The Global Food Security Act

The Global Food Security Act, H.R. 1567, is sponsor by Rep. Christopher Smith [R, NJ-4].

H.R. 1567 reauthorizes a program, "Feed the Future," begun under President G.W. Bush and continued in the Obama Administration, to combat hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

The bill authorizes a U.S. global food and nutrition security strategy to help farmers and their families feed themselves.

The bill would authorize $1 billion for fiscal year 2016 to help combat hunger and malnutrition in select “focus” countries around the world. It was formalized under President Obama but hasn't secured statutory authorization from Congress to date.

By sharing U.S. expertise in agriculture development and supporting programs that work with smallholder farmers and women, the bill seeks to tackle hunger and malnutrition and improve agricultural productivity.

According to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which is responsible for administering Feed the Future, the initiative helped more than 12.5 million children receive nutrition interventions and provided nearly 7 million farmers with new technologies and management practices in 2013 alone.

The bill passed the House Foreign Services Committee unanimously by a voice vote.

Global Food Security Act of 2015

This bill requires the President to coordinate the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to accomplish the objectives of promoting global food security, resilience, and nutrition consistent with national food security investment plans.

The President must coordinate the efforts of relevant departments and agencies in implementing the Global Food Security Strategy by establishing monitoring and evaluation systems, coherence, and coordination across relevant departments and agencies; and platforms for regular consultation and collaboration with key stakeholders.

By October 1, 2016, the President must submit the strategy to Congress, including a detailed description of how the United States intends to advance the objectives and agency-specific implementation plans.

The bill authorizes the President to provide foreign assistance to implement the strategy and prevent or address food shortages. The President must ensure that assistance to implement the strategy is provided under established parameters for a system to monitor and evaluate the progress and impact of the strategy, including by providing specified reports to Congress and the public.











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