100+ Labor & Business Groups Urge FY27 Funding for Food Aid Programs

March 2, 2026

Dear Chair Harris, Chair Hoeven, Ranking Member Bishop, and Ranking Member Shaheen:

Each year our nation’s international food aid programs, including Food for Peace Title II, Food for Progress, and McGovern-Dole International Food for Education, help reach millions of vulnerable people around the world, while also putting America First. These Buy American programs have enjoyed significant bipartisan support for over 70 years. With the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ramping up its Food for Peace activities, we recommend returning to FY24/FY25 funding levels. As such, we, the undersigned organizations, respectfully request Congress continue to fully support these programs and include $1,619,107,000 for Food for Peace and $240,000,000 for McGovern-Dole in the fiscal year 2027 agriculture appropriations bill.

The use of American grown commodities as food aid has been a cornerstone of Food for Peace, Food for Progress, and McGovern-Dole for decades. Through a joint public-private partnership, American farmers, mariners, port workers, private voluntary organizations (PVOs), and the U.S. government have developed the strongest frontline response to urgent global food insecurity. Food aid is a tangible source of hope to those in need, and American stakeholders take great pride in their support for the world’s most vulnerable people through these programs. The Food for Peace program purchases, on average, more than a million tons of American-grown commodities from dozens of states each year, utilizes this country’s transportation and shipping industries, and supports the American economy while simultaneously responding to hunger emergencies around the world. Throughout their history, food assistance programs have supported and earned American allies and paved the way for greater commercial and trade opportunities across the world.

Food for Peace, Food for Progress, and McGovern-Dole not only benefit their recipients, but also U.S. economic and national security interests. Food aid is made available through these programs in bags bearing the U.S. flag and/or marked “from the American people.” U.S. contributions to global food security support U.S. strength abroad, especially when confronting programs like China’s Road and Belt Initiative (and its more than $1 trillion investment) and those of other global competitors eager to establish spheres of influence. And, ultimately, these kinds of humanitarian assistance programs help create a firm foundation for vulnerable communities to grow and prosper, which is why many former food aid recipient countries are now among the most important U.S. trading partners.

We believe that these U.S. international food aid programs are among the world’s most critical humanitarian assistance programs, save countless lives, bolster our nation’s global security, and help millions in need around the world. We ask that you continue to allow these Buy American, America First programs to reinforce our nation’s standing as a global leader in food security by funding Food for Peace and McGovern-Dole at their FY24/FY25 levels of $1,619,107,000 and $240,000,000, respectively. America’s farmers, millers, mariners, and on the ground implementers are ready to continue carrying out the necessary and vital work accomplished in the Food for Peace, Food for Progress, and McGovern-Dole programs.

Thank you,

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