Subject: RE: Update
From: "Randy Russell" <[email-masked]>
To: "Rick Leach" <[email-masked]>, "Amelia Shister" <[email-masked]>, "Anne Marie Person" <[email-masked]>, "Barbara Belmont" <[email-masked]>, "Bonnie Raquet" <[email-masked]>, "Brittany Schmidt" <[email-masked]>, "Carl Stern " <[email-masked]>, "Dan Glickman" <[email-masked]>, "David Novak" <[email-masked]>, "Donna Hughes" <[email-masked]>, "Dr. Derek Yach" <[email-masked]>, "Dr. Marsha Dubrow" <[email-masked]>, "Frank Corso" <[email-masked]>, "George Economy" <[email-masked]>, "Hunter B
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:20:16 -0400

The sign of credibility of an organization involved with public policy
advocacy on the Hill is when key Committee staff seeks out your
advice/counsel on the bills they write and consider. This was exactly
the case with Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Pat Roberts' staffs
relative to the international food assistance provisions contained in
the Senate Agriculture Committee's farm bill. Key staff for the
Committee sought out the expert advice and counsel of Rick and Heather
and, in the end, the final provisions approved by the Committee
reflected (to a large degree) their recommendations. And this occurred
despite some differences of opinion with the development/food assistance
community. Like others, my congratulations to Rick and the team for your
success. 

Randy

From: Rick Leach [mailto:[email-masked]] 
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 12:03 PM
To: Amelia Shister; Anne Marie Person; Barbara Belmont; Bonnie Raquet;
Brittany Schmidt; Carl Stern ; Dan Glickman; David Novak; Donna Hughes;
Dr. Derek Yach; Dr. Marsha Dubrow; Frank Corso; George Economy; Hunter
Biden; Joan Power; Jonathan Blum; Josie Kummer; Kathryn Johnson; Khaliah
Ali; Kimberly Schmid; Laura Huber; Marshall Matz; Matthew J. Harrington;
Rachel Reeve; Randy Russell; Rick Leach; Samuel "Sandy" Berger; Shannon
Hiskey; Victor Latino 
Subject: Update

TO:         Board of Directors

FR:          Rick Leach

DT:         April 30, 2012

RE:          Update

Last week, the United States Senate took important steps to alleviate
global hunger.  These steps are the culmination of on-going efforts
targeting the appropriations and agriculture committees, as follows:

The Farm Bill

As you know, we developed several provisions to enhance the efficiency
and effectiveness of US food assistance programs that are within the
jurisdiction of the Farm Bill and, during the last 6-8 months, we worked
closely with the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Agriculture
Committee to help ensure that these provisions were included in the
bill.  The Farm Bill passed by the Senate Agriculture Committee last
week included these provisions, as follows:

*         Increasing the sustainability of the school feeding program by
linking it to the local purchase of food

o   The McGovern-Dole Program provides US commodities for use in school
feeding programs.  We recommended that the Committee continue a pilot
program that was authorized in the last Farm Bill that allowed for the
local and regional purchase of food (LRP) and link this program to the
McGovern-Dole Program.  Linking school feeding operations to the local
purchase of food increases the sustainability of these programs and
enhances the process of graduating the programs to local government
control and management.  

o   The annual funding level authorized for the LRP program was
increased from $25 million to $40 million (these funds would supplement
the annual appropriation for the McGovern-Dole Program).  WFP receives
approximately 40% of McGovern-Dole Program resources. 

*         Integrating US food security programs and bolstering
resiliency in the Horn of Africa

o   As you know, there are a range of programs across USG agencies and
departments that promote food security.  Greater coordination among
these programs - especially among emergency and long term development
operations - can increase efficiency and help communities build
resilience to societal shocks thereby reducing the negative impacts of
natural disasters and civil conflicts.  Almost half of all USG funds to
address emergency needs are used in the Horn of Africa each year.

o   We proposed that a pilot program be established to foster
coordination of food security programs in the Horn of Africa.  The
program, named after Representative Donald Payne, provides $10 million
annually for integrated operations that foster resiliency and for
evaluation of the steps taken to promote interagency coordination.  It
is intended to provide a model that can be expanded or replicated.   

*         Enhancing the Nutritional Quality of Food Assistance

o   To enhance the nutritional quality of food aid, we recommended that
the Committee expand the authority of USAID to evaluate and approve new
nutritional products and to develop guidance for the use of these
products in food assistance programs.  These provisions will help USAID
implement the recommendations from the May 2011 GAO Report and 2010
Tufts Food Aid Quality Review. 

*         Reaching a Compromise on the "Safe Box" and monetization

o   The "Safe Box", included in the last Farm Bill, earmarked an
increasing amount of Title II food aid for development purposes.  This
year, $450 million was earmarked for the safe box.  Title II food aid is
the primary source of USG assistance to address emergency needs (WFP
receives over $1 billion annually through this account).  The safe box
earmark threatens the USG's ability to respond to crises and is not
consistent with the trend towards increased cash for food assistance
programs through the foreign operations accounts (with corresponding
decreases in commodity-based food aid).  In addition, 70% of safe box
food aid is monetized - thereby using 24-42% of the total aid to cover
the cost of monetization.

o   We worked with the Committee and members of the NGO community to
develop a compromise that would provide a transition from the safe box
and monetization.  The compromise provides that 15-30% of Title II
resources will be used for development purposes (with a $275 million
floor).  This will provide USAID with needed flexibility to address
emergencies and ensure continuity of funding over the next five years
for the development programs - while also supporting the trend towards a
more varied and efficient tool box to promote food security.  The
compromise also requires a cost recovery rate of at least 70% on
monetization. 

Our Statement in Support of the Senate Farm Bill is attached.

Appropriations

Last week, the Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee passed its 2013
funding bill.  The subcommittee funded both the Title II Program and the
McGovern-Dole Program at the levels provided last year.  As you know,
these two accounts comprise the majority of resources that WFP receives
from the USG (other funds to promote food security are provided in the
foreign operations appropriations).   In light of the financial
challenges faced by Congress and the country, it was a significant
success.

*         Title II - $1.466 billion ($66 million more than the
administration request).  In addition, the bill also provides the
authority for USAID to waive the requirements of the safe box, as
circumstances require.

*         McGovern-Dole International Food for Education - $184 million

We continued to work closely with the appropriations subcommittee in
developing the justification for the funding levels (and the need for
the waiver).  In that regard, it is important to note the excellent
coordination with Allan Jury and the WFP-DC team in developing the
funding justification and in our other public policy advocacy efforts.  

George McGovern 90th Birthday Celebration - July 19th

On July 19th, we will be hosting a birthday celebration in honor of
George McGovern's 90th birthday.  It is likely that the celebration will
be co-hosted by Members of Congress.  Please save the date; more details
will be provided.

 

Thank you very much for your continued commitment and dedication to the
mission of WFP and WFPUSA.  Your support and generous donation of time
and energy is greatly appreciated.

All the Best,

Rick

 

Richard Leach

President & CEO

World Food Program USA

1819 L Street NW, Suite 900

Washington, DC 20036

T 202.530.1694

F 202.530.1698

[email-masked] <mailto:[email-masked]> 

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