Addressing the Issue of Global Hunger

Floor Speech

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Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the issue of global hunger. Tonight, this very evening, 800 million people across the world will go to bed hungry. Throughout 2017, this very past year, this number has only grown, making this the first year in a decade that global hunger has increased.

This increase arises from violent conflicts and natural disasters that have worsened the situation for many living in extreme poverty. These crises demonstrate the need for lifesaving United States humanitarian relief around the world.

For 63 years, our Nation's signature food donation program, Food for Peace, has fed more than 3 billion hungry people. This program has benefitted people facing some of the worst humanitarian disasters of the century, averting famine, and providing medical care for those who need it most.

Today, USAID remains committed to providing for people in dire situations with emergency help. In countries like Yemen and Nigeria, where more than 70 percent of the population is facing severe starvation, USAID continues to step in to prevent famine and fight disease.

The USAID mission is to provide emergency food assistance, is vital to many countries around the world, and is a key pillar of President Trump's National Security Strategy. Its purpose is to end the need for its own existence by responding to the disasters and helping our partners achieve self-reliance.

A world without hunger is in America's very best interest. Hunger breeds instability and conflict. These programs represent a small investment to prevent future conflicts.

I am proud that wheat is the most used commodity in U.S. hunger programs. Kansas is known as the breadbasket of the world and is the Nation's leading wheat producer. But today, while our growers have full grain elevators in my State, we still have four ongoing declared famines around the world. There is no reason that we cannot connect the starving with our ample supplies of food.

I look forward to working with the House Agriculture Committee as we reauthorize the Food for Peace and other critical antihunger programs in the 2018 farm bill so that USAID and the United States Department of Agriculture can continue to help provide for the hungry and strengthen our national security across the world.

Need for Broadband Deployment in Rural Communities

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Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to emphasize the need for broadband development in rural communities. More and more, we see a transition from ``brick and mortar'' to ``click and mortar'' establishments, with the world quickly moving from paper to digital.

In rural America, the digital divide is becoming increasingly present. From limited connection speeds to locations entirely without service, these communities are lacking the same basic abilities as their urban counterparts. I am encouraged to see so many conversations happening in and around the Hill related to removing the barriers to connecting Americans, but there is still a lot of work to be done.

I applaud the efforts of President Trump, Chairman Pai, and Agriculture Secretary Perdue in making rural broadband deployment a national priority as we head into 2018. I hope that my colleagues here in Congress will remember that all Americans deserve reasonable and comparable service, no matter where in the country they live.

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