To: Mike Lee, https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.

cfm/contact
From: Sheri Sotto, [email address removed for portfolio]
Subject: Vote Yes for S.525 Food for Peace Reform Act of 2015

Dear Senator Mike Lee,

I am writing to you about the S.525 Food for Peace Reform Act of 2015, and would like to
encourage you to become a co-sponsor for this bill and if it should be brought to the Senate floor
to vote yes for this bill.

USAID has been providing food assistance to foreign countries in need for over 60 years and has
become the largest provider of food assistance in the world. Since its conception USAID
programs have benefited over 3 billion people in over 150 countries. This bill allows USAID to
continue its important work not only in times of emergency, but also in nonemergency situations.

Support of S.525 will have a positive impact on the health of millions of hungry and
malnourished people across the world. The bill also encourages a focus on women and young
children, who have been shown not only to be among the most vulnerable populations, but also
the population to whom aid has the greatest impact. In addition, this bill will also encourage
development in the fields of food science, nutrition, agriculture, and public health as USAID
works to find best practices in food packaging and storage, develop products and programs to
meet nutrient needs, and assess agricultural commodities for food aid.

As the title of the act implies, increasing food security across the globe is a key step in
establishing peace in our world, and should be a priority for our nation. Again, I ask you to
become a cosponsor for this bill and to please vote yes for this bill if it is brought to the senate
floor.

Respectfully,

Sheri Sotto
(email and address removed for portfolio)
S.525 Food for Peace Reform Act of 2015

Hunger and Nutrition:
Malnutrition is
an underlying
cause of death
2 billion
of 2.6 million people are
children each malnourished
year a third of
malnutrition
child deaths causes 11% of
globally 1 global disease
Approximately 1 in 4 children
795 million have stunted
growth
people worldwide1
worldwide
suffer from
chronic hunger 2
Inadequate nutrition before the age of two can result in stunted growth and permanent
mental and physical impairments 2

USAIDs Past Impact:

USAID is the largest provider of food assistance in world

3 billion people have benefited from USAID assistance in over 150 countries since its
beginning over 60 years ago 2
USAID programs focus on women and children under the age of two to address critical
periods of growth

Benefits of S.525 Food for Peace Reform Act of 2015:

Empowers USAID to continue to combat malnutrition and hunger by:
Authorizing minimum funding levels for nonemergency assistance
Assesses current programs to improve nutritional quality and cost effectiveness of
operations
Being conscientious of agricultural markets both in US and recipient countries and works
to promote both economies

References:
1. Gain Health. Fast facts about malnutrition. Available at: http://www.gainhealth.org/knowledge-centre/fast-facts-malnutrition/. Accessed Nov 3, 2016.
2. USAID. Quick facts. Available at: https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food-security/food-assistance/quick-facts. Accessed Nov 3, 2016.