, the country is challenged by the paradox of hunger and obesity.

Mr. President, it is time, I believe, for a second White House conference to assess the progress we have made in the fight against hunger and to recommit the country to the remaining challenges. I was so very pleased to work with President Nixon on the 1969 conference; I would be honored to work with you on a second historic conference.

There is a very special tradition in America when it comes to fighting hunger. Perhaps it is a function of our agricultural bounty, the famines in Europe that let to early migration, or the teachings of all major religions, but Americans are not comfortable with hunger in our land of plenty. Again, to quote President Nixon, "(E)ven in purely practical terms there are compelling considerations requiring this challenge to be met."

Mr. President, I hope that you will convene a second White Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health and that we can work together, with our colleagues on both sides of the political aisle. Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Dole