Moran spotlights McGovern-Dole international food program

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) recently sponsored a bipartisan resolution that would express the commitment of the U.S. Senate to build on the 20 years of success of the George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program

Named after former Sens. George McGovern (D-SD) and Bob Dole (R-KS), who were advocates for providing nutritional and educational aid to children around the world, the program has improved the food security, nutrition, literacy and primary education of school-age children, particularly young girls, and their families in over 48 countries in just two decades through the donation of U.S. agricultural commodities.

“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of the late Senator Bob Dole in working to advance programs that provide food and education to our most vulnerable,” Sen. Moran said on Monday. “It is encouraging to see this program’s success over the years, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this program as we continue the fight against hunger.”

Sen. Moran led 15 of his colleagues on July 14 in introducing Senate Resolution 709, which states that the Senate is committed to complementing humanitarian assistance efforts and development programs through the continued implementation of the McGovern-Dole Program; and supporting United States farmers, millers, shippers, and commodity groups that provide agricultural commodities for use in the McGovern-Dole Program to help combat global malnutrition and food insecurity and advance global education.

“The McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program — or in Kansas, the Dole-McGovern Food for Education Program — is instrumental in providing one-of-a-kind nutritional resources and food to our most vulnerable,” said Sen. Moran. “In my lifetime I believe we can end hunger, malnutrition and achieve food security across the world — and it starts with programs like Dole-McGovern.”

Among the lawmakers who cosponsored the resolution alongside Sen. Moran are U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT).