On the recordJuly 5, 2016
I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the link between conflict and hunger is undeniable. Mr. Engel and I recently traveled to Sub-Saharan Africa to a drought- stricken region, Ethiopia, where more than 10.2 million people are on the verge of what I would designate as ``starvation,'' yet no one really used that word or used the word ``famine'' because of the concern that it might provoke a coup. {time} 2130 But the reality is that this is the situation on the ground. And at the same time, massive humanitarian disasters in Syria and Yemen, in South Sudan, have sparked these massive refugee flows. They threaten regional security. All told, there are currently 800 million people suffering from chronic hunger, and over 60 million people displaced by conflict, who desperately need our help. It is in our national security and economic interest to help address these needs, to meet humanitarian needs while supporting the growth of healthier, more stable societies through cost-effective programs that promote agriculture-led economic growth, that open markets for U.S. investment and trade, that promote food and nutrition security, and, ultimately, that break the cycle of dependence on aid. The Global Food Security Act can help. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 1252. The question was taken.…
