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| Oral Testimony By Robert G. Zachritz Senior Policy Advisor World Vision June 16, 2005 Before the Subcommittee on Specialty Crops and Foreign Agriculture Programs House Agriculture Committee Regarding U.S. Food Aid Programs
Introduction Mr. Chairman, thank you for inviting World Vision to testify before your committee today and thank you for holding this hearing. My name is Robert Zachritz. I serve as the Senior Policy Advisor for World Vision. World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization operating in nearly 100 countries with an overall budget of about $1.5 billion. In 2004, World Vision United States contributed $800 million to this total, of which 2/3rds came from private donations. World Vision has more than 1 million private donors from every State and Congressional District in the United States. World Vision Food Aid Programs With more than 20 years of food aid experience, World Vision began its first large-scale food responses in Poland and Ethiopia in the 1980s. Using food as a resource, World Vision seeks both short- and long-term solutions to food insecurity through its emergency relief and development programs around the world. Through our advocacy efforts, World Vision works to transform the systems and conditions that promote hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. In fiscal year 2004, World Vision handled 820,000 metric tons of food aid, valued at approximately $352 million dollars, serving 7.2 million beneficiaries in 33 countries. Nearly 25% of the food programmed was for developmental purposes. World Vision believes developmental programs are a critical part of our food aid portfolio. They address the underlying causes of food insecurity and help vulnerable populations be better prepared to cope with disasters and ongoing challenges of chronic disease, such as HIV/AIDS. World Vision’s major donors for food aid programs include the US Agency for International Development, the World Food Programme, and the US Department of Agriculture. World Vision also partners with local faith-based and community-based organizations and other international private voluntary organizations like Catholic Relief Services, CARE, Save the Children, and Mercy Corps, to implement food aid programs in various different situations. World Vision was recently elected chair by the 16 members of the U.S. Coalition for Food Aid whose Executive Director is Ellen Levinson. Reauthorization of the U.S. Farm Bill In regard to the upcoming reauthorization of U.S. food aid programs in the next farm bill, I want to thank this Subcommittee and the full House Agriculture Committee for its generous support of food aid programs in the past, and hope it will continue in the future. The 2002 Farm Bill had a focus on the importance of nonemergency as well as emergency programs. It increased the minimum level of assistance for P.L. 480, Title II donation program to 2.5 million metric tons of commodities per year with a minimum for nonemergency programs of 1.875 million metric tons. Unfortunately, these requirements for nonemergency programs have not been met. The United States has become the major source of commodities for meeting emergency global needs. However, this has caused USAID to divert food aid from important developmental programs. This is unfortunate because it takes away from efforts to end the cycle of poverty and hunger. Thus, when Congress reauthorizes food aid programs as part of the next farm bill, we strongly encourage reinforced support for non-emergency Title II programs. A critical part is adequate appropriations, which we estimate to be $2 billion for Title II per year. World Vision also urges continued support for the Food for Progress Program, McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program, and the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. It is critical that food aid programs be allowed to complement the global efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. Targeted food assistance is necessary to successfully address global AIDS and is part of a comprehensive approach to the pandemic. In all food aid programs, it is important that flexibility be provided for both commodity and cash interventions. Doha Trade Talks and Food Aid As this committee is well aware of, the Doha Trade talks are considering placing additional restrictions on international food aid. This is of great concern to World Vision. Food aid is not a bargaining chip to be used in the geo-political game of reducing agriculture subsidies. Some individuals and nations are advocating eliminating the direct role of private voluntary organizations, eliminating monetization, and moving to a cash only system. All three of these proposals are problematic. The Coalition for Food Aid has been actively engaged in discussions with developing countries at the Doha negotiations. We find that their Geneva missions are terribly under-staffed which has made it difficult for them to intervene effectively to protect food aid programs that they support. However, we understand that in recent Doha food aid meetings, these developing countries have become more engaged, which we hope will balance the call for restrictions on food aid promoted by certain exporting countries. Finally, I would like to request that the Committee include for the official record, with my testimony, the Coalition for Food Aid’s letter of June 13, 2005 to U.S. Trade Representative. Conclusion Thank you again Mr. Chairman for allowing World Vision to testify today. I would be happy to entertain any questions you may have for me. |  |
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