Farm Bill MILC Payment, USDA Address Low Dairy Prices
Iowa dairy producers received an average price of $12.00 per hundredweight for fluid mild during the month of February – a 38 percent reduction from February 2008 prices. Dairy farmers across the country are struggling to adjust to markedly lower milk prices while input costs remain relatively high. The farm bill improved the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program by restoring payment rates to 45 percent of the difference between the benchmark price and the Boston Class I price for fluid milk and by including a new feed cost adjustor to partially compensate for increased production costs.
Beginning April 1, the Department of Agriculture will issue February MILC payments at the rate of $1.5132 per hundredweight. While the MILC payments will cover only a portion of the price decline, these payments will be a welcome assistance for Iowa dairy producers.
On March 26, Secretary Vilsack announced that the Commodity Credit Corporation would provide approximately 200 million pounds of surplus nonfat dry milk from inventory to domestic nutrition programs. Removing this surplus nonfat dry milk from inventory helps farmers by strengthening dairy prices.
"Many agricultural producers are feeling the pressure of lower commodity prices while input costs remain high. This is certainly true for the dairy sector. I am pleased we were able to improve the MILC program in the farm bill last year to help farmers in situation like this," said Harkin. "Additionally, USDA's decision to remove dry milk from inventory for nutrition programs is a win-win for farmers and low-income families."
Harkin Praises USDA's Decision to Extend DCP/ACRE Sign-up Through August 14
On March 31, Secretary Vilsack announced that producers will have until August 14, 2009 to sign-up with the farm service agency (FSA) for the direct and counter-cyclical programs or to enroll in the new Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program. June 1 was the previously set deadline to sign-up for the farm programs this year.
"I was very pleased when Secretary Vilsack announced that the deadline to enroll in the conventional program or the new ACRE program has been extended, said Harkin. "Since this is the first year producers can participate in ACRE, the extension will allow farmers extra time to consider program options and to discuss these alternatives with their lenders and with the owners of rented land."
This year program participants may have to provide a little more information about their farming operations as the Department of Agriculture begins implementing of the farm bill payment limitation and eligibility rules. The Farm Service Agency is requiring additional information to assure that producers qualify for farm program benefits. Many producers complained that they were being asked to supply personal business information that should not be necessary for program compliance purposes. On March 26, the Farm Service Agency issued a new CCC-902 I Short Form for individuals who own a majority of the land they farm. Other 902 forms for individuals and entities were simplified and clarified to assure that the Farm Service Agency is only requesting the information necessary for program compliance.
Harkin, Grassley, Dorgan Call on USDA to Ensure Farm Program Payment Recipients are Actively Involved in Farming
On April 6, Senators Tom Harkin, Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) urged Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to ensure that farm commodity program payment eligibility rules contain clear standards for measuring whether a person is actively engaged in farming and thus eligible to receive payments. Under previously existing USDA rules, individuals and entities have been able to qualify for payments on the basis of minimal, and sometimes questionable, management contributions to the operation, which may amount to little more than occasionally joining telephone conference calls. The 2008 farm bill requires that in order to qualify for payments, a participant must make significant contributions of capital, equipment, or land in addition to personal labor or active personal management. In a letter to Secretary Vilsack, the Senators ask the USDA to make certain that an interim rule previously published in the Federal Register does not undermine the intention of this provision.
"GAO recommended that USDA develop measurable standards for significant contribution of active personal management. The interim rule does not implement that recommendation. It requires only regular and substantial participation that is independent and separate from the contributions of other partners or participants," said the Senators. "Unless the local Farm Service Agency offices rigorously implement the active personal management test, the interim rule on its face would leave in place a gaping loophole that may allow 'conference call farmers' and the farming operations with which they are associated to qualify for unlimited payments."
To view the letter click here.
Harkin, Chambliss Express Concern over Recent EPA Pesticide Ruling
Senators Tom Harkin and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) joined together on April 3 to ask the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take into account the impact a recent federal appellate court ruling would have on farmers. In a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, the Senators urged the EPA to ensure that any resulting regulatory requirements eliminate unnecessary burdens on farmers and the agency, provide uniformity in regulation for pesticides, and allow for continued emergency use of pesticides.
