[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H1612-H1617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1715
                    GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY ACT OF 2016

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 1567) to authorize a comprehensive, strategic 
approach for United States foreign assistance to developing countries 
to reduce global poverty and hunger, achieve food security and improved 
nutrition, 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 amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1567

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Global Food Security Act of 
     2016''.

     SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY OBJECTIVES; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       (a) Statement of Policy Objectives.--It is in the national 
     security interest of the United States to promote global food 
     security, resilience, and nutrition, consistent with national 
     food security investment plans, which is reinforced through 
     programs, activities, and initiatives that--
       (1) accelerate inclusive, agricultural-led economic growth 
     that reduces global poverty, hunger, and malnutrition, 
     particularly among women and children;
       (2) increase the productivity, incomes, and livelihoods of 
     small-scale producers, especially women, by working across 
     agricultural value chains, enhancing local capacity to manage 
     agricultural resources effectively, and expanding producer 
     access to local and international markets;
       (3) build resilience to food shocks among vulnerable 
     populations and households while reducing reliance upon 
     emergency food assistance;
       (4) create an enabling environment for agricultural growth 
     and investment, including through the promotion of secure and 
     transparent property rights;
       (5) improve the nutritional status of women and children, 
     with a focus on reducing child stunting, including through 
     the promotion of highly nutritious foods, diet 
     diversification, and nutritional behaviors that improve 
     maternal and child health;
       (6) align with and leverage broader United States 
     strategies and investments in trade, economic growth, science 
     and technology, agricultural research and extension, maternal 
     and child health, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and 
     hygiene;
       (7) continue to strengthen partnerships between United 
     States-based universities, including land-grant colleges and 
     universities, and institutions in target countries and 
     communities that build agricultural capacity; and
       (8) ensure the effective use of United States taxpayer 
     dollars to further these objectives.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress 
     that the President, in providing assistance to implement the 
     Global Food Security Strategy, should--
       (1) coordinate, through a whole-of-government approach, the 
     efforts of relevant Federal departments and agencies to 
     implement the Global Food Security Strategy;
       (2) seek to fully utilize the unique capabilities of each 
     relevant Federal department and agency while collaborating 
     with and leveraging the contributions of other key 
     stakeholders; and
       (3) utilize open and streamlined solicitations to allow for 
     the participation of a wide range of implementing partners 
     through the most appropriate procurement mechanisms, which 
     may include grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and 
     other instruments as necessary and appropriate.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Agriculture.--The term ``agriculture'' means crops, 
     livestock, fisheries, and forestries.
       (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
       (B) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
     of the Senate;
       (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
       (D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (E) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (3) Feed the future innovation labs.--The term ``Feed the 
     Future Innovation Labs'' means research partnerships led by 
     United States universities that advance solutions to reduce 
     global hunger, poverty, and malnutrition.
       (4) Food and nutrition security.--The term ``food and 
     nutrition security'' means access to, and availability, 
     utilization, and stability of, sufficient food to meet 
     caloric and nutritional needs for an active and healthy life.
       (5) Global food security strategy.--The term ``Global Food 
     Security Strategy'' means the strategy developed and 
     implemented pursuant to section 4(a).
       (6) Key stakeholders.--The term ``key stakeholders'' means 
     actors engaged in efforts to advance global food security 
     programs and objectives, including--
       (A) relevant Federal departments and agencies;
       (B) national and local governments in target countries;

[[Page H1613]]

