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Recognizing That We Are Facing A Global Food Crisis

By: Ted Poe
By: Ted Poe
Date: Sept. 9, 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Minors and Children Agriculture and Food


RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE FACING A GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS -- (House of Representatives - September 09, 2008)

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Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 344, which recognizes the impact that the global food crisis will have on vulnerable children in the developing world. This resolution reminds us all that the children of impoverished families are suffering even more today as a result of the rapid worldwide increase in prices of basic foods in recent months, such as wheat.

All of us are facing rising food and energy costs in our own homes and families, but for many around the world those changes are a matter of life and death. When we see newspaper photos of dying children, we see the urgency of this crisis for countless families throughout our world.

I am pleased that the President and the Congress have taken concrete steps to help poor people facing this dire reality by increasing America's food aid. Notwithstanding the challenges we face in our own communities, it is a testament to the enduring generosity of the American people that we remain the largest donor of food assistance in the world. Americans give of their wealth throughout the world, especially to people in need.

Many of the poorest people in developing countries work extremely hard to earn just a dollar or two every day, and then have to survive off that meager sum, managing somehow to find affordable food. It may be hard for some of us to imagine how difficult that is in other countries.

This resolution describes the food crisis and the many complications that children suffer as a result of lack of proper nutrition. It notes that 5 1/2 million children under the age of 5 die each year due to malnutrition caused by chronic hunger. It reminds us that even if malnourished children don't starve to death, they face a heightened risk of dying of numerous infections, as well as lifelong impacts on their physical growth and intellectual potential.

With that in mind, this resolution states the nutritional needs of children must be a humanitarian priority in our response to the current global food crisis. I commend the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) for introducing this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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