Washington – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) joined senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to introduce a resolution in the Senate designating today as “World Food Day.” 

Global hunger has been on the rise for the last three years, and an estimated 821 million people were undernourished in 2017. Each year, the United States joins 130 other nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in celebrating World Food Day to promote global awareness and action for those who suffer from chronic hunger and for the need to ensure food security and good nutrition for all. World Food Day also commemorates the founding of FAO on October 16, 1945.

The text of the resolution is available here.   

“World Food Day should be seen as a call to action for us all,” said Boozman. “While hunger continues to rise around the globe, it is preventable and we are in a position to help. World Food Day raises awareness about the need to find solutions to the hunger crisis, both on a global scale and in our individual communities. The U.S. has made significant contributions to improve nutrition and agriculture worldwide, and we are committed to building on that progress to end global hunger.”

“With global hunger on the rise, World Food Day is an important reminder of why the United States needs to sustain its investments in food security both at home and abroad. Congress recently affirmed the United States’ commitment to reducing hunger by reauthorizing the Global Food Security Act, which has led to increased agricultural productivity, efficiencies in our food aid program, and nutrition education,” said Coons, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and lead author of the resolution. “I am pleased to work with this bipartisan group of colleagues to recognize World Food Day and the work that still needs to be done to ensure that all people have access to quality food.” 

“Today, on World Food Day, we must reinvigorate our commitment to ending hunger in the United States and around the globe,” said Moran. “World Food Day is an opportunity to raise awareness and promote action for the one in every nine people who suffer from hunger. Hunger is an issue that transcends politics, and together we must remain committed to finding new and innovative ways to bolster food security and combat hunger. As the co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus, I’m proud to carry on Sen. Dole’s legacy and represent the compassionate spirit of Kansans and the farmers who help feed the world.” 

“America has the talent, the bounty and the economic vitality to lead in ending hunger and malnutrition here and abroad.  It’s woven into our values,” said Leahy, vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee and a leading member of the Agriculture Committee.  “I’m proud to celebrate World Food Day by continuing to work for the expansion and improvement of international food aid, nutrition and local food access programs.  The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition program, Food for Progress, and Farm Bill nutrition and international food aid programs are some of the many ways we should build upon to address hunger and food access as we face protracted humanitarian crises across multiple continents. 

Vimlendra Sharan, the Director of the FAO Liaison Office in North America, said, “The United States and FAO share a vision for a hunger-free and healthy world that can be achieved together. The United States’ robust partnership with FAO is essential to achieving global hunger targets, alleviating rural poverty, and provides an invaluable return on investment for the U.S. We are grateful to see leaders in Congress continually striving for policies that effectively reduce hunger; and today I am pleased to join these members in highlighting the everyday actions that Americans can take and continue to take in order to eradicate hunger.” 

U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), and David Young (R-Iowa) introduced a similar resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

To find out more ways you can take action to achieve a hunger-free world and celebrate World Food Day on October 16 and all year long, please visit http://www.fao.org/world-food-day.