AMO Currents - House transportation leaders urge reauthorization of PL-480 Title II Food for Peace without alteration

AMO Currents - Posted: October 30, 2013

House transportation leaders urge reauthorization of PL-480 Title II Food for Peace without alteration

In a letter to key members of the Senate and House of Representatives serving on the conference committee convened today (Oct. 30) to begin work on reconciling the House and Senate versions of legislation known as the farm bill, House transportation leaders urged the conferees to insist upon the position contained in the House version of the legislation regarding the reauthorization of PL-480 Title II Food for Peace. The letter, dated Oct. 25, was sent to Congressmen Frank Lucas (R-OK), chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, and Collin Peterson (D-MN), ranking member on the committee, and to Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), chairwoman of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and Thad Cochran (R-MS), ranking member on the committee. The letter was signed by Congressmen Bill Shuster (R-PA), chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Nick Rahall (D-WV), ranking member on the committee, and by Congressmen Duncan Hunter (R-CA), chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, and John Garamendi (D-CA), ranking member on the subcommittee. The text of the letter is as follows:

During the conference on H.R. 2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (FARRM Bill), we urge you to insist on the House-passed reauthorization of the Food for Peace Program (Title II of PL-480). Since 1954, the Food for Peace Program has provided the mechanism for U.S. agricultural products to be shared with those in need throughout the world. Since the commodities are shipped on U.S.-flagged vessels, it has also helped maintain a U.S. flagged fleet on which the Department of Defense can call in emergencies.

The Food for Peace Program has been the largest and most successful international food aid program in the world. It has fed more than 3 billion people in more than 150 countries. Commodities, carried in bags filled with food marked as gifts "From the American People", and bearing the American flag, have generated goodwill toward the United States from recipients in areas where such goodwill is greatly needed.

During floor consideration of the FARRM Bill in the House of Representatives, an amendment to modify the Food for Peace Program was defeated 203-220. The amendment would have allowed up to 45 percent of the Food for Peace Program funding to be sent overseas to be used as part of the local and regional purchase program, cash transfers, or vouchers. The use of financial assistance in lieu of U.S. commodities would weaken accountability, and U.S. taxpayers would have no guarantee that food was delivered or know to whom it was delivered. Under such a scheme, Americans' tax dollars would be used to pay foreign-based aid organizations to buy foreign commodities shipped on foreign ships rather than buying food grown by American farmers and shipped in U.S.-flagged vessels.

Less than 100 U.S.-flagged vessels remain in the international trade. These ships provide the United States military the capability to transport equipment and supplies throughout the world in times of crisis. The transportation of the Food for Peace Program commodities allows these vessels to remain active in commercial trade. In addition, the ongoing operation of these vessels is crucial to maintaining an active group of U.S. mariners who can be called on in times of need.

Without the cargo provided under this program the small number of U.S. flagged vessels in the international trade will further decline. This also means the available pool of active merchant mariners will be reduced. Without these ships and mariners, deployment of the U.S. military can be held hostage by foreign ship operators and mariners.

The House spoke clearly on this issue. The amendment should not be reconsidered in the FARRM Bill conference. The House-passed FARRM Bill provides a straight reauthorization of the Food for Peace Program. In addition to efficiently and effectively providing U.S. food aid to those in need throughout the world, the House-passed bill protects U.S. agriculture and mariner jobs. We urge you to insist on the House position in conference.