World Food Program USA Celebrates Passage of Food Assistance Amendment in the House

New Funding Will Benefit Hundreds of Thousands of Hungry Children Around The Globe

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the House of Representatives enacted a critically important amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations bill (H.R. 4800) that would provide $10 million for the USDA Local and Regional Procurement (LRP) Program established in the Farm Bill.

The amendment, introduced by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, would complement existing food aid programs with more flexible programming – in particular the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program – and help more children receive food assistance.

In response to Wednesday’s vote, World Food Program USA President and CEO, Rick Leach, said, “We commend the House’s vote to support funding of local and regional food procurement to supplement resources provided through the McGovern-Dole Program. By connecting McGovern-Dole school feeding programs with the local purchase of food, we can help lift small-scale farmers out of poverty and chronic hunger while also fostering the conditions for graduation of the programs to local management.”  

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