There are also many US Government agencies that have a potential hand in addressing global hunger. Unless the US Government leads from the top, the issue of hunger will continue to be buried within the bureaucracy and be subject to perpetual interagency battles that currently hamper our efforts to make a significant dent in the problem.
Does President Obama support the Roadmap to End Hunger? How is support generally across Congress at this time?
We have had several meaningful discussions with the State Department, USDA, and USAID as well as Congress. We know that the Obama Administration is embracing a comprehensive response to global hunger, which is a cornerstone of the Roadmap effort. Without hearing about any specific support, I think it is safe to say that we're on the same page.
Regarding Congress, it is less clear. When you are trying to come up with a new plan, a comprehensive plan that requires new thinking, you are going to step on some toes. The Roadmap effort operates across congressional jurisdictions of agriculture and foreign affairs. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
What can a citizen do to make sure that the Roadmap to End Hunger legislation gets passed in Congress?
Now that we have a bill, it's important to try to get bipartisan support by first getting more cosponsors and then getting votes as the legislation moves within Congress.
When can we expect a vote on the Roadmap to End Global Hunger legislation?
I really don't know. We'll see how this gets addressed within the committees. Stay tuned.
The Friends of the World Food Program have set up a take-action page to get the Roadmap to End Hunger bill passed. You can reach this page by clicking here.
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