WASHINGTON, DC—Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) President Edward Wytkind issues this statement on the rejection of the Royce-Engle amendment to the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013 (H.R. 1947):
“We are pleased that the House of Representatives wisely rejected the Royce-Engel amendment that would have gutted our nation’s Food for Peace program and in the process jeopardized our U.S. maritime industry and workforce who help deliver aid around the world.
“For nearly 60 years, Food for Peace has been our principle international food assistance program and has fed billions of needy people around the globe. Not only would the changes to this transparent and effective aid program have an immediate impact on U.S. jobs, but it would further undermine the economic viability of the U.S. maritime fleet – a fleet used by our military for sealift capabilities in times of war and conflict.
“We thank Members of the House who stood with transportation labor on this important vote and hope that a bill can be reconciled with the Senate and sent to the President’s desk that fully funds and protects the U.S. food aid program.”
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The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, represents 33 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, motor carrier, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries. For more information, visit us at www.ttd.org or on Facebook and Twitter.
Contact: Jennifer Michels, jenniferm@ttd.org, 202.628.9262