More than $1 Billion Allocated in Supplemental Spending Package
[WASHINGTON, DC] – United States Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the allocation of more than $1.8 billion in emergency food aid and related disaster assistance in the supplemental spending bill approved by the Senate late yesterday. The spending package includes more than $1.2 billion in emergency food aid and more than $600 million in food and agriculture-related disaster assistance, as well as long-term development assistance.
“Millions of people are starving around the world, increasing the potential for humanitarian disasters and political unrest,” said Senator Casey. “We must do everything we can to provide emergency food aid to our neighbors in the international community on an urgent basis. I am pleased that the Senate has taken the next step to ensure that this happens and encourage President Bush to sign it into law.”
Rising global food prices have caused recent unrest in Haiti, Pakistan, and Egypt and risk causing similar strife in over 30 other countries. The situation has been so dire that the World Food Program recently issued urgent appeals for emergency aid. Last month, finance ministers from around the world met in Washington and declared the food crisis the greatest threat to the global economy.
“Over 3 billion people around the world subsist on less than $2 a day,” Durbin said. “The skyrocketing price of food and fuel has created the worst global humanitarian crisis in over 30 years. Emergency funds are needed now and this bill reflects that reality. We must ensure this aid reaches those who need it most as quickly as possible. Millions of starving people can’t wait any longer.”
The Senators also praised the leadership of Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) for his work in ensuring adequate funds were made available for emergency aid. Kohl is the Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture Appropriations.
This spring the President announced his plans to request $770 million in food aid to be made available in October of this year. Casey and Durbin joined other members in applauding the move, but warned it could come too late for those most in need. They’ve continued working to ensure that food aid was made a priority in this supplemental spending package.
As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Casey urged the committee to increase investments in nutrition programs and has introduced bipartisan legislation to provide funds for food assistance. He was among the first Members of Congress to address the global food crisis by drafting in early March a letter to Senate appropriators, signed by six other Members, advocating an expansion of emergency funds in the upcoming supplemental appropriations bill. He’s met with George McGovern on issue of the global food crisis and recently met with Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the UN World Food Program, to discuss the program’s needs and problems it faces as global food prices continue to rise.
Senator Durbin is a leader in the Senate on the issue of international aid and hunger programs. He’s the Senate sponsor of legislation to reauthorize and significantly expand the McGovern-Dole food program, which provides US food aid and education to some of the world's poorest children.
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