[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 91 (Thursday, July 14, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 14, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            FOOD AID FOR CHILDREN IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION

  Mr. RIEGLE. Mr. President, as the Senate debates the fiscal year 1995 
Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, I wish to address an issue that 
is of critical importance to the people of the former Soviet Union. 
Despite the great progress these nations have made in their economic 
transitions, large segments of the populations continue to suffer from 
lack of food. Those hardest hit are infants and young children. While 
the scope and scale of our food aid to these nations are likely to 
diminish in future years, we must ensure that the children receive the 
nourishment they need.
  The help of the international community has been vital in helping the 
New Independent States [NIS] to continue their economic and political 
transformations. However, in light of the changing needs of these 
nations, international assistance is declining. In particular, our bulk 
commodity food aid will diminish and our overall agricultural 
assistance will likely focus more on technical and industrial 
investment. This shift is due to the fact that shortages are occurring 
primarily in regions torn by armed conflict, while the rest of the 
region is in need of infrastructure and technology.
  Despite the improving conditions in much of the former Soviet Union, 
infants and young children continue to suffer shortages. Last year, the 
Belarus Ministry of Health reported that only 18.3 percent of infants 
have adequate amounts of fruits, vegetables, and juices in their diets. 
The Russian Ministry of Health reported an even lower total--13 
percent. This situation will only worsen unless we take concrete steps 
to ensure that children in the NIS receive the nourishment they need.
  On June 10, several of my colleagues and I wrote to the distinguished 
chairman of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee asking that the 
committee support the procurement of United States-manufactured 
processed baby food to be sent to the nations of the former Soviet 
Union as part of our international assistance program. The inclusion of 
processed baby food with our aid to the NIS will address a serious 
problem facing thousands of children in that area of the world. 
Moreover, improving the diets of these children now reduces the need 
for medical assistance later--a far costlier form of humanitarian aid.
  In the report accompanying the Senate version of the fiscal year 1995 
Foreign Operations Appropriations Act the committee included the 
following language.

       Children and infants in the NIS continue to experience 
     nutritional problems due to poor diets. Processed baby foods, 
     juices, and cereals are not available in sufficient quantity 
     in a number of places within the former Soviet Union. Russian 
     and other former Soviet republics are beginning the process 
     of rebuilding their processed baby food industry. The 
     Committee agrees with the House that providing nutritional 
     assistance for children and infants in the meantime would be 
     a timely humanitarian gesture.

  Mr. President, I am pleased that many of my colleagues have joined in 
their support of this type of program that will help thousands of 
children. We currently face the enormous challenge of reshaping our 
foreign assistance program to reflect changing economic and security 
needs worldwide. In doing so we must be aware of the humanitarian needs 
which are immediate and which we can address without great expense. The 
situation in the NIS is just such a concern and I urge all of my 
colleagues to support any program that will help ease the plight of 
children in this region.

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