Bread for the World Applauds Senate Committee’s Passage of the Global Food Security Act

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bread for the World applauds the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s
unanimous passage of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 (S. 1252). The
legislation will help alleviate hunger and malnutrition in developing
countries. Bread now urges the full Senate to pass the bipartisan bill.

“This bill has strong bipartisan support. We hope the Senate leadership
will act quickly to ensure its passage this year,” said Eric Mitchell
director of government relations at Bread for the World. “The bill
builds off of the Feed the Future initiative. Globally, it will impact
the lives of the more than 795 million chronically malnourished people,
including 159 million children.”

The GFSA is sponsored by U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Bob Casey
(D-Pa.) and endorsed by Bread and more than 65 organizations. It would
make permanent Feed the Future, the federal government’s global hunger
and food security initiative. The GFSA builds on gains that have
improved the lives of smallholder farmers and increased the capacity for
long-term agricultural growth. In addition, the GFSA would allow the
U.S. to respond quickly to the food needs of communities affected by
disaster.

The legislation leverages resources provided by organizations, private
enterprises, and other countries. It would also improve maternal and
child nutrition, especially in the key first 1,000 days between a
woman’s pregnancy and her child’s second birthday.

“This legislation will help the U.S. achieve its goal of ending
preventable child deaths. Almost half of which are caused by
malnutrition,” Mitchell said. “It would bolster U.S. leadership by
tackling global hunger, poverty, and malnutrition. The bill will help
strengthen communities and develop stronger trading partners. This
creates a more stable and secure world.”

Bread for the World (www.bread.org)
is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to
end hunger at home and abroad.

Contacts

Bread for the World
Chris Ford, 202-688-1077
cford@bread.org