In a long-awaited start to the Senate’s FY22 appropriations process, this week the Appropriations Committee approved its first three spending bills – including the Agriculture Appropriations bill, which funds two international food assistance programs. The Agriculture Appropriations bill passed on a bipartisan 25-5 vote following approval at the subcommittee level earlier this week.

Importantly, the bill increases funding for two programs that provide assistance to combat hunger and malnutrition around the world:

• $1.76 billion for Food for Peace, an increase of 1.1% ($20 million) compared to the FY21 enacted level.
• $245 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, 6.5% ($15 million) above the FY21 enacted level.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet released its 302(b) allocations for all twelve FY22 spending bills and is not expected to consider additional appropriations bills – including the State-Foreign Operations bill that funds the vast majority of the International Affairs Budget – before the upcoming August recess.