[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 209 (Thursday, December 10, 2020)] [Senate] [Pages S7418-S7419] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] RECOGNIZING THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME FOR RECEIVING THE 2020 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise to honor the United Nations World Food Programme, which is receiving the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize today. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to those ``who shall have done the most, or the best work, for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.'' The World Food Programme, WFP, the largest humanitarian organization focused on eliminating global hunger and increasing food security, truly embodies those ideals. The organization was awarded the honor for ``its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas, and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.'' Those efforts, when put into numbers, show just what an enormous impact WFP has as a last line of defense between hungry people and starvation. Each year, the organization provides more than 15 billion meals to 100 million people in more than 80 countries. It was the world's largest nongovernmental provider of school meals, reaching 18 million children in 59 countries in last year. The logistical challenges of accomplishing this goal may seem overwhelming to most but not to the WFP. The organization has it down to a science. WFP's 18,000 staff has over 5,000 trucks, 120 aircraft, and 20 ships on the move daily, bringing food to those who need it most. The WFP's executive director, David Beasley, is a good friend of mine. His commitment to serving a higher calling is inspirational. I couldn't be more pleased that the spotlight is pointed on the work of the WFP under David's dedicated leadership. David will be the first to tell you that despite this honor, the WFP's work is far from complete. After the announcement, he said, ``The good news is we're feeding 80 million people on any given day in 80 countries. The bad news is it's getting worse out there--the famine, the droughts, the conflicts.'' While that assessment is spot-on, I would add one more factor to the list, the coronavirus pandemic. According to the WFP, the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to double the number of people facing acute hunger to 270 million people. It may also lead to emergence of famine in multiple countries. The pandemic makes the lifesaving work of the WFP all that much more vital. In a world where 60 percent of people suffering from chronic hunger live in countries affected by violence, additional nutritional access constraints only serve to make food a more powerful weapon of war. The WFP's efforts to overcome that challenge and bring food to the hungry in conflict zones makes the organization well-deserved of the honor of a Nobel Peace Prize. [[Page S7419]] Eliminating hunger at home and abroad takes an all-hands-on-deck approach. It requires leaders with visionary solutions and supporting team members who are willing to put in the hard work to bring about meaningful change. David Beasley and his team at the WFP embody these principles. I congratulate them and offer my continued support as we work together toward a world where hunger is no longer an issue. ____________________