Sign in Subscribe
Climate change

U.S. Senators Reintroduce SAFE Act to Address Looming Global Food Crisis

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Climate change, public health threats, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have escalated food security concerns, threatening hundreds of millions of people across the world. U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) have reintroduced the Securing Allies Food in Emergencies Act (SAFE Act), legislation aimed at improving the timeliness and reach of U.S. international food assistance. The bill responds to the ongoing global food crisis, prioritizing bipartisan support to address humanitarian crises and food insecurity worldwide.

Key Takeaways:

  • The SAFE Act requires the USAID administrator to develop a comprehensive strategy to avert a catastrophic global food security crisis.
  • The bill authorizes the USAID administrator to procure emergency food assistance in the United States, locally, or regionally, to reach people experiencing acute food insecurity when and where they need it most.
  • The legislation prioritizes procurements of U.S. agricultural commodities for areas where food is unavailable locally or regionally.
  • In areas where U.S. agricultural commodities are not timely or appropriate, the bill prioritizes local and regional procurements from areas supported by U.S. agricultural development programs, including Ukraine.
  • The SAFE Act waives outdated U.S. shipping requirements for emergency food aid, enabling USAID to stretch food aid dollars farther and saving the American taxpayers an estimated $80 million annually.
  • The bill prohibits procurements of food aid from Russia, China, and countries on the Department of State's State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
  • Senator Chris Coons has secured billions for international development agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and will continue to prioritize bipartisan legislation like the SAFE Act to address humanitarian crises and food insecurity worldwide.
  • The full text of the SAFE Act can be found here: [https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/02-15-23_safe_act.pdf](https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/02-15-23_safe_act.pdf)

Statistics:

  • Estimated $80 million saved annually by waiving outdated U.S. shipping requirements for emergency food aid.
  • Hundreds of millions of people threatened by climate change, public health threats, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
  • Billions secured by Senator Chris Coons for international development agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) within the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.

Sources:

  • Press release by Senator Chris Coons, February 17 (no date mentioned in the original text)
  • Original text: [https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-risch-reintroduce-safe-act-to-prevent-looming-food-crisis](https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-coons-risch-reintroduce-safe-act-to-prevent-looming-food-crisis)

Read more