Support the Global Food Security Act
More than 963 million people in the world do not have enough to eat -- 907 million people in developing countries alone are hungry.
That's why CARE is excited and inspired by President Obama's call for Congress to double U.S. support for food security programs. As he said, programs like these "are not charity. They are investments in future markets and future drivers of world economic growth."
We know that the global economic crisis is taking the greatest toll on people already living in extreme poverty. That's why it's crucial to seize the opportunity to reform food aid: When we do it strategically, we can both meet emergency needs and bolster farmers and markets around the world.
Now is the time to speak up for the world's poor by supporting the president's plan -- let your senators know today that you support this kind of smart development.
As a CARE supporter, I was pleased to hear President Obama use the G20 Summit to call for increased funding for global food security. As you may know, CARE has been a leader in the efforts to reform this crucial component of U.S. foreign assistance. I urge you to do all you can to see that those new funds are allocated and, importantly, that we have a solid plan to leverage food aid as part of the broader fight against poverty.
Specifically, I am asking you to support a comprehensive strategy that would coordinate the myriad agencies involved in implementing food security policy. It should also address the continuum of food security, from emergency response to safety nets and social protection to long-term agriculture development. Such a strategy would increase the effectiveness and efficiency of U.S. assistance and address acute as well as chronic hunger. Supporting the Lugar-Casey Global Food Security Act of 2009 is a crucial first step.
[Your comments]
President Obama acknowledged that the global economic crisis affects us all. But none more than the billions already living in extreme poverty. This crisis provides an opportunity to build a new system that provides the tools people need to lift themselves out of poverty. Thank you.
