InterAction: Global Food Security Act Brings Parties Together in Committee Markup

Unanimous passage out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee shows strong bipartisan support for U.S. leadership in promoting global food and nutrition security.

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InterAction

Apr 23, 2015, 05:39 ET

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday, April 23 the House Committee on Foreign Affairs unanimously approved the Global Food Security Act of 2015 (H.R. 1567). Speaking in response, InterAction President and CEO Sam Worthington said:

"InterAction applauds the passage of H.R. 1567, the Global Food Security Act of 2015, by the House Foreign Affairs Committee today.

Global Food Security 101 -- What you need to know about global food and nutrition security in less than 2 minutes.

"Strong leadership by Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY), as well as the lead cosponsors Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Betty McCollum (D-MN), was essential in bringing this crucial piece of legislation for consideration before the committee. The bipartisan support that the bill has garnered, with 19 cosponsors, is a testament to widespread support for maintaining U.S. leadership in the effort to fight global poverty and strengthen long-term food and nutrition security for families and communities around the globe.

"InterAction joins a coalition of almost 60 organizations in support of the Global Food Security Act and we encourage the full House of Representatives to consider and pass this important piece of legislation."

BACKGROUND
H.R. 1567 authorizes a U.S. global food and nutrition security strategy that will continue to help farmers and their families feed themselves and set the foundation to build more independent, prosperous lives over the long-term. Smallholder farmers--particularly women--are key partners in the global fight to end extreme hunger and malnutrition. By sharing U.S. expertise in agriculture development and supporting programs that work with smallholder farmers and women, we can continue the progress already being made to tackle hunger and malnutrition and improve agricultural productivity.

The bill has been cosponsored by Reps. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Edward R. Royce (R-CA), Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Karen Bass (D-CA), Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), David G. Reichert (R-WA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Erik Paulsen (R-MN), David N. Cicilline (D-RI), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Mark Meadows (R-NC), Chris VanHollen (D-MD), Scott Desjarlais (R-TN), Ann Kuster (D-NH) and Ted Poe (R-TX).

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MORE ABOUT INTERACTION
The largest alliance of U.S. NGOs working on global poverty and humanitarian assistance efforts, InterAction's members represent millions of Americans who provide over $8 billion in financial support to over 185 U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations. InterAction members operate in every developing country, working with local communities to overcome poverty and suffering by helping to improve their quality of life. To learn more visit www.interaction.org.

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SOURCE InterAction