       (C) other bilateral donors;
       (D) international and regional organizations;
       (E) international, regional, and local financial 
     institutions;
       (F) international, regional, and local private voluntary, 
     nongovernmental, faith-based, and civil society 
     organizations;
       (G) the private sector, including agribusinesses and 
     relevant commodities groups;
       (H) agricultural producers, including farmer organizations, 
     cooperatives, small-scale producers, and women; and
       (I) agricultural research and academic institutions, 
     including land-grant colleges and universities and extension 
     services.
       (7) Land-grant colleges and universities.--The term ``land-
     grant colleges and universities'' has the meaning given such 
     term in section 1404(13) of the National Agricultural 
     Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
     U.S.C. 3103(13)).
       (8) Malnutrition.--The term ``malnutrition'' means poor 
     nutritional status caused by nutritional deficiency or 
     excess.
       (9) Relevant federal departments and agencies.--The term 
     ``relevant Federal departments and agencies'' means the 
     United States Agency for International Development, the 
     Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, the 
     Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, the 
     Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Overseas Private 
     Investment Corporation, the Peace Corps, the Office of the 
     United States Trade Representative, the United States African 
     Development Foundation, the United States Geological Survey, 
     and any other department or agency specified by the President 
     for purposes of this section.
       (10) Resilience.--The term ``resilience'' means the ability 
     of people, households, communities, countries, and systems to 
     mitigate, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses to 
     food security in a manner that reduces chronic vulnerability 
     and facilitates inclusive growth.
       (11) Small-scale producer.--The term ``small-scale 
     producer'' means farmers, pastoralists, foresters, and 
     fishers that have a low-asset base and limited resources, 
     including land, capital, skills and labor, and, in the case 
     of farmers, typically farm on fewer than 5 hectares of land.
       (12) Sustainable.--The term ``sustainable'' means the 
     ability of a target country, community, implementing partner, 
     or intended beneficiary to maintain, over time, the programs 
     authorized and outcomes achieved pursuant to this Act.
       (13) Target country.--The term ``target country'' means a 
     developing country that is selected to participate in 
     agriculture and nutrition security programs under the Global 
     Food Security Strategy pursuant to the selection criteria 
     described in section 4(a)(2), including criteria such as the 
     potential for agriculture-led economic growth, government 
     commitment to agricultural investment and policy reform, 
     opportunities for partnerships and regional synergies, the 
     level of need, and resource availability.

     SEC. 4. COMPREHENSIVE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY STRATEGY.

       (a) Strategy.--The President shall coordinate the 
     development and implementation of a United States whole-of-
     government strategy to accomplish the policy objectives 
     described in section 2(a), which shall--
       (1) set specific and measurable goals, benchmarks, 
     timetables, performance metrics, and monitoring and 
     evaluation plans that reflect international best practices 
     relating to transparency, accountability, food and nutrition 
     security, and agriculture-led economic growth, consistent 
     with the policy objectives described in section 2(a);
       (2) establish clear and transparent selection criteria for 
     target countries and communities;
       (3) support and be aligned with country-owned agriculture, 
     nutrition, and food security policy and investment plans 
     developed with input from key stakeholders, as appropriate;
       (4) support inclusive agricultural value chain development, 
     with small-scale producers, especially women, gaining greater 
     access to the inputs, skills, resource management capacity, 
     networking, bargaining power, financing, and market linkages 
     needed to sustain their long-term economic prosperity;
       (5) support improvement of the nutritional status of women 
     and children, particularly during the critical first 1,000-
     day window until a child reaches 2 years of age and with a 
     focus on reducing child stunting, through nutrition-specific 
     and nutrition-sensitive programs, including related water, 
     sanitation, and hygiene programs;
       (6) facilitate communication and collaboration, as 
     appropriate, among local stakeholders in support of a multi-
     sectoral approach to food and nutrition security, to include 
     analysis of the multiple underlying causes of malnutrition, 
     including lack of access to safe drinking water, sanitation, 
     and hygiene;
       (7) support the long-term success of programs by building 
     the capacity of local organizations and institutions in 
     target countries and communities;
       (8) integrate resilience and nutrition strategies into food 
     security programs, such that chronically vulnerable 
     populations are better able to build safety nets, secure 
     livelihoods, access markets, and access opportunities for 
     longer-term economic growth;
       (9) develop community and producer resilience to natural 
     disasters, emergencies, and natural occurrences that 
     adversely impact agricultural yield;
       (10) harness science, technology, and innovation, including 
     the research and extension activities supported by relevant 
     Federal departments and agencies, including State partners, 
     and Feed the Future Innovation Labs;
       (11) integrate agricultural development activities among 
     food insecure populations living in proximity to designated 
     national parks or wildlife areas into wildlife conservation 
     efforts, as necessary and appropriate;
       (12) leverage resources and expertise through partnerships 
     with the private sector, farm organizations, cooperatives, 
     civil society, faith-based organizations, and agricultural 
     research and academic institutions;
       (13) support collaboration, as appropriate, between United 
     States universities, including land-grant colleges and 
     universities, and public and private institutions in target 
     countries and communities to promote agricultural development 
     and innovation;
       (14) seek to ensure that target countries and communities 
     respect and promote land tenure rights of local communities, 
     particularly those of women and small-scale producers; and
       (15) include criteria and methodologies for graduating 
     target countries and communities from assistance provided to 
     implement the Global Food Security Strategy as such countries 
     and communities meet the progress benchmarks identified 
     pursuant to section 6(b)(4).
       (b) Coordination.--The President shall coordinate, through 
     a whole-of-government approach, the efforts of relevant 
     Federal departments and agencies in the implementation of the 
     Global Food Security Strategy by--
       (1) establishing monitoring and evaluation systems, 
     coherence, and coordination across relevant Federal 
     departments and agencies; and
       (2) establishing platforms for regular consultation and 
     collaboration with key stakeholders and the appropriate 
     congressional committees.
       (c) Strategy Submission.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than October 1, 2016, the 
     President, in consultation with the head of each relevant 
     Federal department and agency, shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees the Global Food Security 
     Strategy required under this section that provides a detailed 
     description of how the United States intends to advance the 
     objectives set forth in section 2(a) and the agency-specific 
     plans described in paragraph (2).
       (2) Agency-specific plans.--The Global Food Security 
     Strategy shall include specific implementation plans from 
     each relevant Federal department and agency that describes--
       (A) the anticipated contributions of the department or 
     agency, including technical, financial, and in-kind 
     contributions, to implement the Global Food Security 
     Strategy; and
       (B) the efforts of the department or agency to ensure that 
     the activities and programs carried out pursuant to the 
     strategy are designed to achieve maximum impact and long-term 
     sustainability.

     SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE TO IMPLEMENT THE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY 
                   STRATEGY.

       (a) Food Shortages.--The President is authorized to carry 
     out activities pursuant to section 103, section 103A, title 
     XII of chapter 2 of part I, and chapter 4 of part II of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151a, 2151a-1, 
     2220a et seq., and 2346 et seq.) to prevent or address food 
     shortages notwithstanding any other provision of law.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of State and the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development $1,000,600,000 for fiscal year 2017 to carry out 
     those portions of the Global Food Security Strategy that 
     relate to the Department of State and the United States 
     Agency for International Development, respectively.
       (c) Monitoring and Evaluation.--The President shall seek to 
     ensure that assistance to implement the Global Food Security 
     Strategy is provided under established parameters for a 
     rigorous accountability system to monitor and evaluate 
     progress and impact of the strategy, including by reporting 
     to the appropriate congressional committees and the public on 
     an annual basis.

     SEC. 6. REPORT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the submission of the Global Food Security Strategy, the 
     President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a report that describes the status of the 
     implementation of the Global Food Security Strategy.
       (b) Content.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     shall--
       (1) contain a summary of the Global Food Security Strategy 
     as an appendix;
       (2) identify any substantial changes made in the Global 
     Food Security Strategy during the preceding calendar year;
       (3) describe the progress made in implementing the Global 
     Food Security Strategy;
       (4) identify the indicators used to establish benchmarks 
     and measure results over time, as well as the mechanisms for 
     reporting such results in an open and transparent manner;
       (5) describe related strategies and benchmarks for 
     graduating target countries and

[[Page H1614]]

