To 162 more per metric ton than foreign flag carriers for usda programs. If u. S. Flag carriers had matched the average foreign flag rate in each these years, we would have spent 23. 8 mmm less for shipping. And we did a little back of the envelope map and we think that comes out to about 500,000 in foodd theyd we could have helped. Extra money spent on shipping is money not spent feeding hungry people. Im not qualified to judge whether the cargo preference requirement achieves the necessary National Security objective of maintaining sea lift with the goal tied to that capacity. However, we at cathly Relief Services deeply appreciate the service and sacrifice of mariners who have helped deliver food aid for the last 60 years. We welcome their contribution that did do not diminish the programs ability. Surely there are other ways of supporting the mariners and maintaining our nations sea lift capacity without penal lizing vulnerable and hungry people. Short of eliminating the cargo pref
4th and 5th. Booktv. Org. Now, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee takes a look at the u. S. Agency for International Development, food for Peace Program and other ways to district food aid more effectively around the world. The witnesses including the acting director of the food for peace office and an official from the Government Accountability office. This hearing is 90 minutes. Our Relations Committee will come to order. We are currently facing an historic humanitarian crisis with over 800 Million People worldwide who are in need of food aid. The United States continues to be the world leader in providing over a third of all emergency food aid, over 2 billion annually. Despite our shortfall there are other donor organizations not meeting the challenge. In next years farm bill operations we want to do more without spending more money. Over half of our food aid is provided through the farm bill with the u. S. Cargo and preference requirements. The farm bill requires aid to be sour