Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2022
Floor Speech
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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8446) to modify and extend the Global Food Security Act of 2016, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 8446
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
The Act may be cited as the ``Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2022''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Section 2 of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9301) is amended by striking ``Congress makes'' and all that follows through ``(3) A comprehensive'' and inserting ``Congress finds that a comprehensive''. SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY OBJECTIVES; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
Section 3(a) of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9302(a)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``programs, activities, and initiatives that'' and inserting ``comprehensive, multi-sectoral programs, activities, and initiatives that consider agriculture and food systems in their totality and that''.
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and economic freedom through the coordination'' and inserting ``, economic freedom, and security through the phasing, sequencing, and coordination'';
(3) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) and inserting the following:
``(3) increase the productivity, incomes, and livelihoods of small-scale producers and artisanal fishing communities, especially women in these communities, by working across terrestrial and aquatic food systems and agricultural value chains, including by--
``(A) enhancing local capacity to manage agricultural resources and food systems effectively and expanding producer access to, and participation in, local, regional, and international markets;
``(B) increasing the availability and affordability of high quality nutritious and safe foods and clean water;
``(C) creating entrepreneurship opportunities and improving access to business development related to agriculture and food systems, including among youth populations, linked to local, regional, and international markets; and
``(D) enabling partnerships to facilitate the development of and investment in new agricultural technologies to support more resilient and productive agricultural practices;
``(4) build resilience to agriculture and food systems shocks and stresses, including global food catastrophes in which conventional methods of agriculture are unable to provide sufficient food and nutrition to sustain the global population, among vulnerable populations and households through inclusive growth, while reducing reliance upon emergency food and economic assistance;'';
(4) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by inserting ``, adolescent girls,'' after ``women'';
(B) by inserting ``and incidence of wasting'' after ``child stunting'';
(C) by inserting ``large-scale food fortification,'' after ``diet diversification,''; and
(D) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: ``and nutrition, especially during the first 1,000-day window until a child reaches 2 years of age''; and
(5) in paragraph (7)--
(A) by inserting ``combating fragility, resilience,'' after ``national security,'';
(B) by inserting ``natural resource management,'' after ``science and technology,''; and
(C) by striking ``nutrition,'' and inserting ``nutrition, including deworming,''. SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
Section 4 of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9303) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, including in response to shocks and stresses to food and nutrition security'' before the period at the end;
(2) in paragraph (5)(H)--
(A) by inserting ``local'' before ``agricultural'';
(B) by inserting ``and fisher'' after ``farmer''; and
(C) by inserting ``youth,'' after ``small-scale producers,'';
(3) in paragraph (7), by inserting ``the Inter-American Foundation,'' after ``United States African Development Foundation,'';
(4) in paragraph (8)--
(A) by inserting ``agriculture and food'' before ``systems''; and
(B) by inserting ``, including global food catastrophes,'' after ``food security'';
(5) in paragraph (9), by striking ``fishers'' and inserting ``artisanal fishing communities'';
(6) in paragraph (10), by amending subparagraphs (D) and (E) to read as follows:
``(D) is a marker of an environment deficient in the various needs that allow for a child's healthy growth, including nutrition; and
``(E) is associated with long-term poor health, delayed motor development, impaired cognitive function, and decreased immunity.'';
(7) in paragraph (12), by striking ``agriculture and nutrition security'' and inserting ``food and nutrition security and agriculture-led economic growth'';
(8) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (12), as amended, as paragraphs (5) through (13), respectively;
(9) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) Food system.--The term `food system' means the intact or whole unit made up of interrelated components of people, behaviors, relationships, and material goods that interact in the production, processing, packaging, transporting, trade, marketing, consumption, and use of food, feed, and fiber through aquaculture, farming, wild fisheries, forestry, and pastoralism that operates within and is influenced by social, political, economic, and environmental contexts.''; and
(10) by adding at the end the following:
``(14) Wasting.--The term `wasting' means--
``(A) a life-threatening condition attributable to poor nutrient intake or disease that is characterized by a rapid deterioration in nutritional status over a short period of time; and
``(B) in the case of children, is characterized by low weight for height and weakened immunity, increasing their risk of death due to greater frequency and severity of common infection, particularly when severe.''. SEC. 5. COMPREHENSIVE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY STRATEGY.
