'How Many Lives Could Have Been Saved?': Betty McCollum Slams Incineration Of Emergency Food Supply

Forbes Breaking News

During a House Appropriation Committee markup meeting held before the Congressional recess, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) spoke about cuts to USAID.

Transcript

00:00Mr. Coleman, the gentlelady from Minnesota, Mr. Coleman, is recognized for remarks on the bill.

00:06Thank you, Mr. Chair.

00:08And to the chair of the subcommittee and the ranking member,

00:12this must have been a very, at times, challenging conversation to be having with one another.

00:19I'm not offering an amendment, and that's why I'm making opening remarks.

00:23I rise to share my opposition to this bill because it will codify the Trump administration's disastrous, chaotic, foreign policy actions.

00:33With its deep cuts to our country's development, diplomacy, and capacity,

00:37this bill, in my opinion, represents the total abdication of U.S. global leadership

00:42and puts millions of lives at risk around the world.

00:45In my opinion, it makes America less safe.

00:48Last week, the House passed a rescissions package which cut $8 billion in foreign assistance programs

00:55that directly support children and families living in the most dire circumstances around the world.

01:01The funding had already been appropriated by Congress on a bipartisan basis just four months ago.

01:09When I look at this bill, in addition to the rescissions and the elimination of U.S. aid

01:14and the mass layoffs at the State Department,

01:16I fear the disastrous impact it will have on our country.

01:20Our international partners, as we navigate global events together

01:24and as we attempt to be a global leader on all fronts.

01:30Our State Department is on life support when we chronically underfund our diplomacy and development,

01:36and we must turn to the defense industry instead to make up the difference.

01:40As a ranking member of the Defense Subcommittee, I just find that unacceptable.

01:45The legislation before us today houses some of the most important programs regarding diplomacy,

01:51development, and defense initiatives of the United States and the world at large.

01:57The program funded from this subcommittee saves lives.

02:01Now, there are many cuts to this bill, and I'm not going to get into all of them,

02:04but I'm going to focus on one topic in particular,

02:06the fight to end global hunger and child malnutrition.

02:12Because when we help parents, they remember who helped them.

02:16When we speak today on this bill, as many as 319 million people are facing acute hunger.

02:24Over 36 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition.

02:29The United States has been a long leader in this, coordinating and executing efforts

02:36to lead the global food crisis and have it come to an end.

02:41Now, the United States bill that we're about to vote on cuts 42% of the humanitarian assistance,

02:50meaning millions of children will be dying of malnutrition and stop receiving food.

02:55This bill makes a $192 million cut to feed the future.

03:01I appreciate that it's still in the bill,

03:03but I worked with many others to help develop this in a bipartisan, bicameral fashion.

03:10It helps 33 million people worldwide learn how to feed themselves

03:16so are not at risk of starvation or us having to come in and help.

03:22And just last week, the State Department incinerated nearly 5,000 tons of emergency food

03:30that was already purchased to feed starving children.

03:34The world watched as this administration did not,

03:38decided not to even distribute the food, but burn it instead.

03:43I ask you, how many lives could have been saved if we had just kept our commitments?

03:49If we had just honored a bill we had just passed four months ago?

03:54How truly this administration really plans on tackling fraud, waste, and abuse

04:00when we are burning food that this Congress had voted on to be distributed to children?

04:08This accumulated effect will make more children be at risk of dying,

04:12more mothers dying during childbirth,

04:17and just the total lack of health care or exposure to violence

04:24that these children and their families will be facing is horrifying.

04:28It's a waste.

04:30It leaves a vacuum of leadership in the most vulnerable places around the world,

04:34and that void, I guarantee it, China and Russia will look to fill in their own way.

04:41I've been fortunate enough to travel around this world of serving in Congress,

04:45and I've met adults and children who remember who helped them,

04:49the mothers who knew the plumping net that they were giving their child

04:52was going to save their life.

04:54Who's going to remember us now, and how will we be remembered?

04:58It's a determination that this bill is part of.

05:01With that, I yield back.

05:02With that, I yield back.

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