Casey, Smith release Feed the Future bills
September 22, 2014 | 07:36 PM
The offices of Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., today released the texts of bills to make the Feed the Future program at the U.S. Agency for International Development permanent.
The two bills have the same goal of making Feed the Future permanent so that a further administration could not eliminate it, but they are not identical, congressional sources said. The Hagstrom Report has obtained copies of the bills but not analyzed them for differences. (See links.)
The Obama administration used executive authority to establish Feed the Future, but only congressional action can make it a permanent part of USAID's program.
Sens. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., Chris Coons, D-Del., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., joined Casey in cosponsoring the Senate bill.
Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., joined Smith in introducing the House bill.
“The Smith-McCollum bill coordinates the efforts of eleven government agencies in improving basic nutrition and reducing hunger of the poorest in 19 priority countries,” Smith’s office said in a news release.
“It harnesses the efforts of private businesses, faith based organizations and community-based nonprofits while highlighting women's economic empowerment and building the capacity of local small scale farmers.”
“HR 5656 takes direct aim at the extreme hunger and malnutrition that exist today in the poorest countries around the world in order to help mitigate the suffering and help nations help themselves,” Smith said.
“This bipartisan bill extends Feed the Future, the successful U.S. initiative providing tools to small holder farmers in the poorest countries, especially women farmers,” added McCollum.
Smith also noted that many groups have called for the legislation, including American Jewish World Service, Catholic Relief Services, Food for the Hungry, Lutheran World Relief, Oxfam America, Self Help Africa, Stop Hunger Now, United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society and World Vision.
▪ Senate Global Food Security Act of 2014
▪ H.R. 5656 — Feed the Future Global Food Security Act of 2014
The two bills have the same goal of making Feed the Future permanent so that a further administration could not eliminate it, but they are not identical, congressional sources said. The Hagstrom Report has obtained copies of the bills but not analyzed them for differences. (See links.)
The Obama administration used executive authority to establish Feed the Future, but only congressional action can make it a permanent part of USAID's program.
Sens. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., Chris Coons, D-Del., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., joined Casey in cosponsoring the Senate bill.
Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., joined Smith in introducing the House bill.
“The Smith-McCollum bill coordinates the efforts of eleven government agencies in improving basic nutrition and reducing hunger of the poorest in 19 priority countries,” Smith’s office said in a news release.
“It harnesses the efforts of private businesses, faith based organizations and community-based nonprofits while highlighting women's economic empowerment and building the capacity of local small scale farmers.”
“HR 5656 takes direct aim at the extreme hunger and malnutrition that exist today in the poorest countries around the world in order to help mitigate the suffering and help nations help themselves,” Smith said.
“This bipartisan bill extends Feed the Future, the successful U.S. initiative providing tools to small holder farmers in the poorest countries, especially women farmers,” added McCollum.
Smith also noted that many groups have called for the legislation, including American Jewish World Service, Catholic Relief Services, Food for the Hungry, Lutheran World Relief, Oxfam America, Self Help Africa, Stop Hunger Now, United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society and World Vision.
▪ Senate Global Food Security Act of 2014
▪ H.R. 5656 — Feed the Future Global Food Security Act of 2014
