Four Bipartisan Hunger Policy Achievements in 2022

Megan RossiterPolicy, Updates

U.S. Capitol at sunset. 📸: Mike Stoll


Hunger knows no party lines, and as the 117th Congress comes to an end, the Hunger Center reflects on four important pieces of legislation that demonstrated a bipartisan and bicameral commitment to ending hunger.

1. H.R.5724 and S.3064 – White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, Hunger, and Health Act
In October of 2021, Representatives Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and the late Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.), Senator Corey Booker (D-N.J.), and Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.) introduced a bill to direct the president in convening a conference on hunger, nutrition, and health. The bill outlined Congress’ findings on hunger as well as food and nutrition insecurity, purposes and priorities for the conference, and administration of the conference. Following the introduction of the bill, the Biden administration announced it would host the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, doing so for the first time in over 50 years.

2. H.R.8150 and S.2089 – Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022
Introduced in the House by House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), and in the Senate by Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.), the Keep Kids Fed Act extended funding and increased support for programs to provide meals to children. Earlier in the pandemic, Congress authorized the USDA to issue child nutrition waivers to school meal programs and other meal program operators, providing greater flexibility considering the pandemic’s challenges. These waivers were set to expire on June 30, 2022. However, following the passage and signing of the bill, some of the flexibilities were extended, such as flexibilities for summer meals and for administrative operations of school meal programs. Additionally, reimbursement rates for school breakfasts and lunches, daycare and childcare meal programs, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) increased.

3. H.R.4693 and S.2956 – Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021
Introduced by Representatives Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), and by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act authorizes USAID to coordinate and implement practices to prevent and treat malnutrition globally. Furthermore, the bill outlines USAID’s ability to use resources through the Global Nutrition Coordination Plan in combatting malnutrition and requires USAID to create and submit an implementation plan to Congress. The bill was recognized at our 29th annual Hunger Leadership Awards ceremony and was signed into law on October 19, 2022.

 

L to R: Executive director Shannon Maynard, Rep. Michael McCaul, Rep. Gregory Meeks, and Rep. James P. McGovern at the 2022 Hunger Leadership Awards

 

4. H.R.8446 and S.4649 – Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2022
In 2016, the original Global Food Security Authorization Act was passed and signed into law by President Barack Obama, strengthening Feed the Future, an initiative to combat global hunger, and developing the Global Food Security Strategy. In July, Representatives Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.), alongside Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), introduced the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2022 in the House and Senate. The bill reauthorizes the Feed the Future initiative and outlines additional priorities in combatting global hunger. The bill passed the House and recently passed in the Senate with the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and will be sent to President Biden for signature.

We applaud these measures to advance food security in the United States and around the world. As the global food security crisis deepens, we look with hope to the 118th Congress to continue to make hunger a priority, and to exercise U.S. leadership in helping create a hunger-free world.

About the Authors

Meg is the Hunger Center’s Associate. She supports the executive director and provides additional support in communications, finance, fundraising, policy, and office management. Prior to joining the Hunger Center, Meg worked at the University of Michigan’s International Institute and Center for Southeast Asian Studies. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in International Studies and Political Science, and a minor in Biological Anthropology. She has a strong interest in the connections between policy, nutrition, and health and is also interested in understanding more about globalization’s effects on diets across the world. During her free time, Meg enjoys cooking, watching films, and going on walks and runs.

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