House Ag Looking At McGovern-Dole

House Agriculture Committee leaders are arguing against White House proposals to eliminate the two-key international food aid programs, Food for Peace and McGovern-Dole International Food for Education.  Since the end of World War II, the U.S. has donated more than $80 billion in food aid to hundreds of millions of starving people around the globe.  That generosity has not only boosted America’s standing in the world, but also provided income and jobs at home.

And, U.S. food aid programs the Trump Administration now wants to eliminate, are generating bipartisan support on the House Ag Committee.  Chairman Michael Conaway said this move seems counter to the America First slogan.

“While less drastic than the proposed elimination of these programs, I also fear that continued efforts to chip away at the core of the food aid programs and to increasing turn them into cash based assistance programs will ultimately erode the alliance of domestic, agriculture and maritime supporters that have long advocated for these programs.”

The Obama Administration unsuccessfully proposed some cash-based food assistance.

But Conaway argues, today’s budget constraints are “real” and program savings are needed, including by helping struggling nations to improve their own farming systems.  Top House Ag Democrat and chairman during the last farm bill, Collin Peterson, pointed to the link between food aid and trade.

"It is worth pointing out that eleven of our top 15 trading partners in 2017 were once recipients of U.S. assistance.  Unfortunately, the budget put forth by the administration would completely eliminate two key U.S. assistance programs; the Food for Peace Program and the McGovern Dole Program.”

Witnesses from food aid and advocacy groups defended the life-saving successes of the programs and urged full or increased funding.  Ag lawmakers of both parties continue to oppose White House budget cuts to farm programs, including crop insurance, research and rural development…while there are more party differences over food stamp cuts.

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