§ 1736o–1 — Mcgovern-dole International Food For Education And Child Nutrition Program

(a) In this section, the term “agricultural commodity” means an agricultural commodity, or a product of an agricultural commodity, that— (1) is produced in the United States; or (A) is produced in and procured from— (i) a developing country that is a recipient country; or (ii) a developing country in the same region as a recipient country; and (B) at a minimum, meets each nutritional, quality, and labeling standard of the recipient country, as determined by the Secretary. (b) Subject to subsection (l), the Secretary may establish a program, to be known as “McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program”, requiring the procurement of agricultural commodities and the provision of financial and technical assistance to carry out— (1) preschool and school food for education programs in foreign countries to improve food security, reduce the incidence of hunger, and improve literacy and primary education, particularly with respect to girls; and (2) maternal, infant, and child nutrition programs for pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants, and children who are 5 years of age or younger. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law— (1) any agricultural commodity is eligible to be provided under this section; (2) as necessary to achieve the purposes of this section, funds appropriated under this section may be used to pay— (i) the cost of acquiring agricultural commodities; (ii) the costs associated with packaging, enrichment, preservation, and fortification of agricultural commodities; (iii) the processing, transportation, handling, and other incidental costs up to the time of the delivery of agricultural commodities free on board vessels in United States ports; (iv) the vessel freight charges from United States ports or designated Canadian transshipment ports, as determined by the Secretary, to designated ports of entry abroad; (v) the costs associated with transporting agricultural commodities from United States ports to designated points of entry abroad in the case— (I) of landlocked countries; (II) of ports that cannot be used effectively because of natural or other disturbances; (III) of the unavailability of carriers to a specific country; or (IV) of substantial savings in costs or time that may be effected by the utilization of points of entry other than ports; (vi) the costs associated with transporting the commodities described in subsection (a)(2) from a developing country described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of that subsection to any designated point of entry within the recipient country; and (vii) the charges for general average contributions arising out of the ocean transport of agricultural commodities transferred pursuant thereto; (B) all or any part of the internal transportation, storage, and handling costs incurred in moving the eligible commodity, if the Secretary determines that— (i) payment of the costs is appropriate; and (ii) the recipient country is a low income, net food-importing country that— (I) meets the poverty criteria established by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for Civil Works Preference; and (II) has a national government that is committed to or is working toward, through a national action plan, the goals of the World Declaration on Education for All convened in 1990 in Jomtien, Thailand, and the followup Dakar Framework for Action of the World Education Forum, convened in 2000; (C) the costs of activities conducted in the recipient countries by a nonprofit voluntary organization, cooperative, or intergovernmental agency or organization that would enhance the effectiveness of the activities implemented by such entities under this section; and (D) the costs of meeting the allowable administrative expenses of private voluntary organizations, cooperatives, or intergovernmental organizations that are implementing activities under this section. (d) The Secretary shall— (1) implement the program established under this section; (2) ensure that the program established under this section is consistent with the foreign policy and development assistance objectives of the United States; and (3) consider, in determining whether a country should receive assistance under this section, whether the government of the country is taking concrete steps to improve the preschool and school systems in the country. (e) Assistance may be provided under this section to private voluntary organizations, cooperatives, intergovernmental organizations, governments of developing countries and their agencies, and other organizations. (1) In carrying out subsection (b), the Secretary shall ensure that procedures are established that— (A) provide for the submission of proposals by eligible entities, each of which may include 1 or more recipient countries, for commodities and other assistance under this section; (B) provide for eligible commodities and assistance on a multiyear basis; (C) ensure that eligible entities demonstrate the organizational capacity and the ability to develop, implement, monitor, report on, and provide accountability for activities conducted under this section; (D) provide for the expedited development, review, and approval of proposals submitted in accordance with this section; (E) ensure to the maximum extent practicable that assistance— (i) is provided under this section in a timely manner; and (ii) is available when needed throughout the applicable school year; (F) ensure monitoring and reporting by eligible entities on the use of commodities and other assistance provided under this section; and (G) allow for the sale or barter of commodities by eligible entities to acquire funds to implement activities that improve the food security of women and children or otherwise enhance the effectiveness of programs and activities authorized under this section. (2) In carrying out paragraph (1) with respect to criteria for determining the use of commodities and other assistance provided for programs and activities authorized under this section, the Secretary may consider the ability of eligible entities to— (A) identify and assess the needs of beneficiaries, especially malnourished or undernourished mothers and their children who are 5 years of age or younger, and school-age children who are malnourished, undernourished, or do not regularly attend school; (i) in the case of preschool and school-age children, target low-income areas where children’s enrollment and attendance in school is low or girls’ enrollment and participation in preschool or school is low, and incorporate developmental objectives for improving literacy and primary education, particularly with respect to girls; and (ii) in the case of programs to benefit mothers and children who are 5 years of age or younger, coordinate supplementary feeding and nutrition programs with existing or newly-established maternal, infant, and children programs that provide health-needs interventions, including maternal, prenatal, and postnatal and newborn care; (C) involve indigenous institutions as well as local communities and governments in the development and implementation of the programs and activities to foster local capacity building and leadership; and (D) carry out multiyear programs that foster local self-sufficiency and ensure the longevity of programs in the recipient country. (g) The Food and Nutrition Service of the Department of Agriculture may provide technical advice on the establishment of programs under subsection (b)(1) and on implementation of the programs in the field in recipient countries. (1) The Secretary is urged to engage existing international food aid coordinating mechanisms to ensure multilateral commitments to, and participation in, programs similar to programs supported under this section. (2) The Secretary shall annually submit to the Committee on International Relations and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the commitments and activities of governments, including the United States government, in the global effort to reduce child hunger and increase school attendance. (i) The Secretary is urged to encourage the support and active involvement of the private sector, foundations, and other individuals and organizations in programs assisted under this section. (j) An agreement with an eligible organization under this section shall include provisions— (1) to— (A) sustain the benefits to the education, enrollment, and attendance of children in schools in the targeted communities when the provision of commodities and assistance to a recipient country under a program under this section terminates; and (B) estimate the period of time required until the recipient country or eligible organization is able to provide sufficient assistance without additional assistance under this section; or (2) to provide other long-term benefits to targeted populations of the recipient country. (k) The requirement of section 1733(a) of this title applies with respect to the availability of commodities under this section. (1) Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section $84,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, to remain available until expended. (2) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2023. (3) Funds made available to carry out this section may be used to pay the administrative expenses of the Department of Agriculture or any other Federal agency assisting in the implementation of this section. (4) Of the funds made available to carry out this section, not more than 10 percent shall be used to purchase agricultural commodities described in subsection (a)(2).