Representative Tracey Mann recently met with farm broadcasters to discuss the critical issue of hunger, emphasizing the vital role broadcasters play in informing the agricultural community. “Certainly, you all have a voice and a megaphone like no other to be able to really help move things in the right direction,” Mann stated, acknowledging their significant influence.
Mann, representing Kansas’s First District, a major agricultural hub, highlighted the deep connection between farmers and the fight against hunger. “I’ve never met a farmer or ag producer that doesn’t care deeply about this issue of hunger, and they are all able to go to bed at night knowing they’re doing everything they possibly can to work to eliminate it.” This connection, he explained, motivated his involvement as the Republican Chair of the hunger caucus.
Tracing the roots of American food aid, Mann recounted the story of a Kansas farmer in the 1950s whose idea to send surplus wheat to starving populations overseas led to the creation of the Food for Peace Program by President Eisenhower. “Food for Peace started in my district, something I care a lot about,” Mann noted.
However, he expressed concerns about the program’s evolution, particularly the shift from sending American-grown commodities to direct cash transfers. “For me, as I look at the Food for Peace Program, over the years, I’ve been disappointed to see how the makeup of the program has switched from being all commodities to sending cash overseas. That pendulum really swung where, in my view, way out of whack, where the purpose of the program was to send American-grown commodities to mouths that need it overseas, not just to send money.”
He argued that commodity shipments not only benefit American agriculture but also foster goodwill towards the U.S. “I would just submit to you all if you’re able to feed your child, because you know you’re getting food that comes in bags that say ‘A free gift from the American people.’ The question is, are you predisposed to like America or not like America? I would say you’re very predisposed to like and appreciate our country.” Mann also discussed his efforts to return the program’s administration to the USDA, believing it aligns better with its original intent.
Addressing concerns about balancing nutrition programs with agricultural support in the context of reconciliation, Mann stated, “I don’t get the sense that we’re pitting in any way, food nutrition against production agriculture. We need both. We have to have a robust production agriculture to be able to have food nutrition programs.” He expressed optimism that reconciliation could facilitate the passage of a five-year farm bill.
Mann also acknowledged the significant challenge of food waste, estimating that a substantial portion of produced food is wasted before and after consumption. He suggested that addressing food waste requires localized solutions.
Furthermore, he emphasized the national security implications of international hunger, citing the destabilizing effects of food insecurity. “Another reason I would say Food for Peace is a great use of taxpayer dollars is because we can help prevent parts of the world from becoming destabilized. We all know that historically, when parts of the world are destabilized, it does not bode well for things that can happen in our country.” He shared a poignant anecdote illustrating the link between hunger and vulnerability to extremist recruitment.
Finally, Mann addressed the distinction between food and nourishment, highlighting the importance of nutritional content. He praised the effectiveness of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in treating severe malnutrition, emphasizing its peanut-based composition. “If you give a starving child RUTF over 45 days, 98% of the overwhelming majority of the time, they will come out of it. We’ve really figured out how to crack the code. The base of that nourishment is peanuts.” He advocated for the continued support of such impactful programs.
