Proposal Looks To Move Food For Peace To USDA

Last week, legislation was introduced to move the Food for Peace program from USAID to the USDA.  The move comes after the Trump Administration announced the dismantling of USAID due to what many Republicans have called questionable uses of taxpayer dollars.  Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse, one of the sponsors of the legislation, says moving the Food for Peace program is a win all around.

“The best option would be to move this program Food For Peace into an agency that generally people have a lot more confidence in, that are much more responsible at managing programs and will allow that important piece of what was a responsibility of USAID to continue to provide the services needed to solve world hunger and also to provide markets for farmers.”

Newhouse, a member of the House Ag Committee, added this proposal is proving to be popular.

“This is one of those things that just makes sense, and we've had a tremendous response from members of Congress, but also from people around the country when they hear that this is part of our effort.” 

Food for Peace was started in the 1950s by former president Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The farming community has voiced is support of moving the program under USDA as well:

“U.S. Wheat has long been proud of the role America’s farmers play in feeding hungry populations around the world,” said U.S. Wheat Associates President Vince Peterson. “Realigning administration of Food for Peace, our flagship global hunger program, to USDA makes perfect sense and ensures that the agency most closely connected with food is equipped to deliver wholesome food from American farmers to those who need it.”

“Each year, the Food for Peace program buys more than one million metric tons of food, including wheat, to feed millions of starving people,” noted National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Chandler Goule.  “The program will feed people more efficiently and effectively this way.” 

Last week's proposal was put forward by Newhouse, as well as Kansas Representative Tracey Mann, Arkansas Representative David Rouzer, as well as House Ag Chairman Pennsylvania's GT Thompson.

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