Braun
On Wednesday, U.S. Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) introduced bipartisan legislation to enshrine a continued role for American farmers in the Food for Peace (FFP) program and increase accountability and transparency in FFP program functions.
U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (R-Kan.-01), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Rick Crawford (R-Ark.-01), and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19) introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives in June.
“American farmers have played a critical role in reducing hunger overseas for decades,” Sen. Braun said. “The bipartisan American Farmers Feed the World Act would ensure that American-grown food is prioritized over foreign competitors for American aid programs around the world. It will also allow for more efficient use of funding so we can feed even more hungry people without any additional taxpayer dollars.”
The American Farmers Feed the World Act would:
- Reserve half of FFP dollars for purchasing commodities and shipping them overseas
- Reduce the maximum share for 202(e) spending in FFP from 20 percent to 10 percent
- Move key decision-making points from USAID to USDA
- Prohibit the use of food vouchers or cash transfers instead of food
- Increase reporting requirements around any waivers granted under FFP
Click here to read the full text of the bill.