     communities from assistance provided under the Global Food 
     Security Strategy over time, including by building 
     resilience, reducing risk, and enhancing the sustainability 
     of outcomes from United States investments in agriculture and 
     nutrition security;
       (6) contain a transparent, open, and detailed accounting of 
     expenditures by relevant Federal departments and agencies to 
     implement the Global Food Security Strategy, including, for 
     each Federal department and agency, the statutory source of 
     expenditures, amounts expended, implementing partners, 
     targeted beneficiaries, and activities supported;
       (7) describe how the Global Food Security Strategy 
     leverages other United States food security and development 
     assistance programs on the continuum from emergency food aid 
     through sustainable, agriculture-led economic growth;
       (8) describe the contributions of the Global Food Security 
     Strategy to, and assess the impact of, broader international 
     food and nutrition security assistance programs, including 
     progress in the promotion of land tenure rights, creating 
     economic opportunities for women and small-scale producers, 
     and stimulating agriculture-led economic growth in target 
     countries and communities;
       (9) assess efforts to coordinate United States 
     international food security and nutrition programs, 
     activities, and initiatives with key stakeholders;
       (10) identify any United States legal or regulatory 
     impediments that could obstruct the effective implementation 
     of the programming referred to in paragraphs (7) and (8);
       (11) assess United States Government-facilitated private 
     investment in related sectors and the impact of private 
     sector investment in target countries and communities;
       (12) contain a clear gender analysis of programming, to 
     inform project-level activities, that includes established 
     disaggregated gender indicators to better analyze outcomes 
     for food productivity, income growth, control of assets, 
     equity in access to inputs, jobs and markets, and nutrition; 
     and
       (13) incorporate a plan for regularly reviewing and 
     updating strategies, partnerships, and programs and sharing 
     lessons learned with a wide range of stakeholders, including 
     key stakeholders, in an open, transparent manner.
       (c) Public Availability of Information.--The information 
     referred to in subsection (b) shall be made available on the 
     public website of the United States Agency for International 
     Development in an open, machine readable format, in a timely 
     manner.

     SEC. 7. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING EFFECT OF GLOBAL FOOD 
                   SECURITY STRATEGY ON FOOD AND NUTRITION 
                   SECURITY AND EMERGENCY AND NONEMERGENCY FOOD 
                   ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

       (a) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in the Global Food 
     Security Strategy or this Act shall be construed to supersede 
     or otherwise affect the authority of the relevant Federal 
     departments and agencies to carry out the programs specified 
     in subsection (b) in the manner provided in, and subject to 
     the terms and conditions of, those programs.
       (b) Covered Programs.--The programs referred to in 
     subsection (a) are the following:
       (1) The Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.).
       (2) The Food for Progress Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1736o).
       (3) Section 416(b) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 
     U.S.C. 1431(b)).
       (4) Section 3206 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act 
     of 2008 (Local and Regional Food Aid Procurement Program; 7 
     U.S.C. 1726c).
       (5) The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act (7 U.S.C. 
     1736f-1).
       (6) Section 3107 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment 
     Act of 2002 (McGovern-Dole International Food for Education 
     and Child Nutrition Program; 7 U.S.C. 1736o-1).
       (7) Any other food and nutrition security and emergency and 
     nonemergency food assistance programs administered by the 
     Department of Agriculture.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Global Food Security Act, H.R. 1567, authorizes a 
comprehensive, strategic approach for U.S. foreign assistance to 
developing countries to reduce poverty and hunger, achieve food 
security and improved nutrition, promote inclusive, sustainable, 
agricultural-led economic growth, improve nutritional outcomes, 
especially for women and children, and build resilience among 
vulnerable populations.
  At its core, H.R. 1567 establishes a comprehensive global food 
security strategy that includes eight mutually reinforcing policy 
objectives and 15 specific goals and actions designed to develop and 
implement a whole-of-government strategy.
  Essential elements of the strategy include: benchmarks, timetables, 
performance metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans; clear and 
transparent selection criteria for target countries; support of 
inclusive value-chain development with small-scale producers, 
especially women; leverage of resources and expertise through 
partnerships with the private sector, farm organizations, cooperatives, 
civil society, faith-based organizations, and agricultural research and 
academic institutions; harnessing science, technology, and innovation 
from a myriad of sources, including the 24 Feed the Future innovation 
labs; and support for improved nutrition for women and children, 
particularly during the critical first thousand-day window until a 
child reaches 2 years of age, and with a focus on reducing child 
stunting through nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programs, 
including related water, sanitation, and hygiene programs.
  Indeed, Mr. Speaker, there is perhaps no wiser and radically 
transformative investment that we could make in the human person than 
to concentrate on ensuring that sufficient nutrition and health 
assistance is given during the first thousand days of life, a thousand 
days that begins with conception, continues throughout pregnancy, 
includes that milestone event called birth, and then finishes at 
roughly the second birthday of the child.
  Children who do not receive adequate nutrition in utero are far more 
likely to experience immune system deficiencies, making opportunistic 
infections more debilitating, even fatal, and a large number of 
lifelong cognitive and physical deficiencies, such as stunting. UNICEF 
estimates that one in four children worldwide is stunted due to lack of 
adequate nutrition. By maximizing nutrition during the first thousand 
days of life, we help ensure that the next 25,000 days or more in a 
person's life are far more likely to be healthier and disease free.
  One objective of H.R. 1567 is to graduate individuals and families 
and communities and nations from food aid dependency to self-
sufficiency, leading to a likely reduction in emergency food assistance 
over time. That is both humane and a responsible stewardship of 
taxpayer funds.
  By statutorily authorizing this program, which had its roots in the 
Bush administration and was formalized by the Obama administration, we 
are also statutorily enhancing congressional oversight by requiring the 
administration to report to Congress. Thus, the bill requires rigorous 
monitoring, evaluation, and congressional oversight of the global food 
security strategy, and it mandates a comprehensive report to ensure 
accountability and effectiveness.
  The approach we have taken in the Global Food Security Act is 
fiscally disciplined. There is no additional cost to the U.S. taxpayer. 
This would authorize a straight-lining from 2015 and 2016. USAID will 
be authorized, however, to do more by more effectively leveraging our 
aid with that of other countries, the private sector, NGOs, and faith-
based organizations, whose great work on the ground in so many 
different countries impacts so many lives.
  As the prime sponsor of H.R. 1567, let me convey my very special 
thanks to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the prime 
Democratic cosponsor, for her leadership, for her friendship, and for 
her support.
  I am deeply grateful to the majority leader, Kevin McCarthy, and his 
extraordinary floor director, Kelly Dixon, for their pivotal support in 
the last Congress and this one for the Global Food Security Act.
  I would note parenthetically, if it passes today, this will be the 
second time in 2 years. The clock ran out on the bill in the Senate 
during the last Congress.
  I am grateful as well for the strong and abiding support of the 
chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ed Royce, and ranking 
member, Eliot Engel. They have been tremendous.

