Letter to the Hon. Mitch McConnell, Majority Leader, to the Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, and to the Hon. Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader, and to the Hon. Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader - Congressman Panetta Leads House, Senate Members in Calling for Strong Funding for Global Food Security in Anticipated Covid-19 Legislation

Letter

Dear Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer and Leader McCarthy:
We write in support of robust funding and sufficient flexibilities to ensure the delivery of much-needed assistance to avert anticipated food crises precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We
ask that a subsequent COVID-19 stimulus package include robust funding for the Food for Peace
Title II program and the International Disaster Assistance (IDA) account for lifesaving aid,
including the delivery of emergency food aid, market stabilization and development
interventions to ensure smallholder farmers around the world can weather market disruptions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every sector of the economy and is now crippling global
food supply chains. While the initial stages of the pandemic have fortunately avoided food
supply shortages, eventual market and supply disruptions due to COVID-19 and losses in
agricultural productivity in developing countries affected by the virus are going to have major
impacts on food security. Even as American farmers are struggling amidst significant supply
chain disruptions, they are committed to feeding those most in need, both domestically and
globally.
Vulnerable populations living in low-income countries with severe development deficits, limited
social safety nets and poor healthcare infrastructure are at particular risk. Prior to COVID-19,
over 135 million people across 55 countries were already living in crisis levels of food security.1
The World Food Program (WFP) estimates that another 130 million people could be pushed into
acute hunger by COVID-19 this year, for a total of 265 million men, women and children facing
crisis levels of hunger.
A worst-case scenario would result in famine in over 30 countries.
Given these stark predictions, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) predicts
that COVID-19 will increase global humanitarian assistance needs by 25 percent. We understand
that USAID has worked quickly to adjust its programming related to long-term development
efforts like Feed the Future and emergency humanitarian support via Food for Peace and the
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). While the CARES Act included $608
million in humanitarian aid3
, more must be done. Nearly $1.6 billion of the United Nations' $6.7
billion global humanitarian appeal for COVID response efforts is specifically for food security,
nutrition and agriculture -- an appeal we can help to resource through our food assistance and
agricultural development programs.
In an effort to ensure the United States is contributing to the global efforts to combat hunger
resulting from the COVID-19, as well as sufficiently utilizing existing programming for food
security, we respectfully request the following in the next COVID-19 response legislation:
* Food for Peace: At least $850 million for Food for Peace Title II, including to purchase
commodities and pre-position food aid around the world.
* Emergency food aid: Robust funding for IDA for the delivery of emergency food aid to
displaced and vulnerable populations. Furthermore, back contributions to the UN
humanitarian appeal to meet the $1.6 billion need for food security, nutrition and
agriculture.
* Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust: Consider creating flexibility for USDA and USAID
to access the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust, a reserve of last resort, for both purchase
of in-kind commodities and logistics and administrative costs.
* Resilience and development: Support Feed the Future as a whole-of-government
strategy to leverage resources across federal agencies to mitigate pandemic-related
shocks, produce data and analysis "to help countries implement forward-looking policies;
help small and medium-sized food and agriculture businesses shift business models and
withstand the most severe impacts; and rapidly disseminate information in emerging
economies about how consumers can safely participate in food and agriculture activities
and markets amid COVID-19."4
o Continue to support USAID's efforts to strengthen global agricultural research
and development, in partnership with CGIAR, to protect global food systems and
provide early warning signs for food price volatility, restrictive trade policies, and
other actions that could adversely affect smallholder farmers.
* Diplomatic engagement: Include report language requiring the State Department, the
U.S. Department of Agriculture and other U.S. government entities to engage
diplomatically to prevent food export quotas