U.S. food aid system antiquated and inefficient

The United States, a country with so much abundance, cannot sit back as impoverished nations suffer from high food prices, said John Hamre, President and CEO of The Center for Strategic and International Studies.

J. Stephen Morrison, Co-Director of the CSIS Task Force on the Global Food Crisis, listed several steps to a pragmatic policy for bipartisan efforts against poverty. He said the emergency response system must be modernized, and monetary commitments doubled. He said rural agriculture must be supported as well. Also, approaches to fuel security must be clarified as well as U.S. trade policy adjusted to support third world capabilities.

Senator Robert Casey (D-Pa.) said the gravity of the world food crisis cannot be overstated. He said the current U.S. food assistance program is antiquated, costly, and inefficient, sometimes taking as long as six months for aid delivery. He plans to work on new development legislation to double the U.S. food assistance commitment. Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) emphasized the potential of genetically modified foods in the fight against rising food costs. He said undeveloped countries are starved of both food and science. The 40countries threatened by food shortages do not use genetically modified foods, and in some cases reject genetically modified food aid.

FEMA Wants to Be on The Right Track

The House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security Appropriations held a hearing to review whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is on the right track. However, even that may not be enough as ranking member Hal Rogers (R-KY 9) noted by quoting Will Rogers as saying "even if you're on the right track, you will still get run over if you just sit there."

Despite recent successes in responding to the wildfires in California, tornadoes in Tennessee, and 60 other major disasters in the last year, doubts remain about FEMA's effectiveness since Hurricane Katrina. According to the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA now contributes to 6 material weaknesses in DHS in 2007, up from 2 key weaknesses in 2006.

The FY2008 Budget increased FEMA's budget by 175 million dollars, a 24% increase. With that funding, FEMA continues to try to enact its three-phase transition to the "new FEMA" in keeping with the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act. FEMA is currently overdue to submit various reports to congress regarding improving its workforce. The Subcommittee urged FEMA to expedite the reports and exercise recently granted congressional authority to provide housing and work more closely with HUD.

Larry Gispert, President of the International Association of Emergency Managers, said that "FEMA wants to be on the right track" though it might not quite be there yet. He mentioned that emergency planning tends to give to much weight to potential terror threats, at the expense of preparation for the full range of emergencies, disasters, and other threats.

David Paulison, FEMA administrator, made mention of the issue of high levels of formaldehyde in FEMA trailers, explaining that the units were purchased from manufacturers and are exactly like those purchased by consumers. The Agency has been working with the manufacturers to improve the conditions. The majority of trailers showed low levels of formaldehyde.

FEMA can currently respond to a disaster in 72 hours, utilizing 8 storage facilities nationwide stocked with Meals Ready to Eat, water, and other relief supplies. The primary relief responsibility rests with the local levels of government, with State and Federal (FEMA) agents becoming involved when local efforts are overwhelmed.