Sep 22, 2017
WASHINGTON, DC -- Earlier this week, USA Rice staff attended the quarterly Agribusiness Club luncheon here featuring Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) who serves on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Rules Committee, and has been a longtime supporter of agriculture, championing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the International Food for Peace (FFP) program.
During the luncheon, McGovern spoke about the importance of food aid in promoting international peace and reflected on a conversation he had with a mother in Colombia during a visit there with the Ambassador. The woman told him that because of U.S. food aid, she was able to provide for her son, in turn preventing him from joining the FARC rebel group that often preys on vulnerable families.
“The U.S. Food for Peace program is a vital tool in countries struggling with access to food,” said Ben Mosely, USA Rice vice president for government affairs. “When the only meal a parent can provide for their child comes from a rebel group, they are faced with a difficult decision. It was important for the Congressman to acknowledge the vital role U.S. agriculture plays in promoting international peace.”