Recognizing Important Victory for Countless Children Around the World

Floor Speech

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Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Speaker, after 9 months of delay, I rise today to recognize an important victory for the United States and for thousands of children around the world who have a new chance at life.

Finally, after months of advocacy and struggle, funding has been restored for global emergency food aid for children. You see, malnutrition is the number one cause of death for children under 5 globally, and when children are on the brink of starvation, their organs break down, and they cannot even digest food if it is given to them.

There is a proven treatment: ready-to-use therapeutic food, also known as Plumpy'Nut, a shelf-stable peanut paste. It does not need to be refrigerated. You don't need to add water. It has the nutrients that children need to survive and grow back from the brink of starvation.

Edesia Nutrition in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, is one of the two organizations that manufacture Plumpy'Nut. Since their founding, they have saved over 25 million lives.

Earlier this year, in January, funding for Plumpy'Nut was cut off by President Trump's DOGE initiative. New Federal orders were halted. Production ground to a halt. Boxes of lifesaving food aid sat in warehouses while children starved to death.

This was not just cruel. It was short-sighted.

America's reputation as a global leader suffers when we fail to deliver international aid. Our adversaries--China, Russia, terrorist organizations--fill the abyss when the United States pulls out.

A broad coalition of Americans fought back. In April, I made a commitment that I would speak on this floor every legislative day until funding was restored. I ended up speaking here 42 times in total to demand that emergency food aid for children be restored.

I wasn't alone. My colleague from Rhode Island, Representative Amo, made his voice heard on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Representative Austin Scott from Georgia, whose district hosts the other organization that manufactures Plumpy'Nut, was a vital partner. Of course, Navyn Salem, the CEO of Edesia, never gave up her mission to help starving kids in need.

Last month, the administration finally listened, and the program was restored. A few weeks ago, Edesia was able to resume regular shipments. I was there at the loading dock in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, when the first new shipments went outbound for children whose small bodies were struggling on the edge of starvation and who now have a chance to survive and grow. I will never forget that moment.

This is proof that, even in these challenging times, it is possible to get good things done. This victory wouldn't have happened if it weren't for the advocacy of people at all levels, all across the country, making their voices heard. It is a monumental step toward restoring the moral standing of the United States abroad and saving countless lives.

While I am very glad that this program is restored, that Edesia is up and running again, and that funding for food aid is back, none of this should have ever happened.

Make no mistake, children died needlessly because President Trump and an unelected tech billionaire cut off their supply of food before eventually reversing course. This is a lesson in the devastating consequences of the chaotic slash-and-burn style of government that we have seen too much of over the last year.

Nevertheless, today is a day for celebration, as Americans came together to do the right thing, to advocate for those who couldn't advocate for themselves, and to deliver a victory for countless children around the world who now have a chance to grow and thrive.

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