Bread for the World Urges Senate to Confirm New Head of USAID
Bread for the World welcomes the nomination today of Gayle Smith as the new administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). It urges the Senate to confirm Smith’s appointment soon.
“I expect the Senate to move quickly to approve Gayle Smith’s appointment. It’s important to the implementation of urgently needed aid programs, and global poverty is an issue on which Congress and the president are on the same page,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World.
Prior to her nomination by President Obama, Smith served as his special assistant and senior director of the National Security Council. She brings a wealth of experience to USAID. She was a co-founder of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN), which works to make aid more effective and transparent.
“Though the world is making unprecedented progress against hunger and poverty, violence and natural disasters have created huge humanitarian needs in some countries. It’s important to our national security, as well as to our souls, both to help the victims and support the wonderful progress that is underway,” said Beckmann. “Gayle Smith has helped to shape the Obama administration’s international policies and strategies and will provide continuity in their implementation.”
Prior to joining the administration, Smith was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. She held senior positions in the Clinton administration. She also lived and worked in Africa for 20 years, where she was a journalist and worked for non-governmental relief and development organizations.
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
Election Resources
One of the best times to raise the issues of hunger and poverty is during election campaigns. Engage candidates in your state/district on hunger and poverty using our elections resources.U.S. Hunger and Poverty State Fact Sheets
These fact sheets provide a snapshot of hunger and poverty in the United States and in each state plus Washington, D.C.
Conflict and Fragility Are Hunger Issues
Conflict is a main driver of the recent increase in hunger around the world and of forced migration. Hunger also contributes to conflict.
For Faith
The Bible on Health as a Hunger Issue
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in faith.” These words from Colossians 2:6 remind us of the faith that is active in love for our neighbors.
The Bible on...
Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty
A diverse body of Christian leaders calls on the churches and Congress to focus on the integral connection.
Dear Members of Congress,
As the president and Congress are preparing their plans for this year, almost 100 church leaders—from all the families of U.S. Christianity—are...
In Times Like These … A Pan-African Christian Devotional for Public Policy Engagement
This devotional guide invites deepened relationship with and among Pan-African people and elected leaders in the mission to end hunger and poverty.
For Advocacy
Fact Sheet: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to respond to changes in need, making it well suited to respond to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fact Sheet: Why We Need $200 Million for Global Nutrition Programs
Bread for the World and its partners are asking Congress to provide $200 million for global nutrition in the fiscal year 2020 budget.
Fact Sheet: Hunger by the Numbers
In 2017, 11.8 percent of households in the U.S.—40 million people—were food-insecure, meaning that they were unsure at some point during the year about how they would provide for their next meal.