The United States will spend an additional $1.25 billion on global food-aid donations this year and next year as donor countries seek to limit the effects of surging food prices for the world's poorest people. The measure also provides an additional $850 million to Food for Peace, the biggest U.S. food-aid program, in fiscal year 2008 and $395 million for fiscal year 2009. Other funding for disaster assistance and agriculture development bring the bill's food-aid total to $1.9 billion for the two years. The additional money will help the United States, the world's biggest donor of food aid; provide even more assistance as surging food and fuel prices hurt the world's poorest. Most emergency U.S. food aid goes to Africa. “Millions of people are starving around the world, increasing the potential for humanitarian disasters and political unrest, " said Senator Bob Casey (Democrat from Pennsylvania). “We must do everything we can to provide emergency food aid to our neighbors in the international community on an urgent basis. I am pleased that Congress and the president took action to send aid to those who need it most.”
