Numbers & Notables
***2004 year in review***

Dear Friends:

I appreciate this opportunity to share with you my activities in December and your taking time to read the Lugar Letter.

Over the past month, I was especially pleased to host the 28th Annual Dick Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow’s Leaders. I look forward to the symposium each year because of the opportunity to meet future leaders of our state and to begin long-time conversations with many of them.

When the 109th Congress convenes this week, I will introduce a resolution to address the tsunamis which struck 12 countries in South Asia and East Africa after an earthquake on Dec. 26. In the meanwhile, on January 18 our Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for secretary of state nominee Dr. Condoleezza Rice.

I wish you every continuing success and a great New Year in 2005.

Sincerely,

Richard G. Lugar
United States Senator

Lugar Visits Gleaners Food Bank to Promote Donations

On Saturday, December 4, U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar visited Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Inc. to promote food donations during the holiday season. Gleaners Food Bank is located at 1102 East 16th Street in Indianapolis.

Gleaners Food Bank, Indiana’s largest food bank, is a not-for-profit organization established in April of 1980. Its purpose is to collect and distribute food to nonprofit agencies which feed the hungry and needy in the state of Indiana. Gleaners is a member of the America's Second Harvest National Food Bank Network.

More than 300 nonprofit hunger relief programs (food pantries, soup kitchens, meal agencies, programs, shelters, residential care centers, and day care centers) benefit from Gleaners’ food collections. Since 1980, Gleaners Food Bank has distributed over 137 million pounds of food to charities feeding the hungry.

Lugar has long championed efforts of food banks. He is the author of the Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Act, which would make it easier for restaurants, food processors, and farmers to contribute products to food banks, pantries, and homeless shelters by allowing the deduction of the full market value of food donated. Under current tax law, the deduction allowed does not cover expenses incurred by the business.

The United States Department of Agriculture has estimated that up to 96 billion pounds of food go to waste each year in the United States. If a small percentage of this wasted food can be redirected to food banks, important strides could be made in the fight against hunger.

The Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Act, which was incorporated into the Charity Aid, Recovery, and Empowerment Act of 2003 (CARE Act) and passed the Senate, by a vote of 95-5. The House passed similar legislation but the bill did not make it out of the conference committee. As a result, Lugar is in the process of gathering cosponsors in order to reintroduce this vital legislation once the 109th Congress convenes in January. Last Congress, the Good Samaritan Tax Act had twenty-one cosponsors.

Lugar is also an inaugural member of the Senate Hunger Caucus, which has 33 members. The Senate Hunger Caucus provides a forum for Senators and staff to discuss and debate important hunger issues facing the United States and the rest of our world. Lugar plans to use the Hunger Caucus to promote issues that he has long supported, such as incentives to promote charitable food donation, elimination of childhood hunger, foreign food aid, and health promotion.

Lugar Resolution to Address Tsunami Disaster

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Dick Lugar will introduce a resolution to express the sense of the Senate regarding the tsunamis, which struck 12 countries in Southeast Asia and East Africa on December 26, when the Senate reconvenes in January. The resolution expresses sympathy for the victims of the devastating tidal waves and urges a generous response by the United States and the international community.

“The tsunami disaster constitutes a humanitarian tragedy of incredible proportions,” said Lugar. “My resolution explains the gravity of the situation, offers condolences to the victims and their loved ones, and sets the stage for Congress to make generous appropriations.”

“The United States is a compassionate country that will respond generously to this human catastrophe. Under the leadership of President Bush, the agencies and resources of the United States government have been mobilized to assist in the initial humanitarian effort. In addition, countless Americans have donated millions of dollars directly to international relief efforts. As the world leader in international disaster assistance, we must work closely with the international community to implement the most effective response possible in the coming weeks and months.”

“Beyond the compelling humanitarian reasons for swift action, a stable and prosperous Asia is essential to the global effort on a range of shared problems, including weapons proliferation, terrorism, narcotics, and contagious diseases. The worldwide economic and political consequences of this natural disaster could be even more severe unless we commit ourselves to advancing a strong recovery in the region,” Lugar said.

Lugar to Hold Confirmation Hearing on Secretary of State

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Dick Lugar will hold the confirmation hearing for Dr. Condoleezza Rice for Secretary of State on January 18, 2005, and continue on January 19 if necessary.

The hearing will take place in 216 Hart Senate Office Building starting at 9:00 a.m. Immediately following the conclusion of the hearing, the Chairman will convene a business meeting to vote on the nomination.

Dr. Rice is currently the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor, a position she has held since January 22, 2001.

