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Food aid coalition opposes Senate provisions

A coalition of humanitarian, commodity and maritime groups sent farm bill conferees a letter today that they appreciate the reauthorization of food aid programs in the farm bill but oppose certain provisions in the Senate farm bill that would make changes to current programs.

The groups said they appreciate reauthorization of Food for Peace (P.L. 480), Food for Progress, the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program and the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust.

But the groups said they oppose Senate provisions:
  • Allowing the use of P.L. 480 Title II and Food for Progress funds to pay the costs of unspecified “activities” conducted in recipient countries;
  • Decreasing the minimum funding level for non-nonemergency (developmental) Title II programs; and
  • Capping the amount of funds that can be spent on developmental programs.