Several members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees are making the case for continuing Food for Peace and moving it to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
U.S. Reps. Tracey Mann, of Kansas, Rick Crawford, of Arkansas, Dan Newhouse, of Washington, David Rouzer, of North Carolina, and House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson, of Pennsylvania; alongside Sens. Jerry Moran, Kansas, and John Hoeven, North Dakota, have introduced legislation to move the administration of the Food for Peace program from the U.S. Agency for International Development to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“For 70 years, Kansas and American farmers have played an active role in sending their commodities to feed malnourished and starving populations around the world,” Mann said. “This free gift from the American people is more than food. It’s diplomacy and feeds the most vulnerable communities while helping them recognize the freedom, prosperity and good America can establish across the globe.
“By moving Food for Peace to USDA, the program can continue to equip American producers to serve hungry people while providing more transparency and efficiency as to how taxpayer dollars are stewarded. I will continue to work with the Trump administration to uproot wasteful spending while ensuring America can continue to be the beacon of hope and freedom we are to the rest of the world.”
“I believe a move from USAID to USDA would make program administration more efficient and more in-line with America’s priorities,” Crawford said. “USDA already runs two international food assistance programs that deal with in-kind food donations, Food for Progress and the McGovern-Dole Food for Education program. This makes USDA a natural home for Food for Peace.”
“Kansas has a long history of providing food to the hungry, beginning with a Kansas farmer suggesting the U.S. provide surplus grain to countries in need, to President Eisenhower establishing the resulting humanitarian aid program, to Senator Bob Dole’s expanding Food for Peace, to the farmers who grow the crops that feed the world,” Moran said.
“As part of an ongoing effort to save money and increase efficiency, Food for Peace should be moved to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By moving this program closer to the producers who grow these crops, we can help reduce waste and make certain our farmers have access to this valuable market. Food stability is essential to political stability, and our food aid programs help feed the hungry, bolster our national security and provide important markets for our farmers.”
For the past 70 years, America’s farmers, millers, shippers and dockworkers have served at the helm of combatting international hunger as Food for Peace has fed more than 4 billion people in more than 150 countries.
More than 50 organizations support Mann’s legislation. “Kansas farmers take great pride in Food for Peace and the impact the program and American commodities have had on feeding the world,” said Chris Tanner, president of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers. “Moving Food for Peace to USDA would continue to provide the needed relief for people in need.”
“Kansas-grown sorghum is a critical crop for food security in America and abroad,” said Adam York, CEO of Kansas Sorghum Producers Association. “Throughout changes in administrations, sorghum farmers have worked to have a seat at the table in international food programs housed across many agencies to ensure America’s farmers can contribute to our national security. We recommend policy-makers continue prioritizing American agriculture as a solution to challenges in domestic and foreign policy.”
“U.S. soybeans play an important role in addressing global hunger,” said Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association and a soybean farmer from Kentucky. “Soybeans are the only plant-based protein that provides all nine amino acids essential for human health, and our farmers have been proud to support international food assistance programs.“
“National Sorghum Producers supports this legislation that would move U.S. food aid programs under the U.S. Department of Agriculture—a move that makes sense and would ensure the long-term viability and success of these programs by continuing to provide a critical market for American sorghum farmers and the ability to move grain from our fields to the hands of those in need around the world,” said Amy France, National Sorghum Producers chairwoman.
“Our nation’s millers take great pride in feeding those facing famine emergencies around the world,”said Kim Z Cooper, vice president of government affairs for the North American Millers’ Association. “Our flagship emergency food aid program Food for Peace not only helps those abroad, but is a critical component of Buy American and America First policies.”
