More exciting news out of Washington, DC on food security: on April 20, the Senate passed the Global Food Security Act (GFSA), a key piece of legislation to fight hunger and strengthen food security, by voice vote with no vocal opposition.  Coming just a week after the House of Representatives also voted to pass the bill, this demonstrates tremendous momentum in Congress towards making global food security a reality.

Around the world, approximately 795 million people suffer from hunger.  While progress has been made in recent years to reduce this number, we still have a long way to go to ensure food security for all.

The Global Food Security Act strengthens efforts to combat hunger by calling for a comprehensive global food and nutrition security strategy that would permanently authorize the work being done by Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s food security initiative currently operating in 19 focus countries around the globe.  The Feed the Future initiative was launched in 2010, but it has not yet been formally signed into law. 

Now that the House and Senate have both passed the GFSA, the bill can be signed by the president once minor differences between the House and Senate versions are reconciled.  This would ensure that Feed the Future’s efforts to enhance food security would continue under subsequent administrations, after President Obama’s term ends in 2017.

Action Against Hunger would like to applaud the Senate for its strong vote in support of food security, and to particularly thank the bill’s lead Senate sponsors, Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Robert Casey (D-PA), for their outstanding leadership.  We look forward to the day when President Obama can sign GFSA into law and make improved food security a reality for the estimated one in nine people in the world who still suffer from hunger.