Tell Congress: Keep Food Affordable for Poor People

If you've been to the grocery store lately, you've noticed that food prices are rising. After years of remaining relatively stable, prices are being driven through the roof by a convergence of circumstances.

This phenomenon affects food prices worldwide, and it presents a major problem for poor people in developing countries. Just think about it: if you spend 50–80 percent of your income on food, then the more prices rise, the less food you can afford.

The current price increases are causing widespread hunger for millions of poor people. Yet US food aid policies require all food to be shipped halfway around the world, draining critical aid money on needless costs. Congress could change this policy in the coming weeks, and we need your action immediately.

Congress is still debating the Farm Bill, the legislative package that governs our food and farm policy, including international food aid programs. A simple change to the law—to allow some cash for local purchases of food—would immediately increase the efficiency of food aid programs and feed more hungry people. If these changes aren’t made, fewer people will be fed.

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

I am writing to request urgent action to address the spiraling food crisis affecting poor countries around the world. Recent food price shocks highlight the need for immediate actions to address the growing food insecurity in developing countries.

As the donor for nearly half the world's food aid, the US has a special role to play in responding to the current situation. That is why we urge you to make the Farm Bill a more effective vehicle to help address world hunger. We would like to draw your attention to two actions that would help alleviate the global hunger crisis.

First, support the administration's initiative to shift one-quarter of US food aid to local and regional procurement. Making the US food aid program more flexible and faster will save taxpayer dollars and feed more hungry people.

Second, remove the so-called "hard earmark"-or provide a workable waiver-so that food aid funds can be shifted from nonemergency aid in the event of emergencies. Both the House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill included measures to prohibit the shifting of funds within the food aid budget. While this measure is an admirable effort to protect development-oriented food aid programs, the impact could be disastrous if it means that funds would not be available in emergencies.

Tens of millions of people rely on American food aid to survive. Congress and the American people should be proud of this critical contribution to addressing global hunger. But Congress should also ensure that our food aid programs are as efficient and effective as possible. This means permitting the use of local purchases and shifting funds within the food aid budget.

I thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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