President Obama Signs into Law the Global Food Security Act of 2016
On July 6th, 2016, the U.S. Congress took steps to pass S. 1252, The Global Food Security Act of 2016, a bipartisan legislation that was co-sponsored by Senators Isakson and Casey and Representatives Smith and McCollum.
The purpose of this bill according to the official document is to “authorize a comprehensive strategic approach for United States foreign assistance to developing countries to reduce global poverty and hunger, achieve food and nutrition security, promote inclusive, sustainable, agricultural-led economic growth, improve nutritional outcomes, especially for women and children, build resilience among vulnerable populations, and for other purposes.”
As stated by USAID’s Administrator Gayle Smith, “The Global Food Security Act will help to solidify the progress we have already made through Feed the Future. Investments in agriculture are up and leading to improved economic growth and nutrition outcomes. Farm productivity is rising across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. And the Feed the Future model is proving itself in country after country, increasing incomes for smallholder farmers and contributing to notable drops in poverty and child stunting.”
President Barack Obama expressed how proud he was of Congress for passing this important legislation to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to ensuring food security to end global hunger, poverty and malnutrition. In his statement, President Obama conveyed that “While we've already accomplished so much through this collaborative global partnership, I know that with the continued effort and support that this legislation provides, we can achieve what was just a few years ago the unimaginable: We can end global poverty and hunger within our lifetimes”.
On July 20th, President Obama signed into law the Global Food Security Act of 2016. This signing received much support from the global development sector especially during the White House Summit on Global Development held on the same day it was signed. Similarly, USDA’s Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released a statement of support sharing that he is, “grateful that with the enactment of this legislation, the United States will continue to play a leading role in helping create a more food secure world and, therefore, a more secure United States of America."
Learn more about the S. 1252, The Global Food Security Act of 2016
*This post appears in the IICA Delegation in the USA Newsletter - May- June 2016