"We believe that the EPA must take into account the substantial impact this ruling would have on farmers using pesticide products," said the Senators. "We ask the EPA to make any regulatory changes as smooth and seamless as possible."
A copy of the letter can be found here.
Harkin, Chambliss Reintroduce Measure to Reduce Persistent Organic Chemical Pollutants
On March 3, Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and Ranking Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) reintroduced legislation to implement pesticide-related obligations under worldwide agreements covering a group of 12 toxic chemicals known as "POPs," persistent organic pollutants. Examples of these chemicals are DDT, PCBs, and dioxins.
"Passage of this legislation will help clear the path for ratification of three important agreements to reduce worldwide levels of these dangerous chemicals, all of which are already illegal in the United States," said Harkin. "The United States has not been able to participate in this global effort for years since we have not ratified the agreements. We must act now."
The implementation legislation would amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to implement three international agreements concerning Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). POPs are toxic chemicals that remain in the environment for an extended period of time and can bio-accumulate in the food chain. This bill would establish notice and comment procedures to ensure the American public has an opportunity to understand and express views on proposed federal action related to decisions by the parties to the conventions. The bill also would add new export reporting and labeling requirements to ensure compliance with U.S. obligations under the Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (PIC) Convention. Specifically, the convention requires all signatory nations to stop the production and use of 12 listed POPs. Parties to the convention also agree to control sources of POPs by-products to reduce releases and provide for the safe handling and disposal of POPs in an environmentally sound manner. The convention includes a science-based procedure to allow other POPs to be added and provides technical and financial assistance to help developing countries manage and control POPs.
Passage of this bill would help clear the way for Senate ratification of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs Convention), the Aarhus Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants to the Geneva Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP POPs Protocol) and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (PIC Convention).
EPA Asked to Increase Ethanol Blend in Gasoline
Senator Harkin released the following statement on March 9 applauding the recent request by members of the ethanol industry to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to authorize the blending and use of up to 15 percent ethanol in gasoline supplies. Under present regulations, only flex-fuel vehicles are authorized to use gasoline containing more than 10 percent ethanol. With total ethanol production rapidly approaching 10 percent of annual gasoline sales, this limitation is beginning to constrict ethanol markets and limiting the use of this clean domestic biofuel. Additionally, despite some criticisms, there is evidence that a higher blend if safe and efficient for vehicles.
"I commend the ethanol companies for submitting this waiver request and hope EPA will move forward expeditiously with a positive ruling," said Harkin. "This waiver is necessary to open ethanol markets and enable us to stay on a path towards decreasing the use of petroleum-based fuels and increasing the use of alternative biofuels produced from domestic resources."
Harkin Continues to Push BioPreferred Procurement
Senator Harkin continues to work to ensure that the BioPreferred procurement is a priority of the USDA under the Obama Administration. The BioPreferred program was authorized in the 2002 farm bill and requires the USDA to develop a marketing label for biobased products and requires federal agencies to give a procurement preference to qualified biobased products.
In response to questions from Senator Harkin, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack sent a letter and program fact sheet on February 27 to his fellow Cabinet members stressing the importance of the BioPreferred program. The letter describes the program, asks for cooperation in implementing the program, and encourages the Secretaries to support the program personally.
To date, almost 3000 individual products from 659 manufacturers have received the biobased designation, which qualifies them for purchase by federal agencies under the BioPreferred institute. Typical products include cleaners, lubricants, coatings, and a variety of plastics. Iowa has over 85 companies producing biobased products. For more information on the program, please see: www.biopreferred.gov.
