    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [September 23, 2008]
    [Pages 1231-1232]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting on Food Security in New York City
    September 23, 2008

        Today Laura and I and Condi and other members of the administration are
    really honored to be at a table with folks from

    [[Page 1232]]

    the private sector and the public sector and NGOs who are all concerned
    about hunger.
        The United States has made a very strong and powerful commitment to
    help those who need food. We've committed about $5 billion of taxpayers'
    money over the next 2 years to make sure people don't go hungry. And
    it's our interest that we do that. On the other hand, it is also in our
    interest to promote a second Green Revolution.
        And how do you do that? Well, you use good science to get farmers in
    sub-Sahara Africa, for example, the tools necessary to be able to deal
    with the conditions in which they have to farm. You use government aid
    to build infrastructure so farmers can get products to market. You have
    good trade policy so that farm goods can travel freely across national
    borders. You have good agricultural policy that--combined with good
    trade policy, which reduces the subsidies that sometimes make it hard
    for, you know, indigenous farming communities to take off. You have--
    promote value-added processing.
        And so this is the strategy that's being discussed here at this
    table. The United States is a compassionate nation. When citizens around
    the world suffer, we suffer with them. We're a strong enough nation to
    help people in our own country who are having trouble, but we're also
    strong enough to help others as well. And a cornerstone of good foreign
    policy and a good compassionate philosophy is making sure that people
    don't go hungry.
        And so I thank you all very much for sharing that passion. I thank
    you for the leadership roles you have taken. And may the Good Lord
    continue to bless your work. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:57 a.m. at the Millennium U.N. Plaza
    Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to Secretary of State Condoleezza
    Rice.