Global Food Security Reauthorization Legislation Passes with Bipartisan Support

Press Release

Yesterday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee marked up and passed H.R. 8446, the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2022 led by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), and cosponsored by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) and Ranking Member Michael McCaul (R-TX).

"I am proud that today my Committee took up and unanimously passed the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act to extend the U.S. government's flagship initiative to combat global hunger for another five years," said Rep. Meeks. "This comes at a critical time of profound food insecurity around the world due to compounding factors of climate change and extreme weather, conflict, COVID-19, and the consequences of Russia's war in Ukraine. I hope to work with colleagues in the House and Senate on a bipartisan basis to swiftly enact this bill into law."

"The Global Food Security Act improves food security, increases economic opportunity, and saves lives through strategic investments in USAID's Feed the Future Initiative," said Rep. McCollum. "I was proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to reauthorize U.S. investments to fight food insecurity and poverty around the world, especially as Russia's war on Ukraine has exacerbated the global food crisis, and I'm glad to see it pass the House Foreign Affairs Committee today. I'll continue to work to advance this vital legislation, and I thank Chair Meeks, Ranking Member McCaul, and Rep. Smith for their partnership and leadership."

"Globally, 50 million people across 45 countries are on the brink of famine," said Rep. McCaul. "In Somalia, we are days away from an official famine declaration, and over 300,000 children are facing emergency starvation there as we speak. Yet, amidst this global crisis, we cannot lose focus on longer term investments in food security and agricultural-led economic growth. Ultimately, this bill builds the capacities of families and communities to provide for themselves. I hope the House quickly advances this legislation and I want to thank Senator Risch and Senator Casey for their leadership on this issue in the Senate. Now is not the time to risk allowing key authorities to expire."

"Our bill promotes food security, resilience and nutrition in developing nations consistent with U.S. national security interests," said Rep. Smith. "By focusing on agriculture-led economic development, it promotes self-sufficiency and helps inoculate governments from instability attributable to food insecurity--something very much in America's interest, as history shows that global food shortages threaten to topple governments. It also aims to better coordinate programs within the U.S. government to make them more efficient, thereby stretching the taxpayer dollar while helping give others a leg up."