Earlier today, President Biden sent a supplemental funding request to Congress for additional assistance to Ukraine and included $1.6 billion for food aid and humanitarian assistance as well as $500 million intended to incentivize increased food crop production within the United States. Today’s announcement complements the $670 million in food assistance that was announced yesterday, which uses the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust (BEHT) and funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation to help cover transportation costs to deliver this critical aid.
NAWG supports the continued humanitarian efforts to provide food assistance to countries in need. Today’s announcement requests Congress appropriate $1.6 billion for USAID to help with global food insecurity and provide an additional $100 million for Food for Progress and $20 million for BEHT, which will allow the United States to better respond to the evolving food crisis.
NAWG appreciates the Administration’s creative efforts to ensure a stable food supply for the American people and the world. As this proposal is refined through the Congressional process, NAWG looks forward to working with lawmakers to achieve the Administration’s goal to “provide incentive payments through crop insurance to increase wheat production by encouraging US farmers to double-crop wheat”.
“We would like to see wheat production encouraged throughout the nation and incentivize both spring and winter wheat growers,” said NAWG CEO, Chandler Goule. “It is important that we take a holistic approach to ensure that we have an adequate supply of food crops to meet the emerging humanitarian needs. U.S. wheat farmers produce the best, highest quality wheat and should be supported during this time of global food insecurity.”
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