[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 6, 2016

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, the Global Food Security Act 
promotes food security, resilience and nutrition in developing 
countries in keeping with U.S. national security interests. It utilizes 
agriculture-led economic development as a vehicle for lessening 
dependence on emergency food aid assistance while enhancing efficiency 
among federal departments and agencies and leveraging the participation 
of other non-U.S. governmental partners.
   We must and we do emphasize nutrition and--in particular--nutrition 
during the critical window of the first 1000 days of life, beginning at 
conception until about age two. Indeed, there is perhaps no wiser 
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 one thousand days of life. We know that children who 
do not receive adequate nutrition in utero are more likely to 
experience lifelong cognitive and physical deficiencies, such as 
stunting. UNICEF estimates that one in four children worldwide is 
stunted due to lack of adequate nutrition.
   Indeed, we are fortunate that President Bush, beginning in 2002, had 
the initial foresight to elevate the important role of food security in 
U.S. foreign policy, especially in Africa, via the Initiative to End 
Hunger in Africa (IEHA), which was funded through development 
assistance and implemented through USAID. The objective was to elevate 
self-sufficiency over dependency.
   At the same time, the Millennium Challenge Corporation began making 
substantial investments in agriculture-led economic growth programs, 
particularly in Africa. The food price crisis of 2007 through 2008 
accelerated and underscored the need for a robust food security policy.
   This too is the course that President Obama continued and built 
upon, also focusing on agriculture-led economic development.
   In fact, in the last Congress, and again this year, the House passed 
Global Food Security legislation introduced by Rep. Betty McCollum and 
I to provide congressional authorization of the program and help ensure 
a continuity and commitment to food security--beginning with the last 
Administration, through the present and into the next.
   That we are here today for final passage is a testament to the 
dedication of numerous committed groups outside Congress that have made 
food security and nutrition their priority, from advocates to 
implementers--especially and including faith-based organizations who 
perhaps work the closest to the small-holder farmers and women who 
benefit in particular from our food security efforts.
   I also want to compliment the leadership of USAID, that of former 
Administrator Shah and, in particular Beth Dunford, who now heads up 
USAID's Feed the Future initiative. As a career foreign service 
professional, Ms. Dunford has served on the frontlines of the battle 
against global food insecurity. She brings a wealth of field 
experience, from Ethiopia to Nepal, with her to Washington.
   Finally, I would like to thank especially the lead Democratic 
cosponsor of the House version of the Global Food Security Act, Rep. 
Betty McCollum, for her work and that of her team.

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