The U.S. Agency for International Development on Wednesday asked Congress to improve the efficiency of U.S. food assistance authorized by the farm bill as it seeks ways to streamline the response to any food crisis.
The agency needs more flexibility to spend money in ways that best fit local realities, USAID Assistant to the Administrator for the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance Sarah Charles told a hearing of the Senate Agriculture Committee. The current food crisis has strained USAID resources, she said, and current farm bill requirements have restricted its ability to respond.
“There's an opportunity to maximize American generosity and save even more lives,” Charles told senators.
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About the author
Teresa Welshtmawelsh
Teresa Welsh is a Senior Reporter at Devex. She has reported from more than 10 countries and is currently based in Washington, D.C. Her coverage focuses on Latin America; U.S. foreign assistance policy; fragile states; food systems and nutrition; and refugees and migration. Prior to joining Devex, Teresa worked at McClatchy's Washington Bureau and covered foreign affairs for U.S. News and World Report. She was a reporter in Colombia, where she previously lived teaching English. Teresa earned bachelor of arts degrees in journalism and Latin American studies from the University of Wisconsin.
