Casey Announces Passage of Legislation to Combat Global Hunger

Statement

Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that his legislation, the Global Food Security Act, which aims to attack global hunger and bolster U.S. national security, has passed the Senate. The bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and 13 senators, calls for the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to assist developing countries in combatting food insecurity.

"The need to address global hunger is an urgent foreign policy and national security priority. It is in the United States' best interest to promote initiatives that work to eliminate the causes of food and nutrition insecurity," Senator Bob Casey said. "I am proud to be the sponsor of this legislation, and happy that my colleagues joined me in passing this important initiative to combat food insecurity in the developing world."

"I am so pleased that the Global Food Security Act of 2016 passed the U.S. Senate today," said Senator Johnny Isakson, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. "I introduced this legislation because I believe that it will allow the United States to continue to lead the world in food security. This initiative is morally right and economically smart. Plus, it helps our national security. This legislation will make a real, direct impact in the lives of children, mothers and families around the world. Chronic hunger and malnutrition are serious problems that have a much larger and lasting effects on nations' economies, the world, and therefore U.S. national security. I look forward to seeing it signed into law."

The Global Food Security Act of 2016 is based on the premise that global food insecurity impacts not only developing nations' economies and productivity, but also the international economy and U.S. national security. It recognizes the important role that agricultural development plays in economic growth, including for women and small-scale producers, as well as the value of leveraging resources and expertise from U.S. academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, faith-based groups, private voluntary organizations, and the private sector.

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