The responsibility of the U.S. House of Representatives Task Force on Hunger is to investigate the causes and dimensions of world hunger and to develop legislative recommendations addressing the issues raised. At this hearing, the issue discussed was of basic education as a crucial link in expanding opportunities for poor and hungry people to provide for themselves. The committee members saw a slide presentation provided by the World Bank (the printed narration from the presentation is included). Dennis Brennan, Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Science and Technology, Agency for International Development (AID), outlined the role played by the U.S. government in increasing student enrollment in educational programs in developing nations. Ruth K. Zagorin, former Director of the Office for Human Resources (AID), discussed the relation between basic education and development. Douglas M. Windham, Professor of Education and Professor of Public Policy, State University of New York at Albany, spoke about efficiency enhancement as the focus of any donor-supported policy toward education in the developing world. The prepared statements of the committee members and witnesses appear at the conclusion of the document. Charts and tables supplied by AID, illustrating the funding of educational programs in developing nations, are included. (SM)