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• Baucus-Grassley Statement Regarding Extending Expiring Tax Provisions (December 22, 2009) Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) stated, “…In an effort to provide a seamless extension of these provisions [including the enhanced deduction for charitable contributions of food inventory] with the fewest disruptions and administrative problems, will take up legislation as quickly as possible in the new year."
• Tax Extenders Act of 2009, H.R. 4213, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives (December 10, 2009)
  Enhanced Charitable Deduction for Contributions of Food Inventory was included in the Tax Extenders Act of 2009, H.R. 4213, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation includes a one year extension of the current law that allows non-C corporations to take the enhanced deduction for donating food inventory. This legislation will now need to be considered by the U.S. Senate prior to being signed into law.
• U.S Cities See Sharp Increases in the Need for Food Assistance:
  Mayors Issue Annual Report on Hunger, Homelessness in Cities
  (December 8, 2009) Also See: Hunger and Homelessness Survey
• House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support and Subcommittee on Oversight:
  Joint Hearing on Food Banks and Front-Line Charities
  (November 19, 2009) Also See: Witness Statements

  Chairman Lewis: Today, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support of the Committee on Ways and Means are holding a joint hearing to examine hunger, and to find out how the Federal government, charities, private foundations, and individuals can work together to make sure every American has enough food to eat. Today we are talking about the most basic of human needs, and we need to get some basic answers. Who is hungry? Who are the new faces of hunger? Where can people go for help? Why aren’t front-line charities able to serve all of those in need? What can Congress do to help?

  Chairman McDermott: Chairman Lewis, I am pleased to join you today in conducting this hearing on the growing demand for assistance at food banks. Today’s discussion is well timed given the report from the Department of Agriculture on Monday that nearly 50 million Americans lacked consistent access to food last year. Food banks around the country are working hard to help hungry Americans. However, just as the demand for their services is escalating, some are finding charitable donations declining. Part of the purpose of this hearing is to encourage giving among those who are in a position to help the less fortunate, as well as to consider suggestions for stimulating such donations. But we all know that charitable giving is only part of the answer. Government must take an active role in combating hunger.

• House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support and Subcommittee on Oversight announce
  Joint Hearing on Food Banks and Front-Line Charities: Unprecedented Demand and Unmet Need (November 12, 2009)
  (Washington, D.C.) – Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight, and Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), Chairman, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, announced a joint hearing to review the effect of the economic downturn and increased unemployment on the demand for hunger-relief assistance at food banks and other charities. The hearing will focus on the increased demand for hunger-relief assistance at food banks and other charities.
• Indiana Restaurateur Urges U.S. House Small Business Committee to Extend Expiring Tax Provisions
  Congress Can Help Struggling Restaurants "Get Back on Track" (September 30, 2009)
  (Washington, D.C.) – National Restaurant Association member John Frenz testified at today's hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee on "Expiring Tax Incentives: Examining Their Importance for Small Businesses on the Road to an Economic Recovery." Among the topics addressed was the charitable deduction for food donations to non-profit organizations. John stated that “The National Restaurant Association strongly encourages its members to donate more food, and we recently partnered with Food Donation Connection (FDC) to do just that.”
• KFC to Close Restaurants to Feed the Hungry (Sept. 29, 2009)
  KFC, which has asked customers to “unthink” perceptions of the chain and try its new Kentucky Grilled Chicken, temporarily is repositioning its restaurants again, this time for a charitable cause.
• Senator Lincoln Honored For Her Efforts to Fight Hunger (September 18, 2009)
  Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln this week received the National Restaurant Association’s first annual Congressional Leadership Award in recognition of her efforts to fight hunger across the nation and around the world.  “I am honored to receive this award because it helps shine a light on the millions of children and adults in our country who struggle each day to find adequate, nutritious food…. Hunger does have a solution, and I encourage all Arkansans to reach out to those in need,” said Lincoln.
• NRA Works to Encourage Food Donation, Curb Waste (September 15, 2009)
  QSRMagazine.com - The National Restaurant Association announced a partnership with the Food Donation Connection (FDC), an organization that works to help foodservice companies reduce food waste and feed those in need.
• National Restaurant Association Presents First Annual Congressional Leadership Award to U.S. Sens. Leahy, Lugar and Lincoln (September 14, 2009)
  Lawmakers honored for their commitment to hunger relief
  Washington, D.C.: The National Restaurant Association today presented its first annual Congressional Leadership Award to U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) in recognition of their efforts to fight hunger here at home and around the world. The lawmakers were recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
• National Restaurant Association Announces Partnership to Relieve Hunger and Reduce Food Waste in America (September 14, 2009)
  Washington, D.C.: The National Restaurant Association today announced a partnership with the Food Donation Connection (FDC), an organization that works to help foodservice companies reduce food waste and feed those in need. The Association is a longtime supporter of anti-hunger initiatives and a champion of strengthening tax legislation that provides incentives for foodservice companies to donate food to hunger-relief organizations. Through a national partnership with FDC, the Association will work to galvanize the industry to donate surplus food while taking advantage of unrealized tax benefits of food donation.
• Nation's Restaurant News (August 10, 2009)
  Reports that " Restaurants [&] food banks team up as need grows ... Given the growing need for hunger relief, food banks, governments and restaurant operators are rethinking those [existing] systems and trying to find a better way to redirect excess prepared food to hungry stomachs rather than landfills." 
• Red Lobster Announces National Launch of Harvest Program (June 2, 2005)
  Starting this week, unused food at Red Lobster’s more than 640 restaurants throughout the nation will be bagged, weighed, labeled, chilled or frozen, and stored so that it can be donated to charitable organizations.  Red Lobster is partnering with Food Donation Connection (FDC) , a national organization that teams food service companies with charities that feed the needy. [...] “Our goal is to nourish and delight everyone we serve,” said Kim Lopdrup, president of Red Lobster.  “Through the Harvest Food Donation Program, we will provide countless people in our local communities with healthy, nutritional meals.  Even a small amount of food from one of our restaurants will go a long way to help people in need.”
• Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act -- Federal law creates a single national standard for food donation liability protection (December 11, 1996)
  New York Times article reports, "A new Federal Good Samaritan law will protect donors against civil and criminal liability, and it is changing many corporate minds."