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Washington, D.C. – Bread for the World applauds the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s passage of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 (S. 1252). The legislation will help alleviate hunger and malnutrition in developing countries. Bread now urges the full Senate to pass the bipartisan bill.                                                                                       

“This bill has strong bipartisan support. We hope the Senate leadership will act quickly to ensure its passage this year,” said Eric Mitchell director of government relations at Bread for the World. “The bill builds off of the Feed the Future initiative. Globally, it will impact the lives of the more than 795 million chronically malnourished people, including 159 million children.”

The GFSA is sponsored by U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and endorsed by Bread and more than 65 organizations. It would make permanent Feed the Future, the federal government's global hunger and food security initiative.  The GFSA builds on gains that have improved the lives of smallholder farmers and increased the capacity for long-term agricultural growth. In addition, the GFSA would allow the U.S. to respond quickly to the food needs of communities affected by disaster.

The legislation leverages resources provided by organizations, private enterprises, and other countries. It would also improve maternal and child nutrition, especially in the key first 1,000 days between a woman’s pregnancy and her child’s second birthday.

“This legislation will help the U.S. achieve its goal of ending preventable child deaths. Almost half of which are caused by malnutrition,” Mitchell said. “It would bolster U.S. leadership by tackling global hunger, poverty, and malnutrition. The bill will help strengthen communities and develop stronger trading partners. This creates a more stable and secure world.”