Smith-McCollum Global Food Security Act Passes House

Statement

The House of Representatives last night passed bipartisan legislation to address global hunger and help the world's poorest countries develop better agriculture. Sponsored by Congressman Chris Smith (R-N.J.), chairman of the House panel that oversees global health initiatives, along with lead Democrat cosponsor Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), HR 5656, "The Global Food Security Act," is designed to help prevent starvation and famine, and reduce hunger and malnutrition by enabling countries to feed their own people.

"This is important bipartisan legislation which will help provide a long-term solution to global hunger by authorizing and strengthening the existing national food security program coordinated by USAID commonly known as Feed the Future," said Chairman Smith, who has spearheaded similar U.S. international, health and nutritional initiatives throughout his career dating back to legislation he successfully offered in 1985 to restore and double the commitment to the then Child Survival Fund program to protect children who would otherwise die from preventable, curable diseases. "This program encourages self-sufficiency, and operates in targeted countries where the host governments have committed to investing in local agricultural development and undertaking reforms that allow the private sector to flourish. Its hallmarks are the building of local capacity and sustainability, linking local entrepreneurs to the global economy, while boosting transparency and accountability. The end result of this can be seen in lives saved and lives enriched. In the past year, Feed the Future has helped seven million farmers across the globe increase harvests, resulting in improved nutrition for 12.5 million children. To give one example, in Ethiopia, stunting rates were driven down by nine percent in just three years, resulting in roughly 160,000 fewer children suffering from malnutrition."

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