[[Page H1615]]

The Committee on Agriculture chairman, Mike Conaway, made several 
important policy revisions and has been personally involved in the 
drafting of this bill, so I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Conaway), my good friend and very distinguished colleague, for his work 
on this bill and his work on Agriculture in general. I thank him for 
that leadership. And, of course, a heartfelt thanks to all the other 
original cosponsors: Mr. Fortenberry, Ms. Bass, Mr. Crenshaw, Ms. 
DeLauro, Mr. Reichert, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Smith of Washington, and Mr. 
Paulsen.
  Finally, a great big thanks to our professional staff members, who 
worked hard to bring this bill to the floor: Joan Condon and Doug 
Anderson at the Committee on Foreign Affairs; Scott Graves, Bart 
Fischer, and Jackie Barber at the Committee on Agriculture; legislative 
counsel Mark Synnes; Jenn Holcomb in Betty McCollum's office; Piero 
Tozzi from my subcommittee; and my chief of staff, Mary Noonan. This is 
truly a team effort. This will save lives and enhance everyone's life 
around the world who benefits from the program.

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure, and I 
yield myself such time as I may consume.
  First, Mr. Speaker, let me thank our chairman, Ed Royce, and his 
staff for their hard work on the bill and for bringing it forward. I am 
a big supporter of this bill, and I think this again shows our 
committee bipartisanship at its best.
  I also want to thank Congressman Chris Smith and Congresswoman Betty 
McCollum for authorizing this legislation, the Global Food Security 
Act, H.R. 1567.
  Mr. Speaker, nearly 800 million people around the world go to bed 
hungry on a day-to-day basis. Malnutrition is responsible for nearly 
half of all deaths of children under 5 years old. This is just 
unconscionable. We cannot allow it to continue. Plain and simple, we 
need to do more to help people feed themselves.
  Beyond that, we need to get to the root causes that perpetuate cycles 
of poverty, hunger, and instability. This bill lays out clear 
priorities for American foreign assistance programs that reduce global 
poverty and hunger. We want to prioritize efforts that accelerate 
agriculture-led economic growth, enhance food and nutrition security, 
build resilience, create an environment for robust investment and 
trade, and advance the range of economic, diplomatic, global health, 
and national security interests that are tied to food security.
  This bill also authorizes funding for State Department and USAID 
initiatives, including the administration's signature effort of Feed 
the Future. This program has already delivered real results in fighting 
world hunger, poverty, and malnutrition. Since 2010, Feed the Future 
has worked with smallholder farmers in 19 countries to increase incomes 
and reduce hunger, poverty, and undernutrition.
  Feed the Future has helped rural Cambodians start profitable fish 
farming businesses, taught Guatemalan sharecroppers to grow more 
profitable crops, and provided educational and national support to 
Tanzanian mothers. There has been real progress in places like Ghana, 
which has reduced childhood stunting by 33 percent in just 6 years 
between 2008 and 2014. Incomes in Honduras increased 55 percent between 
2012 and 2014.
  This isn't a pie-in-the-sky notion, Mr. Speaker. This is an 
initiative that we are a part of that is getting real results for real 
people. So let's continue to support it.
  This bill is a real step toward our vision of a world without global 
hunger and malnutrition, and it supports critical U.S. foreign policy 
and national security interests. I urge all of my colleagues to support 
this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Conaway), the chairman of the 
Committee on Agriculture, who worked very closely with our committee 
and with me and with my staff on the bill and helped to ensure that it 
did not have any unintended negative consequences for the domestic 
programs within his committee's jurisdiction. I want to thank him again 
for his great leadership.
  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Smith for yielding and 
the other colleagues for the work they have done on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1567, the Global Food 
Security Act of 2016. With the world population rapidly increasing, 
particularly in some of the most impoverished and food-insecure 
regions, it is of critical importance that the United States maintain 
its position as the world leader in the effort to alleviate global 
hunger and enhance food security.
  The agricultural community is proud to have long played a crucial 
role in this effort. We are eager to continue doing our part. As 
chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, I vow to ensure that 
the expertise of the agriculture community is fully leveraged in the 
global food security efforts that are moving forward.
  To fulfill that promise, I have worked closely with the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs to ensure that the bill before us today capitalizes on 
the wealth of knowledge and expertise within the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture and amongst agricultural businesses, commodity groups, 
agricultural producers, agricultural research institutions, land grant 
colleges and universities, and the agricultural extension system.
  Beyond requiring collaboration with key agricultural stakeholders, 
the bill will also improve the monitoring and reporting of the various 
programs and funds counted toward the success of the current Feed the 
Future initiative. USAID has been very vocal in its efforts to reduce 
and/or eliminate in-kind food assistance, yet it lauds the use of these 
very programs in selling the success of Feed the Future. It is my hope 
that the enhanced reporting accountability within the global food 
security strategy will ensure that all food aid programs and means of 
delivery are appropriately recognized for the role that they play in 
the strategy's success.
  Further, to ensure that this legislation does not provide USAID with 
unintended opportunity to overhaul time-tested food aid programs, the 
bill contains carefully crafted language protecting the funds and the 
authorities of these existing programs. As I have pointed out time and 
again, any changes should be explored in the context of future farm 
bill discussions.
  I greatly appreciate Congressman Smith's open-minded approach to 
achieving common ground on this legislation as well as the cooperation 
and support from the various agricultural organizations, commodity 
groups, and nongovernmental organizations, such as the ONE Campaign, 
who have been engaged in this process. I look forward to maintaining 
and building upon these positive relations as we move forward and 
carefully monitor the implementation of this strategy. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 5 minutes to 
the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), one of the authors of 
this bill and someone who has worked so long on issues like these for 
so many, many years. A lot of this is really a result of her hard work 
through the years.

