[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 25, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H3899-H3900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ENDING GLOBAL HUNGER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, on July 12, the United Nations Food and 
Agriculture Organization, the FAO, released its annual assessment on 
the state of global food security.
  This year's report, titled ``The State of Food Security and Nutrition 
in the World 2023,'' confirmed that nearly 30 percent of humanity, or 
roughly 2.4 billion people, lacked access to adequate food in 2022. A 
greater number, 3.1 billion, were unable to afford a healthy diet.
  The report paints a world where hundreds of millions of people face 
more precarious circumstances, deepened by the ravages of climate 
change, regional turmoil, and rising food costs. It describes how the 
recovery from the global coronavirus pandemic has been uneven and how 
the war in Ukraine has affected access to food, especially nutritious 
food.
  Last year, UNICEF reported that 148 million children under the age of 
5 were stunted, meaning that their inadequate diets impaired their 
growth. The FAO director general called this the ``new normal,'' where 
climate change, conflict, and economic instability are pushing those on 
the margins over the edge.
  Mr. Speaker, as someone who believes food is a fundamental human 
right for everyone on this planet, I believe the American people can 
and should be proud of the leadership the United States has shown in 
addressing the global crisis. We have provided billions in aid to those 
most affected by droughts, natural disasters, violence, and conflict. 
We have literally saved millions of lives.
  Our farmers have provided food--wheat, soy, corn, rice, beans, 
lentils, peas, and cooking oil--to those most in need around the world. 
Our peanut farmers and specialty processors have provided therapeutic 
foods for severely malnourished children. Our NGOs are on the ground in 
many of the most desperate regions of the world. They make sure that 
food is provided to those most in need and work with local communities 
to build resilience to survive future economic and extreme weather 
shocks. Yet, we must all do more.
  I recently met with the new executive director of the World Food 
Programme, Cindy McCain. She took over the reins in April and is 
determined to strengthen efficiency and transparency at the WFP, to 
stretch every dollar and every food contribution to its maximum. She 
needs to make those donations stretch because she is facing an 
impossible task, too many crises, too many people in need, and not 
enough money.
  The WFP has already been forced to cut food rations and the number of 
people it serves all over the world, including in places like Syria and 
Haiti. Unlike the U.S., too many donors have yet to respond and too 
many nations like the Gulf states and the Middle East have failed to 
contribute their fair share.
  The world cannot afford to stand by when heat waves, heavy rains, and 
flooding are wrecking crops and casting more uncertainty over the 
availability and cost of food.
  I know that many fear a global migration as millions are forced to 
abandon their homes and livelihoods. For me, a greater concern is how 
massive internal displacement within countries, from rural areas to 
cities, might undermine agriculture, food security, and economic and 
social stability inside those nations and regions. The internal 
movement, that instability, is not in the best interest of anyone, 
including the United States.
  I know from experience that the U.S. and the global community can 
respond effectively to this crisis if we have the political will to do 
so. Even now, we see improvements happening in Latin America and Asia, 
so there is hope.
  That is why, Mr. Speaker, I am so dismayed by efforts inside this 
Congress to undermine or even eliminate the very programs that 
contribute to alleviating the suffering of hunger, famine, and food 
insecurity around the world, including among children.
  Like our farmers, like our NGOs, and like the WFP and countless other 
nations and groups, we in Congress must do our part. We must make sure 
these

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programs are well funded so that the United States has the resources it 
needs to lead the world in ending global hunger.

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