Herb Kohl: “Our amendment increases the food aid amount by $320 million for a total of $470 million. This is not an arbitrary figure…”

“Our amendment increases the food aid amount by $320 million for a total of $470 million. This is not an arbitrary figure but, rather, was designed to meet three definite objectives. First, our amendment is crafted to meet the U.S. share of emergency food aid assistance needs that have already been identified for fiscal year 2005. Second, it restores funds for food aid development programs that are vital to end the cycle of starvation in the world's poorest nations. These funds were diverted to meet worsening conditions in the Darfur region of Sudan, and our amendment simply restores them to their original food aid purpose. Third, our amendment restores funding for the Food for Progress Program for commodities that were diverted to provide assistance to victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Mr. President, I have a letter from President Bush, dated January 13, 2005, and signed by 43 Senators. It points out the dire shortfall in meeting world food aid needs this year. I ask unanimous consent that this letter be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: U.S. Senate, Washington, DC, January 13, 2005. Hon. George W. Bush, President of the United States, The White House, Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. Dear Mr.…”