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Washington, D.C., October 7, 2015 – Today, Bread for the World president Rev. David Beckmann reaffirmed the need for key reforms in the U.S.’s international food-aid system in testimony before the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.  

“U.S. food aid is important to many of the world’s most desperate people. It saves many lives. But there are several ways to make U.S. food aid more efficient and effective,” said Beckmann in his written testimony. “Food-aid reform offers the opportunity to provide more assistance with available dollars.”

Bread for the World believes that U.S. food-aid policies can be more efficient in helping people during times of crisis and in fostering long-term solutions to hunger. The U.S. is the largest provider of food aid, and American assistance is needed now more than ever. However, it is time to update the government’s programs so we can respond better in a 21st century, globalized world.

Smart reforms to food aid would allow the programs to benefit tens of millions more people each year — at no additional cost to U.S. taxpayers. These include allowing more food purchases in or near the country where it is needed, reducing restrictions on transportation and cost of transportation, and eliminating the ineffective practice of monetization of food aid.

“The world has been making unprecedented progress against hunger, poverty, and disease over the last few decades. Despite the current surge in humanitarian need, the global trend toward ending hunger still continues,” added Beckmann. “I’m a preacher, so I see this great liberation as an example of our loving God at work in the world and believe that God is calling on us to contribute to it…Reforming food aid is one way to fight hunger, and fighting hunger is sacred business.”