                              {time}  1730

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support for the 
Global Food Security Act, H.R. 1567. I want to especially thank 
Congressman Chris Smith for being a real, true partner on this bill and 
for his work to advance global food security, which we both care about 
so very deeply.
  This bill is an important bill with a goal everyone should support: 
helping hardworking farmers grow the food they need to feed and support 
their families. As we have already heard, in the world's poorest 
countries, nearly 800 million people are chronically hungry or 
malnourished, and more than 150 million children under the age of 5 are 
stunted.
  No parent should have to watch their child suffer or even die because 
they don't have access to the nutritious food they need to survive. For 
children who somehow do survive, the lasting damage of not having 
access to healthy food means that a child will not grow physically and 
mentally the way that they should, especially during the first

[[Page H1616]]

thousand days, and any damage that is done is permanent.
  According to the World Bank, stunting ``means a child has failed to 
develop in full, and it is essentially irreversible, which means that 
the child will have little hope of achieving [their] full potential.''
  As a global community, we know that chronic malnutrition severely 
limits a child's ability to grow, to learn, and to thrive. But it is 
not just harmful for that child or the family, it undermines the 
development of an entire community and perpetuates the cycle of 
poverty. And all of this is completely preventable.
  Working with small holder farmers, especially women, Feed the Future 
is helping to provide the tools, resources, education, and training 
these farmers need to grow their way out of poverty and to improve 
nutrition and create new economic opportunities.
  I have been fortunate enough to see the work USAID is doing around 
the globe and to hear directly from women farmers about the difference 
it has made for themselves and their families. A mother can now feed 
her family better food, pay her children's school fees, invest in her 
community, and become an entrepreneur herself.
  These are success stories that happen when the United States makes 
smart investments in global food security. These are the successes that 
we must continue if we want to strengthen families, communities, and, 
yes, even our own national security.
  Feed the Future does not work alone. It is partnering with private 
sector businesses, civil society, and universities. Bringing these 
sectors together with their specialized knowledge and expertise is not 
only good for that farmer or local processor, but it builds new, stable 
markets in these communities.
  Minnesota-based businesses Land O'Lakes, General Mills, and Cargill 
are already working with Feed the Future. General Mills CEO Ken Powell 
said, ``And we are hungry to help the farmer in Malawi who, by selling 
her crop, will generate the money needed to support her family and pay 
for her children to go to school.''
  Well, that truly sums it up. This is what this legislation is all 
about: empowering women farmers to support and care for their families.
  Once again, I want to thank Congressman Chris Smith for being a great 
partner on this journey. I would like to thank Chairman Royce and 
Ranking Member Engel for helping to move this legislation forward, 
along with Congresswoman Bass.
  I also want to thank the staff--Piero, Jenn, Janice, and Joan--for 
all the work that they did to help get this bill to the floor today.
  In December 2014, this House passed a similar version of this bill by 
a voice vote, but the Senate failed to act. So today, once again, I 
urge my colleagues to support the Global Food Security Act.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho), a member of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, 
for bringing this bill up today.
  I rise in support of the Global Food Security Act, H.R. 1567. This 
bill reflects almost 2 years of work between the Agriculture Committee 
and the Foreign Affairs Committee, both of which I serve on.
  This legislation is an important step in getting back to regular 
order and properly authorizing a program--which has essentially been on 
autopilot for the last 7 years--before funds are appropriated.
  An important program such as this needs to be reexamined by Congress 
and duly authorized so that changes that need to be made can be made 
and to stop the terrible pattern of just appropriating money for 