Bipartisan Group Led by Harkin, Grassley Call on EPA to Refrain from Premature Biofuel Greenhouse Gas Emission Judgments
On March 16, a bipartisan group of 12 Senators led by Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley (D-IA) called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not to propose regulations assuming that greater U.S. biofuels use would increase carbon dioxide emissions. The senators argued the data and methods for calculating increased carbon dioxide emission from "indirect land use changes" such as from converting forest or grassland to crops are not adequately developed. Indirect land use change calculations should not be relied upon to determine if ethanol and biodiesel meet the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 that biofuels must reduce carbon emissions to count as "advance biofuels" under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
"This Renewable Fuel Standard is essential to breaking our over-dependence on oil. To do that, we need new domestic fuels as well as new vehicle technologies," said Harkin. "With the RFS, we put ourselves on a clear path of producing and using steadily increasing levels of a variety of biofuels over the next 15 years, and we included these emissions' limits to ensure that these new fuels would also be good for our environment and climate. However, for this to work, we simply must have valid data and methods for calculating the emissions. Otherwise, we'll exclude some good biofuels and stifle the investment that is so essential to our national renewable fuels strategy."
Their letter to EPA Administrator Jackson recommends that EPA refrain from including calculations of the effects on carbon emissions of indirect land use changes at this time. The law requires biofuels to meet certain life-cycle greenhouse gas emission targets in order to qualify as 'advanced biofuels" for the RFS. And, it specifies that those life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions are to include the effects of indirect land use changes.
A copy of the letter can be found here.
Harkin, Thune, Johnson Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Biofuel Pipelines
On April 3, Senators Tom Harkin, John Thune (R-SD) and Tim Johnson (D-SD) introduced legislation that authorizes loan guarantees for the construction of renewable fuel pipeline projects. While the Midwest and Plains states produce the majority of the biofuels in the United States, the nation is currently lacking the infrastructure to efficiently transport these liquid fuels to population centers in the Eastern United States and elsewhere. This bill addresses this issue by encouraging the construction and use of pipelines which can easily transport these fuels in a clean, safe and cost efficient manner.
"We must seize control of our energy future and take major steps toward the use of clean, renewable home-grown sources of energy," said Harkin. "Promoting the planning and construction of projects that transport renewable fuels efficiently and inexpensively helps enlarge the market for biofuels like ethanol, reduces our dependence on foreign fuels and supports good construction jobs."
When compared to other forms of biofuel transportation, pipelines have the lowest energy input requirements and produce the least amount of carbon emissions. In fact, pipelines produce 30 percent less emissions than railcars and 87 percent less than trucks. Pipeline transport of biofuels is also safer than using trucks or trains. In addition to these efficiency and safety advantages, it is estimated that the construction projects related to the renewable fuel pipelines would create up to 25,000 jobs nationally.
Harkin Helps Secure Funding for Important Agriculture and Rural Initiatives in Iowa
Last month Senator Harkin, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that he secured funding in the 2009 appropriations bill for many important agriculture and rural initiatives in Iowa. The bill passed in the Senate on March 10 and was signed by President Obama on March 11.
"The Omnibus bill will support a range of efforts to boost farm income, promote rural economic growth and jobs and conserve and protect soil, water and other resources," said Harkin. "I am glad to have secured funding for these programs, many of which have already shown results for our farmers and rural residents."
Click here to see Western Iowa initiatives.
Click here to see Central Iowa initiatives.
Click here to see Eastern Iowa initiatives.
Funding Opportunities for Farmers Markets in a New Farm Bill
On March 13, the USDA announced that it was accepting applications for Farmers Market Promotion Program competitive grants to increase the marketing and consumption of agricultural commodities through direct producer-to-consumer channels. Eligible entities include: agricultural cooperatives, producer networks, producer associations, local governments, nonprofit corporations, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers market authorities and Tribal governments. Applications and proposals must be received by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) no later than close of business April 27, 2009. This year, 10 percent of the total program's funds will go to projects that develop and support new electronic benefit transfers (EBT) programs for federal nutrition programs at farmers markets.
"This funding will help expand marketing opportunities for farmers and provide healthy nutritious locally-raised food to consumers," said Harkin. "It's a grassroots formula to boost farm income and good nutrition."
Senator Harkin secured $33 million over the life of the 2008 farm bill for the Farmers Market Promotion program. The program was first created in the 2002 farm bill. In Iowa, farmers market grant funds were awarded during fiscal year 2008 to support the "Buy Fresh Buy Local" initiatives such as the Sioux City farmers' market.
