Food for Peace
Jan 08, 2016
WASHINGTON, DC -- Before Congress concluded business for the year in December, they passed the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus which provided the first significant increase in PL-480 (Food for Peace) funding in many years.
The program received $1.466 billion in initial funding from 2015 but the Omnibus bill also provided a one-time appropriation of $250 million of “Food for Peace Title II Grants” to be used directly toward international food aid in conflict zones like the Middle East or Syria. The funds are to be used toward the purchase and shipment of U.S. commodities, such as rice, and not to be converted to cash or vouchers.
Sarah Moran, USA Rice director of international promotion, said, “We’ve been asking for increases in Food for Peace funding for years and we’re glad that USA Rice and our partners' efforts have paid off this year.”
Moran added, “USA Rice is continuing efforts and exploring new options to prioritize U.S.-grown fortified rice as part of international food aid commodity shipments.”
The Omnibus bill provides funding for federal programs for the remainder of the fiscal year and averted a government shutdown. The massive document outlining 2016 appropriations has several beneficial provisions for agriculture including a $925 million increase from last year’s funding level.