(a) Strategy.--Section 5(a) of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9304) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4)--
(A) by striking ``country-owned agriculture, nutrition, and food security policy'' and inserting ``partner country-led agriculture, nutrition, regulatory, food security, and water resources management policy''; and
(B) by inserting after ``investment plans'' the following: ``and governance systems'';
(2) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
``(5) support the locally-led and inclusive development of agriculture and food systems, including by enhancing the extent to which small-scale food producers, especially women, have access to and control over the inputs, skills, resource management capacity, networking, bargaining power, financing, market linkages, technology, and information needed to sustainably increase productivity and incomes, reduce poverty and malnutrition, and promote long-term economic prosperity;'';
(3) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by inserting ``, adolescent girls,'' after ``women''; and
(B) by inserting ``and preventing incidence of wasting'' after ``reducing child stunting'';
(4) in paragraph (7), by inserting ``poor water resource management and'' after ``including'';
(5) in paragraph (8)--
(A) by striking ``the long-term success of programs'' and inserting ``long-term impact''; and
(B) by inserting ``, including agricultural research capacity,'' after ``institutions'';
(6) in paragraph (9)--
(A) by striking ``integrate resilience and nutrition strategies into food security programs, such that'' and inserting ``coordinate with and complement relevant strategies to ensure''; and
(B) by inserting ``adapt and'' before ``build safety nets'';
(7) in paragraph (13), by inserting ``nongovernmental organizations, including'' after ``civil society,'';
(8) in paragraph (14), by inserting ``and coordination, as appropriate,'' after ``collaboration'';
(9) in paragraph (16)--
(A) by striking ``section 8(b)(4)'' and inserting ``section 8(a)(4)''; and
(B) by striking ``; and'' at the end and inserting a semicolon;
(10) by redesignating paragraph (17) as paragraph (22);
(11) by redesignating paragraphs (12) through (16), as amended, as paragraphs (14) through (18), respectively;
(12) by striking paragraphs (10) and (11) and inserting the following:
``(10) develop community and producer resilience and adaptation strategies to disasters, emergencies, and other shocks and stresses to food and nutrition security, including conflicts, droughts, flooding, pests, and diseases, that adversely impact agricultural yield and livelihoods;
``(11) harness science, technology, and innovation, including the research and extension activities supported by the private sector, relevant Federal Departments and agencies, Feed the Future Innovation Labs or any successor entities, and international and local researchers and innovators, recognizing that significant investments in research and technological advances will be necessary to reduce global poverty, hunger, and malnutrition;
``(12) use evidenced-based best practices, including scientific and forecasting data, and improved planning and coordination by, with, and among key partners and relevant Federal Departments and agencies to identify, analyze, measure, and mitigate risks, and strengthen resilience capacities;
``(13) ensure scientific and forecasting data is accessible and usable by affected communities and facilitate communication and collaboration among local stakeholders in support of adaptation planning and implementation, including scenario planning and preparedness using seasonal forecasting and scientific and local knowledge;''; and
(13) by inserting after paragraph (18), as redesignated, the following:
``(19) improve the efficiency and resilience of agricultural production, including management of crops, rangelands, pastures, livestock, fisheries, and aquacultures;
``(20) ensure investments in food and nutrition security consider and integrate best practices in the management and governance of natural resources and conservation, especially among food insecure populations living in or near biodiverse ecosystems;
``(21) be periodically updated in a manner that reflects learning and best practices; and''.
(b) Periodic Updates.--Section 5 of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9304), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Periodic Updates.--Not less frequently than quinquennially through fiscal year 2030, the President, in consultation with the head of each relevant Federal department and agency, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees updates to the Global Food Security Strategy required under subsection (a) and the agency- specific plans described in subsection (c)(2).''. SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE TO IMPLEMENT THE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY STRATEGY; AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 6(b) of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9305(b)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``$1,000,600,000'' and inserting ``$1,200,000,000'';
(2) by striking ``fiscal years 2017 through 2023'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2024 through 2028''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following: ``Amounts authorized to appropriated by this subsection should be prioritized to carry out programs and activities in target countries.''. SEC. 7. EMERGENCY FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 7 of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9306) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(a) Sense of Congress'' and all that follows through ``It shall be'' and inserting the following:
``(a) Statement of Policy.--It shall be''; and
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 492(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2292a(a)) is amended by striking ``$2,794,184,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023, of which up to $1,257,382,000'' and inserting ``$3,905,460,000 for each of the fiscal years 2024 through 2028, of which up to $1,757,457,000''. SEC. 8. REPORTS.
