Bill Aiming to Anchor Food for Peace in the USDA Receives Maritime Industry Support

A bicameral group of lawmakers has introduced legislation to transfer the administration of the Food for Peace Program from USAID to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a move that could significantly impact maritime shipping.

The Food for Peace Program, which delivered nearly 4 billion pounds of American-grown food to approximately 58 million people globally in 2022, relies heavily on maritime transportation for its operations. Under the Cargo Preference Act of 1954, at least 50% of all food aid shipments must be transported on U.S.-flagged commercial vessels, supporting the U.S. Merchant Marine while delivering vital humanitarian assistance.

The proposed legislation, backed by Republicans in both the House and Senate, has gained support from key maritime st…