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Pelosi: 'Farm Bill Will Ease Strain of Rising Food Prices for American Families'

May 8, 2008

Contact:Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement after President Bush's call for Congress to approve $770 million in international food assistance to help ease high global food prices:

"The Congress will respond rapidly to the growing urgent need for international food assistance. This is not only a humanitarian issue; it is a matter of national security as well. From Bangladesh to Haiti, this food crisis is contributing to international instability by adversely affecting tens of millions of people, including the poorest people in the world. We must take action to address this critical problem and demonstrate to the world the generosity and compassion of the American people.

"We are also committed to addressing food insecurity affecting millions of Americans, and ask the President to support the major increases in nutrition programs contained in our Farm bill. This legislation will include a major increase to the food stamp program that will ensure that 38 million Americans - especially children - have improved access to basic nutrition. The President must work with Congress and sign the Farm bill."