,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #dcf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #ae1 #bjbc,mr4 ,risch 7for himself and ,mr4 ,coons7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to respond to the looming global food crisis precipitated by ,russia's invasion of ,ukraine4 #a4 ,short titles ,this ,act may be cited as the ,securing ,allies ,food in ,emergencies ,act or the ,,safe ,act4 #b4 ,statement of policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states to respond to the looming global food crisis precipitated by the ,russian ,federation's brutal1 illegal invasion of ,ukraine beginning in ,february #bjbb1 which threatens to destabilize key partners and allies and push millions of people into hunger and poverty1 particularly in areas of ,africa and the ,middle ,east that are already experiencing emergency levels of food insecurity1 by taking immediate action to improve the timeliness and expand the reach of ,united ,states international food assistance4 #c4 ,strategy to avert a global food crisis 7a7 ,strategy requirement ,not later than #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 acting in the capacity of the ,president's ,special ,coordinator for ,international ,disaster ,assistance pursuant to section #dic of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bbib;b71 shall develop and submit a strategy to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate and ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives for averting a catastrophic global food security crisis1 particularly in areas of ,africa and the ,middle ,east that are already experiencing emergency levels of food insecurity1 which has been driven by sharp increases in global prices for staple agricultural commodities1 agricultural inputs 7including fertilizer71 and associated energy costs4 7b7 ,considerations ,in developing the strategy under subsection 7a71 the ,administrator shall consider and incorporate an analysis of-- 7#a7 the impact of the ,russian ,federation's brutal1 illegal war in ,ukraine on the cost and availability of staple agricultural commodities and inputs1 including fertilizer-- 7,a7 globally2 7,b7 in countries that rely upon commercial imports of such commodities and inputs from ,ukraine or ,russia2 and 7,c7 in countries that are supported through the ,united ,nations ,world ,food ,programme1 which heavily relies upon purchases of wheat and pulses from ,ukraine and has recently reported a price increase of more than #bc1jjj1jjj per month for its wheat purchases2 7#b7 the correlation between rising food costs and social unrest in areas of strategic importance to the ,united ,states1 including countries and regions that experienced food riots during the #bjjg to #bjjh global food price crisis2 7#c7 the underlying drivers of food insecurity in areas experiencing emergency levels of hunger1 including current barriers to food security development programs and humanitarian assistance2 7#d7 existing ,united ,states foreign assistance authorities1 programs1 and resources that could help avert a catastrophic global food crisis2 7#e7 recommendations to enhance the efficiency1 improve the timeliness1 and expand the reach of ,united ,states international food assistance programs and resources referred to in paragraph 7#d72 7#f7 opportunities to bolster coordination1 catalyze and leverage actions by other donors and through multilateral development banks2 7#g7 opportunities to better synchronize assistance through well-coordinated development and humanitarian assistance programs within the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development and alongside other donors2 7#h7 opportunities to improve supply chain and shipping logistics efficiencies in close collaboration with the private sector2 7#i7 opportunities for increased cooperation with the ,department of ,state to strengthen diplomatic efforts to resolve global conflicts and overcome barriers to access for life-saving assistance2 7#aj7 opportunities to support continued agricultural production in ,ukraine1 and the extent to which food produced in ,ukraine can be used to meet humanitarian needs locally1 regionally1 or in countries historically reliant upon imports from ,ukraine or ,russia2 and 7#aa7 opportunities to support and leverage agricultural production in countries and regions currently supported by ,united ,states international agricultural development programs1 including programs authorized under the ,global ,food ,security ,act of #bjaf 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #icja et seq471 in a manner that-- 7,a7 fills critical gaps in the global supply of emergency food aid commodities2 7,b7 enables purchases from small holder farmers by the ,united ,nations ,world ,food ,programme2 7,c7 enhances resilience to food price shocks2 7,d7 promotes self-reliance2 and 7,e7 opens opportunities for ,united ,states agricultural trade and investment4 #d4 ,emergency authorities to expand the timeliness and reach of ,united ,states international food assistance 7a7 ,in general ,subject to the provisions of this section and notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development is authorized to procure life-saving food aid commodities1 including commodities available locally and regionally1 for the provision of emergency food assistance to the most vulnerable populations in countries and areas experiencing acute food insecurity that has been exacerbated by rising food prices1 particularly in countries and areas historically dependent upon imports of wheat and other staple commodities from ,ukraine and ,russia4 7b7 ,prioritization 7#a7 ,in general ,in responding to crises in which emergency food aid commodities are unavailable locally or regionally1 or in which the provision of locally or regionally procured agricultural commodities would be unsafe1 impractical1 or inappropriate1 the ,administrator should prioritize procurements of ,united ,states agricultural commodities1 including when exercising authorities under section #dia of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bbib74 7#b7 ,local or regional procurements ,in making local or regional procurements of food aid commodities pursuant to subsection 7a71 the ,administrator1 to the extent practicable and appropriate1 should prioritize procurements from areas supported through the international agricultural development programs authorized under the ,global ,food ,security ,act of #bjaf 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #icja et seq47 and from ,ukraine1 for the purpose of promoting economic stability1 resilience to price shocks1 and early recovery from such shocks in such areas4 7c7 ,do no harm ,in making local or regional procurements of food aid commodities pursuant to subsection 7a71 the ,administrator shall first conduct market assessments to ensure that such procurements-- 7#a7 will not displace ,united ,states agricultural trade and investment2 and 7#b7 will not cause or exacerbate shortages1 or otherwise harm local markets1 for such commodities within the countries of origin4 7d7 ,emergency exceptions 7#a7 ,in general ,commodities procured pursuant to subsection 7b7 shall be excluded from calculations of gross tonnage for purposes of determining compliance with section #eecje7;b7 of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #eecje7;b7 of title #df1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking shall and inserting should4 7e7 ,exclusions ,the authority under subsection 7a7 shall not apply to procurements from-- 7#a7 the ,russian ,federation2 7#b7 the ,people's ,republic of ,china2 or 7#c7 any country subject to sanctions under-- 7,a7 section #fbj;,a of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bcga72 7,b7 section #dj of the ,arms ,export ,control ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bghj72 or 7,c7 section #aged7;c7 of the ,export ,control ,reform ,act of #bjah 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #dhac7;c774