programs because the reauthorization is too difficult to work out.
  The legislation demonstrates that this body is doing what we were 
sent up here to do: make the tough decisions and stop the cycle of 
throwing good money after bad.
  H.R. 1567 authorizes previously unauthorized money that is no higher 
than what has been appropriated in the last 2 fiscal years.
  Furthermore, through the hard work of both the Agriculture and 
Foreign Affairs Committees, we have been able to eliminate duplicative 
spending and waste, strengthen congressional oversight while 
instituting no new spending, and most importantly, begin weaning these 
nations off of U.S. foreign aid by including the private sector, 
promoting economic growth, and opening markets for U.S. trade and 
investment instead of just aid.
  I think it is time to change our paradigm of giving aid to foreign 
governments and move from aid to trade. That way, we wean off the 
structure we have done in the past.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1567 and show the rest of the 
world that Congress is doing what it was meant to: making the hard 
choices through negotiating and crafting legislation and programs that 
will not irresponsibly waste taxpayer money and will encourage the best 
results that will wean countries off of U.S. aid and onto U.S. trade.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as you have heard from all our colleagues on both sides 
of the aisle, this is a good bill that deserves to be supported by 
everyone in the House.
  Ending global hunger and malnutrition is an enormous challenge. There 
are nearly 800 million people facing chronic hunger and 3.1 million 
child malnutrition deaths each year. Let me just say that again because 
it is shocking. There are 3.1 million child malnutrition deaths each 
year. These are deaths of innocent children that we can save. They are 
dying if we do nothing.
  So we must do more to achieve food and nutrition security. This bill 
is a step in the right direction, and I urge all my colleagues to 
support it.
  I once again thank Chairman Royce, Mr. Smith, and Ms. McCollum for 
their hard work on this issue, and I urge, again, my colleagues to 
support this legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I want to thank Mr. Engel for his very kind remarks and for his 
strong support for this legislation. This has been a great partnership 
with Betty McCollum, and I know it will continue. Both of us--and 
others, of course--are totally committed to ending chronic hunger and 
providing self-sufficiency in countries where it is a matter of just 
conveying best practices and increasing the capabilities of people and 
their roads and bridges. It's all very much integrated. So I want to 
thank her for her leadership on this very important piece of 
legislation.
  Again, it bears saying over and over again that half of all deaths in 
children under 5 are attributable to undernutrition. Of course, for the 
others who die, very often, malnutrition is a complicating factor and 
it allows, as I said earlier, opportunistic diseases to take hold and 
to cause havoc, if not death, to that child.
  There are 161 million children stunted worldwide. I was actually in 
the Central American country of Guatemala when they signed up for the 
First Thousand Days of Life. The new President has indicated when he 
was here that it is a very, very important part of his program.
  We see it all over Africa and Asia. If nutrition is provided, it does 
mitigate disease. It does, for many, mean that they have a chance at 
life and that their immune systems are bolstered to the point where 
they can resist multiple attacks of various diseases and then get into 
adolescence and, of course, into adulthood.
  This is transformative. It is bipartisan. I also think it bears 
repeating for my colleagues that this bill has been a long time in the 
making. As Betty McCollum said earlier, we passed it last Congress. And 
I guess, as I said earlier, the clock did run out. We did not get it up 
for a vote in the Senate. God willing, this time it will be different.
  We have had a dozen committee hearings. I have held many of them 
myself in my Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Global Human 
Rights. It has been a multi-year effort and a great deal of due 
diligence and vetting has gone into the language. We worked, as I said 
earlier, very closely with Chairman Mike Conaway, and he had very, very 
important contributions to make. So this has been a great collaborative 
effort of our staff and members