For more information on the Farmers Market Promotion program and how to apply, please visit: http://www.ams.usda.gov/FMPP or contact Errol R. Bragg, Director, Marketing Services Division at USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service at 202-720-8317 or email: USDAFMPP@usda.gov.
Harkin Calls on USDA to Develop New Rules for Rural Development Grant and Loan Programs
On March 20, Senator Harkin sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urging that USDA to develop new rules to carry out rural development grant and loan programs since the rules created by the previous Administration would slow down program delivery and negatively impact program participation. Harkin also called on USDA to fully carry out the provisions in the 2008 farm bill designed to increase the distribution and marketing of locally-grown foods.
The 2008 farm bill modified the Business and Industry Loan Program to provide loans to individuals, cooperatives, businesses, and other entities to establish and facilitate enterprises that process, distribute, aggregate, store, and market locally or regionally produced agricultural food products. USDA is required to reserve five percent of funds each fiscal year for local food enterprises. Additionally, the farm bill modified the Value-Added Product Market Development Program to provide grants to farmers and cooperatives to facilitate the aggregation and marketing of locally-grown foods. USDA is required to reserve 10 percent of funds each fiscal year for local and regional supply networks that link independent producers with businesses that market value-added agricultural products.
"It is important that the farm bill be fully carried out in the rules so that farmers, consumers and others can benefit from the initiatives designed to overcome the challenges of marketing and distributing locally-grown foods," said Harkin.
Harkin Calls on FDA to Address Problems with Feed Rules Affecting Dead Livestock
Senator Harkin sent a letter on March 20 to Dr. Frank Torti, the Acting Administrator of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking that FDA hold meetings in Iowa and elsewhere to hear concerns from producers and renderers regarding FDA's final rule, which would expand the 1997 feed ban to prohibit a specific list of specified risk materials (SRM) in the food or feed of all animals, not just ruminants. SRM are more prone to harbor the infectious disease-causing agent, which can develop into bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle. Harkin also called on FDA to take further action to resolve practical obstacles for compliance with the rule for producers and renderers.
"It is important that the feed rules are strengthened and fully enforced, but that can only be effectively and feasibly done if the industry knows what is required, is properly trained, and it is actually practical for them to properly carry out the rule." said Harkin.
Last year, FDA published the final rule, which would prohibit from all feed or food the entire carcass of bovine spongiform encephalopathy-positive cattle; the brains and spinal cords from cattle 30 months of age and older; the entire carcass of cattle not inspected and passed for human consumption that are 30 months of age or older from which brains and spinal cords were not removed; tallow that is derived from BSE-positive cattle; tallow that is derived from other materials prohibited by this rule that contains more than 0.15 percent insoluble impurities; and mechanically separated beef that is derived from the materials prohibited by this rule. The effective date of the final rule is April 27 of this year.
Kathleen A. Merrigan, James W. Miller and Joe E. Leonard, Jr. Confirmed to USDA Posts
On April 1, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry conducted a hearing to review pending nominations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The nominees were Joe Leonard Jr., of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights; Kathleen A. Merrigan, of Massachusetts, to be Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; and James W. Miller, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. On April 3, all three nominations were confirmed by unanimous consent of the full Senate. Harkin made the following statement regarding the nominations:
"I am pleased that the Committee and Senate were able to move swiftly to confirm Senator Obama's nominations to these positions to strengthen the Department of Agriculture in performing its many important responsibilities. We look to the Department to help our nation's farm and ranch families and associated businesses produce and deliver to Americans and others abundant supplies of safe food, along with fiber, and, increasingly, energy and biobased materials. USDA has a critical role in helping children obtain healthy food in schools and assisting all Americans put food on the family table. The Department also has a proud history and essential responsibility in promoting and supporting the efforts of farmers and ranchers to conserve our nation's resources – water, soil, wildlife, and energy -- and also to help mitigate global warming. And we rely on USDA to promote the economic success and quality of life in rural communities.
