Ernst works to stem global food crisis

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) is calling on the Biden administration and the U.S. Senate to immediately expedite food aid to Ukraine by eliminating bureaucratic red tape.

“We are witnessing an emerging global food crisis, happening in real time, because of Putin’s lawless war on Ukraine — the breadbasket of Europe,” Sen. Ernst said on Monday. “Putin is engaging in a food war, targeting Ukraine’s agricultural infrastructure and seizing hundreds of thousands of tons of grain, threatening this year’s harvest and putting tens of millions of people worldwide at risk of hunger.”

To resolve the situation, Sen. Ernst wants President Joe Biden to use existing authority to waive requirements under current law that mandate 50 percent of U.S. food aid exports must be shipped on U.S. flagged vessels. Under current law, the president of the United States, U.S. Secretary of Defense, or Congress can waive the 50 percent requirement temporarily. 

“While we have the means to provide important food aid right away, bureaucratic red tape is putting an enormous restriction on our shipping capacity, with just four vessels worldwide that meet these onerous shipping requirements,” said Rep. Ernst. “We need action now, Mr. President. Not tomorrow. Now.”

Sen. Ernst also is urging the Senate to take up her bipartisan Senate Concurrent Resolution 38 to do the same. If enacted, the resolution would declare that a state of emergency exists in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion and justifies a waiver of the minimum tonnage requirements for the transport of equipment, materials or commodities related to the resulting humanitarian needs in Ukraine.

“The Senate needs to take immediate action on my bipartisan measure to expedite food aid to our friends and partners around the world and clear the bureaucratic red tape that’s in the way at a moment when speed is critical,” Sen. Ernst said.

The resolution is under consideration in the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.