Lugar Receives Harriman Democracy Award

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Dick Lugar received the National Democratic Institute’s W. Averell Harriman Democracy Award on Monday, December 6, 2004. NDI’s Harriman Democracy Award is the Institute’s highest honor, presented annually to individuals and organizations dedicated to democracy and human rights.

Lugar was recognized for advocating free and fair elections and the development of democratic institutions from the 1986 Philippines election to last month’s elections in Ukraine. Lugar represented the United States in Ukraine at the request of President Bush.

In his remarks, Lugar said the goal of the United States should be to “give the face of considerable bipartisan strength to the future of our security.”

Referencing Ukraine Lugar said, “It is an exciting story that continues to unfold…and factors strong reminisces to the adventure in democracy in the Philippines in 1986…The Reagan Doctrine was an important statement and push forward that has exemplified American foreign policy since. So it's natural we're in Ukraine.”

He concluded his remarks by saying, “I am hopeful the National Endowment for Democracy and NDI will celebrate again and again...Their influence will be needed for many years.”

Lugar (R-IN) received the award along with Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee. Lugar and Biden were recognized for their efforts to forge a bipartisan consensus in the U.S. Congress on the promotion of democracy worldwide. Other recipients included former Philippines President Corazon Aquino, Minister of the Interior of Chile José Miguel Insulza, former Foreign Minister of Poland Bronislaw Geremek, President of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade, Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Zhvania, Human Rights Minister of Yemen Amat Al-Aleem Alsoswa and President of Timor-Leste Xanana Gusmão.

The National Democratic Institute is celebrating its 20th anniversary by “paying tribute to an era of democratic transformation through the eyes of those from different regions of the world who experienced its struggles and successes.”

NDI is a nonprofit organization working to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide. Calling on a global network of volunteer experts, NDI provides practical assistance to civic and political leaders advancing democratic values, practices and institutions. NDI works with democrats in every region of the world to build political and civic organizations, safeguard elections, and to promote citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

Inauguration Information

The 55th Presidential Inauguration will be held on the west front of the Capitol Building on Thursday, January 20, 2005, at 12:00 p.m. Following the oath ceremony, from 2-4:30 p.m, a presidential parade will take place from the Capitol to the White House along Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Culver Academy Black Horse Troop and Equestriennes from Culver, Indiana and the Marion County Sheriff’s Precision Drill Squad will participate in the Inaugural parade on January 20.

For more information about the Oath ceremony, please visit http://inaugural.senate.gov.

The Indiana Society Ball will be held on Wednesday, January 19 at the Omni Shoreham Regency Ballroom in D.C. beginning with a reception at 6:00 and dinner and dancing to follow at 7:30. For more information, please call 202-508-3445.

For more information regarding the parade, balls, and inauguration merchandise, please visit http://www.inaugural05.com/.

And the Winner Is…

Crawfordsville High School

On Monday, December 13, 2004, Lugar presented the Honors History and Honors Government students of Crawfordsville High School with the Veterans’ History Project challenge contest award. Under the leadership of their teacher, Rick Shavetello, the high school students collected and submitted 192 interviews to the Library of Congress.

Lugar has partnered with the Library of Congress to help preserve the oral histories of Indiana veterans. The program will insure that these valuable stories are preserved for future generations of authors, historians, students and other interested individuals to use and experience.

Lugar Announces $2.6 million in Aid for Homeless

U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar announced today that Indiana will receive a $2,683,723 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of its Emergency Food and Shelter (EFS) Program.

“This funding is important because it provides necessary assistance to those Hoosiers who need it most,” Lugar said. “I am pleased Congress has appropriated this money and that FEMA continues this valuable program.”

The funds, which in Indiana were awarded to the state, a city and 39 counties, will support social service agencies to help feed and shelter the hungry and homeless. EFS funds are used to supplement food, shelter, rent, mortgage and utility assistance programs for people with non-disaster related emergencies.

The EFS Program, entering its twenty-second year, is administered by a national board of volunteer agencies chaired by FEMA. The National Board qualifies local jurisdictions for annual EFS funding awards based on criteria involving current population, unemployment and poverty levels. Grants are awarded to local social service agencies that are chosen by local boards in the qualifying jurisdictions. In addition, 8% of the year’s total EFS appropriation was set aside by the National Board for state grants to aid the needy in jurisdictions that did not otherwise qualify for assistance.

For a list of communities that received grant money, view this press release.
For more information on this grant, visit http://www.efsp.unitedway.org/.