Food Security
From CRS Web site:
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND FOOD AID
International assistance and food aid are high priorities for CRS, so throughout 2007 we have monitored related appropriations bills in the FY 2008 budget process to ensure that programs that provide lifesaving and life-changing services to the poorest people in our world can continue and are improved.
The FY 2008 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill includes critical funding for international assistance programs that provide emergency assistance, health, education, agriculture and small loan programs as well as treatment to people infected by HIV.
Both the House and Senate have passed their version of State and Foreign Operations bills for the 2008 fiscal year, but were unable to hash out differences and get a final bill.
FY2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill
Given these circumstances, in mid December Congress then passed a $473.5 billion Omnibus FY2008 Appropriations bill, combining all unfinished appropriations bills that fund Federal agencies and programs, including those that provide emergency, development, food aid and other humanitarian funding. The President recently signed the bill into law, completing the regular appropriations process for FY2008. In addition to differences in budgetary priorities and fiscal restraint, a significant obstacle in moving forward had been the inclusion by Congress of bill language that would alter and eliminate the existing Mexico City Policy, which prohibits Federal funding to non-governmental organizations that provide or promote services related to abortion. The President had indicated he would veto any revision to the Mexico City Policy, and Congress ultimately dropped the proposed changes. Nearly all the core poverty and humanitarian accounts were funded at levels higher than FY2007, although final negotiations between Congress and the Administration resulted in lower funding levels across the board than otherwise anticipated.
FY2009 International Affairs Budget
In a remarkable show of strength for the International Affairs Budget, in December a record breaking 185 Members of Congress sent a bi-partisan letter to President Bush calling for a robust FY09 request for these programs. The letter includes a new Senate majority of 60 signatures and a new House record of 125 names. Click here to view letter and signatures.
Food Aid in FY08 Agriculture Appropriations
Food Aid programs provide food to people in emergency situations such as war or natural disasters as well as for long-term development in areas that experience chronic hunger. For example, U.S. food aid provides meals to children, particularly girls, at schools to encourage school attendance.
The House and Senate Appropriations committees approved legislation that includes $1.2 billion in Title II funding and $100 million for the McGovern Dole education and nutrition program. This level only equals last year's funding and falls below the respective CRS requests of $2 billion and $140 million. Hence, CRS will support supplemental appropriations again to fill the gap.
- Bread for the World Hunger 2006: Chapter 3: Understanding Malnutrition: Knowledge to Combat Hunger
- Bread for the World Hunger 2006: Chapter 4: Ending Chronic Hunger in the Developing World: Nourishing the Many
- Bread for the World Hunger 2007: Chapter 3: Trade: Farm Policy in the Global Economy
- A breakthrough against hunger: Our response to the world food crisis is sadly inadequate – but we are proposing a new initiative to help by Jeffrey Sachs
From CRS Web site:
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND FOOD AID
International assistance and food aid are high priorities for CRS, so throughout 2007 we have monitored related appropriations bills in the FY 2008 budget process to ensure that programs that provide lifesaving and life-changing services to the poorest people in our world can continue and are improved.
The FY 2008 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill includes critical funding for international assistance programs that provide emergency assistance, health, education, agriculture and small loan programs as well as treatment to people infected by HIV.
Both the House and Senate have passed their version of State and Foreign Operations bills for the 2008 fiscal year, but were unable to hash out differences and get a final bill.
FY2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill
Given these circumstances, in mid December Congress then passed a $473.5 billion Omnibus FY2008 Appropriations bill, combining all unfinished appropriations bills that fund Federal agencies and programs, including those that provide emergency, development, food aid and other humanitarian funding. The President recently signed the bill into law, completing the regular appropriations process for FY2008. In addition to differences in budgetary priorities and fiscal restraint, a significant obstacle in moving forward had been the inclusion by Congress of bill language that would alter and eliminate the existing Mexico City Policy, which prohibits Federal funding to non-governmental organizations that provide or promote services related to abortion. The President had indicated he would veto any revision to the Mexico City Policy, and Congress ultimately dropped the proposed changes. Nearly all the core poverty and humanitarian accounts were funded at levels higher than FY2007, although final negotiations between Congress and the Administration resulted in lower funding levels across the board than otherwise anticipated.
FY2009 International Affairs Budget
In a remarkable show of strength for the International Affairs Budget, in December a record breaking 185 Members of Congress sent a bi-partisan letter to President Bush calling for a robust FY09 request for these programs. The letter includes a new Senate majority of 60 signatures and a new House record of 125 names. Click here to view letter and signatures.
Food Aid in FY08 Agriculture Appropriations
Food Aid programs provide food to people in emergency situations such as war or natural disasters as well as for long-term development in areas that experience chronic hunger. For example, U.S. food aid provides meals to children, particularly girls, at schools to encourage school attendance.
The House and Senate Appropriations committees approved legislation that includes $1.2 billion in Title II funding and $100 million for the McGovern Dole education and nutrition program. This level only equals last year's funding and falls below the respective CRS requests of $2 billion and $140 million. Hence, CRS will support supplemental appropriations again to fill the gap.