Section 8 of the Global Food Security Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9307) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``During each of the first 7 years after the date of the submission of the strategy required under section 5(c)'' and inserting ``For each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028'';
(B) by striking ``reports that describe'' and inserting ``a report that describes''; and
(C) by striking ``at the end of the reporting period'' and inserting ``during the preceding year'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, including any changes to the target countries selected pursuant to the selection criteria described in section 5(a)(2) and justifications for any such changes'' before the semicolon at the end;
(3) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``identify and'' before ``describe'';
(4) in paragraph (5), by striking ``agriculture'' and inserting ``food'';
(5) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by inserting ``quantitative and qualitative'' after ``how''; and
(B) by inserting ``at the initiative, country, and zone of influence levels, including longitudinal data and key uncertainties'' before the semicolon at the end;
(6) in paragraph (7), by inserting ``within target countries, amounts and justification for any spending outside of target countries'' after ``amounts spent'';
(7) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and the impact of private sector investment'' and inserting ``and efforts to encourage financial donor burden sharing and the impact of such investment and efforts'';
(8) in paragraph (13), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(9) in paragraph (14)--
(A) by inserting ``, including key challenges or missteps,'' after ``lessons learned''; and
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and'';
(10) by redesignating paragraphs (12) through (14), as amended, as paragraphs (15) through (17), respectively;
(11) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (11), as amended, as paragraphs (7) through (13), respectively;
(12) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
``(4) identify and describe the priority quantitative metrics used to establish baselines and performance targets at the initiative, country, and zone of influence levels;
``(5) identify such established baselines and performance targets at the country, and zone of influence levels;
``(6) identify the output and outcome benchmarks and indicators used to measure results annually, and report the annual measurement of results for each of the priority metrics identified pursuant to paragraph (4), disaggregated by age, gender, and disability, to the extent practicable and appropriate, in an open and transparent manner that is accessible to the American people;'';
(13) by inserting after paragraph (13), as redesignated, the following:
``(14) describe how agriculture research is prioritized within the Global Food Security Strategy to support agriculture-led growth and eventual self-sufficiency and assess efforts to coordinate research programs within the Global Food Security Strategy with key stakeholders;''; and
(14) by adding at the end the following:
``(18) during the final year of each strategy required under section 5, complete country graduation reports to determine whether a country should remain a target country based on quantitative and qualitative analysis.''.
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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. 8446, as amended.
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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this bill that reauthorizes the Global Food Security Act. I thank my colleagues, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Smith, Chairman Meeks, and Ranking Member McCaul, for leading this bill.
Today, as the world grapples with a rapidly changing climate, the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the global consequences of Russia's war of choice in Ukraine, the U.S. must step up to support the hundreds of millions of hungry and food insecure people in all corners of the world. More importantly, perhaps, we need to give these communities the tools they need to feed themselves.
The Global Food Security Act was passed with strong bipartisan support in 2016 and reauthorized in 2018. It is critical that Congress once again acts to reauthorize this important piece of legislation.
Not only does this reauthorization increase annual funding for the Feed the Future initiative; it also requires an additional focus on building resilience, strengthening food systems, and forming more local partnerships to advance agriculture-led economic growth. This will play a critical role in delivering food to those in need today while creating more durable and sustainable food systems for tomorrow.
Food insecurity is a key driver of instability and violent extremism throughout the world. Investing in combating global hunger not only reflects U.S. values; it is also in our national security interest.
By passing this legislation, along with President Biden's announcement last week that the United States will provide over $2.9 billion in new assistance to address food insecurity, we will make important strides toward achieving our goal of creating lasting food security.
This important bipartisan legislation will continue support for the Feed the Future initiative that has already lifted millions out of poverty.
Madam Speaker, I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).
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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee.)
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for participating in the Congressional Children's Caucus hearing this past Monday on the Uvalde murder of children.
I rise to join my colleagues in supporting the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2022 and compliment Representative McCollum and others who have strongly supported this legislation over the years.
It is particularly timely because I have just finished meeting with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan and was able to visit in Pakistan in early September after the catastrophic and momentous floods of biblical proportion that went on.
What we saw was the potential of extreme starvation of families and children. Thirty-three million people were displaced. The families in the region had lost their wheat, their cotton, and their livestock.
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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, the idea of the emphasis on the issue of food security is so crucial, both in terms of the climate change such that is impacted in Eritrea and Ethiopia, and the issues of catastrophic flood conditions, so I rise to support this with the idea that we have right in our midst conditions that would suggest food insecurity.
This legislation that focuses on ensuring that people of the world can eat, and the children of the world will not starve is a crucial and needed legislation, which I support, and which emphasizes, again, the important element in foreign affairs of food. Food helps save the world.
I support this legislation, and I commend my colleagues to continue to work, with devastating conditions around the world, to ensure the safety and security of children and particularly food security.
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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.
Madam Speaker, as the world continues to experience climate-related devastation, downstream effects of COVID-19 on global supply chains, and the crippling effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on food delivery and production, the United States must continue to support those vulnerable to food insecurity.
Now is not the time to continue business as usual. The United States must step up to meet the moment and adapt our policy tools and foreign assistance to do the same. H.R. 8446 ensures that the United States maintains global leadership in combating the global hunger crisis by sowing the seeds of food security for the future.
Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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