"Kathleen Merrigan is certainly no stranger to this Committee, and we welcome her today and congratulate her on her nomination for Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. She has a strong and diverse background working on many issues in food and agriculture, and to improve opportunities for people in agriculture and in rural communities.
"Jim Miller has an extensive and strong background and experience, from working farmer on to very capable work in helping us crafting the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. I congratulate him on his nomination to this key Under Secretary position.
"The Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights may well be the toughest job anyone will take on at the Department. Stretching back many decades, USDA has run up a string of documented failures in respecting civil rights – of both USDA employees and USDA customers. The most visible manifestation of these civil right failures is the consent decree in the Pigford v. Glickman case, under which USDA has thus far paid out nearly $1 billion of taxpayers' money to settle racial discrimination claims of African-American farmers. The Pigford v. Glickman consent decree by no means cures USDA's sad record of civil rights neglect. Native American, Hispanic and female farmers are all currently suing the Department for program discrimination. African-American farmers continue to file and seek to settle cases involving the Pigford litigation. And USDA has a vast backlog of race discrimination claims from employees and customers. We congratulate and welcome to the Committee, Joe Leonard, Jr. as nominee for Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. He has a long history of working in key roles on civil rights issues, and we look to him to draw upon that experience to turn around a very troubling civil rights situation at USDA."
Committee Vote Sends Commodity Futures Trading Commission Nomination to Full Senate
On March 18, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry voted on President Obama's nomination of Gary Gensler as Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The committee met and reported out Gensler as Chair and member of CFTC by roll call with no negative votes. Gensler's nomination is now pending before the full Senate. Senator Tom Harkin released the following statement following the Committee vote:
"With our current economic crisis, it is painfully clear that our nation's financial system requires a much stronger and more effective regulatory scheme, and it is important that we have an effective leader at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. At his confirmation hearing, Mr. Gensler responded to our questions carefully and knowledgeably; I am hopeful that he will lead effectively in reforming and restoring regulation of trading in futures and other derivatives contracts. While it is not possible to know for certain how he will handle all of the issues that will come before him."
Harkin Calls for Food Safety Reform
Recent outbreaks of food-borne illnesses have brought to light the need for increased attention to and reform of the food safety system. People have been sickened from outbreaks involving spinach, peppers, peanut products, and sprouts. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing to investigate the deficiencies in the current food safety system and what can be done to reform the system. Senator Harkin chaired this hearing and is working on legislation to make food safer through the prevention of food-borne illness. Harkin has introduced legislation in the last Congress to bolster food safety. Several other Congressional hearings have been held on food safety to discover what needs to be done to reform the system.
In response to comments by Kellogg Company CEO David Mackay at a hearing on food safety Senator Harkin stated, "I welcome Mr. Mackay's comments about the need to update our food safety laws and applaud Kellogg Company for stating publicly what Americans have known for far too long – that the current fragmented system of food safety oversight is not doing enough to keep our citizens safe from food-borne illnesses. As I stated during a hearing that I chaired last month, to say that food safety in this country is a patchwork system is giving it too much credit, and we have to develop a smarter approach to food safety in America.
"That is why I was so pleased to hear President Obama announce the creation of a Food Safety Working Group, and commit to dedicating additional desperately needed resources to put more food safety inspectors to work. More personnel at FDA and better coordination among the various agencies responsible for overseeing food safety are critical first steps, but there is clearly more that can and should be done right now, particularly at FDA.
"I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and with the new administration to create a food safety system that does a better job both of preventing outbreaks before they occur and, when they do happen, responding effectively."
Additionally, Harkin made the following statement upon hearing the news that Kraft Foods reported to the EPA that during a routine testing the company had detected Salmonella in pistachios used in their products:
"This instance once again demonstrates the need for more oversight of our food safety system. It is intolerable that here in America people have to worry that the food they get from their local market or grocery store could make their families sick, or even worse, cause death.
