Ed Royce: “Yes. Through the Food for Peace program, the United States has reached more than a billion people around the globe in…”

“Yes. Through the Food for Peace program, the United States has reached more than a billion people around the globe in times of need, reducing poverty and improving food security in the process. American farmers are rightfully proud of this legacy. Unfortunately, ever-growing world crises have stressed our international food aid, leading us to look to new approaches that will help us stretch our food aid dollars further and, ultimately, save more lives. The Global Food Security Act authorizes one of these approaches--the International Disaster Assistance/Emergency Food Security Program--to provide electronic transfers, vouchers, and locally procured food to help desperate people meet their needs in the wake of disasters or war. This program is meant to complement, not replace, time-tested approaches to delivering food aid, including the Food for Peace program. Like the gentleman from Texas, I have had an opportunity to see how the Emergency Food Security Program works in places like Jordan, where humanitarian organizations are working to meet the needs of Syrian refugees. While the world may be changing rapidly, one thing will never change: the American farmer will always play a significant role in promoting food security at home and abroad. U.S. agricultural commodities will always be in demand and will always remain a part of the Food for Peace program.…”