[[Page H1617]]

of the Foreign Affairs, Appropriations, and the Agriculture Committees.
  I urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1567, the 
Global Food Security Act of 2015. As the world's population has 
increased the demand for food has grown with it. Amidst a volatile oil 
market and impacts from extreme weather on major food-exporting 
industries due to climate change, food prices have risen with the 
burden falling heavily on underdeveloped nations and their citizens. 
The pressure is on our chamber to ensure that we live in a world where 
food availability, regardless of droughts and transportation costs, is 
not an option but a right.
  Feed the Future, a U.S. Government Initiative, works hand-in-hand 
with partner countries to develop agriculture sectors that help 
domestic economies as well as the individuals in these places suffering 
from food shortages. The advanced approach by Feed the Future works to 
solve the issue by addressing many of the concerns that face these 
countries. Empowering women, embracing innovation between private 
sector and civil society, supporting food security, and creating cost-
effective results that lead to sustainability for these partner 
countries are just some of the goals of the Feed the Future program.
  The Global Food Security Act of 2015 builds off this initiative by 
making it permanent and committing the United States to a solution 
regarding the growing food shortage epidemic. The Act improves upon 
existing practices to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars are effectively 
apportioned while not adding to the debt. It also requires the 
Administration to develop a comprehensive strategy to combat food 
insecurity, malnutrition, and hunger and report it to Congress on a 
yearly basis.
  I would like to close by saying that I am proud of our chamber for 
coming together to ensure that the United States plays a key role in 
combatting one of the largest developmental issues in the 21st century. 
I also want to thank my colleagues for understanding the importance of 
a comprehensive approach that recognizes and promotes the involvement 
of women in agriculture while also promoting a sustainable future for 
our partner countries.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1567, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. MASSIE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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