"While news of this contamination is frightening, Kraft Foods is to be commended for performing this type of routine testing and for reporting the results to the FDA. Kraft was not required under current law to report their findings, however because it chose to do so a potential Salmonella outbreak may have been averted. It is for reasons such as this that I believe it should be mandatory for food processors to report any and all findings of potentially harmful food products to the FDA.
"Additionally, this is a good example of how important it is for food processors to be able to trace the source of the products they use. Kraft was able to act immediately because it knew the source of the contaminated pistachios.
"As I have said before, our food safety system is broken and I am hopeful that we can soon repair it."
More information about the ongoing product recalls can be found on the FDA website at: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html.
Senate Committee Continues Focus on Promoting Sound Nutrition in America's Schools
On March 31, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry held a hearing entitled "Beyond Federal School Meal Programs: Reforming Nutrition for Kids in Schools." The hearing was one in a series leading to the Committee's writing of legislation to extend and update federal childhood nutrition programs later this year. Earlier hearings focused on access, quality, and cost of federal nutrition programs such as the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. This hearing focused on mechanisms for improving the nutritional quality and healthfulness of the foods and beverages sold in schools through school snack bars, vending machines, and a la carte lines, including proposals for strengthening nutrition standards for such foods. The first panel examined the issue from the perspective of schools, while the second featured the opinions of health professionals as well as the food and beverage industry.
"Over 60 years ago, President Truman and Congress founded the federal child nutrition programs on the principle that sound nutrition promotes lifelong health and prevents illness and disease. Of course, that principle still stands, though the details have changed," said Harkin. "The nutritional and diet-related conditions and diseases plaguing today's children include previously unheard-of rates of overweight, obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. That's why the child nutrition bill we are writing is integral to reforming our nation's health system. Sound nutrition is indispensable to preventing illness and disease, and to helping Americans lead healthier, longer lives and reduce health costs, which are by far the highest in the world."
Harkin, serving dual roles in the Senate Agriculture and Health Committees, says the child nutrition legislation goes hand-in-hand with the critical need for major health care reform because fostering better nutrition and eating habits among kids in schools, childcare and other early childhood settings can prevent illness and chronic health problems, promote longer and healthier lives, and reduce health care costs.
Bipartisan Group Led by Harkin Calls on President to Renew Commitment to Food for Peace Program
On March 20, a bipartisan group of 29 Senators led by Tom Harkin called on President Barack Obama to renew America's commitment to food assistance and fostering sustainable agricultural and economic development in less-developed countries. The lawmakers asked the President to carry out parts of the 2008 farm bill that improve and reform the Food for Peace program and encouraged him to propose added funding for the program in his detailed budget for FY 2010. In a letter to the President, the Senators argued that this worldwide economic downturn, coupled with the recent global food crisis caused by weather and other disasters, make the assistance provided under the Food for Peace program more important than ever. At the end of 2008, the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization estimated that there were 963 million hungry people in the world, as compared to 800 million at the time of the World Food Summit in 1996. This number likely reflects only the early stages of increased poverty and hunger due to the job losses and reduced incomes caused by the global financial crisis and economic recession.
"Food for Peace is a crucial tool in fulfilling our nation's commitment to helping the world's hungry people and fostering global food security," said Harkin. "Even in the face of monumental challenges at home and abroad, we must remember those whose lives were already plagued by persistent poverty, hunger, and disease. By fully funding Food for Peace, while improving and modernizing the program's management, we can ensure we have a smart, effective policy for U.S. international assistance."
Specifically, the letter asks President Obama to implement the reforms contained in the Food, Conservation & Security Act of 2008, the farm bill, in a timely manner. Doing so will result in more effective and responsive Food for Peace procurement practices, spreading out commodity orders by contracting with vendors for delivery over several months or the entire year, expanding pre-positioning of commodities overseas in areas close to "hot spots" where food needs are greatest, and enhancing the quality control systems used for procuring processed products. In addition, the letter calls for funding Food for Peace at the full authorization level of $2.5 billion in order to meet the critical needs of the program in the coming year. The preliminary estimate for total Title II spending for fiscal 2008 (regular appropriation plus emergency funding) was $2.4 billion.
A copy of the letter can be found here.
