Take Action on Food Aid and Farm Bill Reform

From Saturday's New York Times,

Gloria Tosi, who represents most of the American ship owners involved in the food aid system, said buying commodities abroad would erode domestic political support for the program and lead to lower food aid budgets from Congress. She said it was “politically naïve” to think the food commodity groups and ship owners that have for decades supported food aid in Congress would favor buying commodities abroad.

“None of us will be working toward that,” she said.

Well, we at the Presbyterian Hunger Program are working toward that (as is President Bush) and we need your help.

With prices of corn, wheat and soybeans soaring, the amount of food aid the U.S. government purchases is at its lowest level in a decade.

This week we continue our call for reform of Title 1 and an end to trade-distorting subsidies. In addition, we need to call on our Senators to improve on the Farm Bill passed by the House. This alert highlights needed changes in US international food aid.

Right now, all US food aid contributions are purchased from US commodity farmers and sent by US ships. These shipments can take 4-6 months to arrive and cost 30-50% more than purchasing food locally or regionally. Plus, the food will often depress local food prices and damage farmers and the rural sector in the country we are trying (supposedly) to help.  Changes in food aid are terribly important to people experiencing food emergencies. President Bush has proposed changes in the food aid program, recommending that one-quarter of the food aid budget be shifted from commodities to cash for local purchase. We (yes, seriously) support this!

Take Action!                                                
Call your Senators by October 5 at 1-800-826-3688 and ask them to support REDUCING TRADE-DISTORTING SUBSIDIES IN TITLE 1 IN THE 2007 FARM BILL and AT LEAST A PARTIAL SHIFT FROM COMMODITIES TO CASH IN OUR FOOD AID PROGRAMS. Or go to http://capwiz.com/pcusa/dbq/officials/ to find out who your Senators are and how to contact them.

Tell the staff person who answers that you are a constituent and that you want your senator to support reducing trade-distorting subsidies in Title 1 in the 2007 Farm Bill AND at least a partial shift from commodities to cash in our food aid programs because food purchased locally helps hungry people faster and does not distort local markets.

We want a Farm Bill that supports farmers but does not distort international trade AND one that would better help people who are experiencing a food emergency.