*EPF511 03/21/2003
Excerpt: U.S. Says It Will Increase Food Aid to Iraq
(Secretary Veneman outlines increases in U.S. and U.N. food programs) (1110)

The United States will soon provide an additional $20 million to the World Food Program (WFP) for aid to Iraq, says Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also will release an additional 400,000 tons of wheat for food aid for Iraq when needed, Veneman said March 21 in a briefing with reporters.

The United States already has provided $40 million to WFP to help the people of Iraq, Veneman said. The secretary and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Andrew Natsios said March 20 the United States would immediately release 200,000 tons of wheat for food aid.

Some of the wheat will be exchanged for rice so the Iraqi people will be provided a combination of commodities, Veneman said.

"This humanitarian assistance is a demonstration of our compassion as a nation and of this President's commitment to a free and prosperous Iraq," she said.

Veneman also said USDA is increasing its meat inspections and taking other additional precautions to ensure food safety.

"Every aspect of the food system must have increasing vigilance," she said.

Following are excerpts from the press briefing:

(begin excerpt)

National Agriculture Day Teleconference with
Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Dr. J.B Penn and
USDA Chief Economist Dr. Keith Collins

Friday, March 21, 2003

VENEMAN: "As you know, Operation Iraqi Freedom is underway, and our hearts and minds are with our men and women in uniform, as well as with those in law enforcement who protect us every day here in America.

"Our conflict with the regime of Saddam Hussein is part of President Bush's larger effort to end the threat of terror and restore freedom to the people of Iraq. A coalition of more than 44 countries now supports our efforts, and the number is growing. Those nations understand the threat of Saddam Hussein's weapons to the world and the devastation he has brought upon the Iraqi people.

"The President's decision for a post-Saddam Iraq includes destroying weapons of mass destruction and liberating the people of Iraq. For a brief period after liberation, coalition forces will help provide security and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and basic services.

"The U.S. has already provided significant humanitarian support to the region, to international and non-governmental groups, to prepare for relief efforts.

The Bush administration will provide additional relief resources for immediate post-conflict rehabilitation, primarily for the health system.

"Sixty percent of all Iraqis rely on the rations from the Food for Oil Program as their sole source of food. The United States will work with the United Nations and the Security Council to continue the Food for Oil Program under the authority -- the primary authority of the United Nations.

"The United States has provided $40 million to the World Food Program for logistics and will soon provide another $20 million.

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture is playing a key role to bring relief to the oppressed people of Iraq. Yesterday, I announced the immediate release of 200,000 tons of wheat for the people of Iraq from the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. This food aid will be administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development. Another 400,000 tons will be made available from the Bill Emerson Trust as needed.

"A portion of the wheat from the reserve will be exchanged for rice so that a combination of commodities will be available to feed the people of Iraq.

"This humanitarian assistance is a demonstration of our compassion as a nation and of this President's commitment to a free and prosperous Iraq.

"Also, on Wednesday, this administration authorized a similar allocation of 200,000 tons of wheat from the Bill Emerson Trust to help address famine and hunger in Africa, especially in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

"At home, we remain on a high state of alert for the risk of terrorism. We are committed to helping address issues of homeland security, public health, and the safety of our food supply. We at USDA and all of the food and agriculture community must be on alert and must take extra precautions. And for all of your listeners here today, I want to review some of those precautions and then remind you that additional information is available on our website at http://www.usda.gov

"These are some of the things that people should be doing: watch for suspicious activities and report them to law enforcement, be it on the farm, in the transport system, in the processing of food, in the retailing. Every aspect of the food system must have additional vigilance."

"Update your local emergency telephone numbers and keep them handy. Inspect vehicles entering your facilities and your operations, including your farms and ranches, and increase surveillance around your facilities and farms and ranches. And consider restricting public access to farms and processing facilities.

"We are also working with state and private authorities to ensure the increased monitoring of feedlots, stockyards, and import storage areas. The fact is that everyone has a role to play in homeland security.

"Again, I would remind you to access the information on the USDA website for additional information on how you can be alert during this time of increased and heightened alert.

"We appreciate all of those throughout the food chain who have already helped to distribute this information system wide, and we encourage you to keep up those efforts.

"This week we also announced additional steps to modernize our meat inspection program through our existing authorities, regulations, and programs and through potential new enforcement authorities and incentives. The entire food chain must be responsible for ensuring the integrity of our food safety system so that we can maintain consumer confidence in our food supply and protect the public health.

It is appropriate that we talk about our efforts to feed the people of Iraq on National Agriculture Day. America's farmers and ranchers produce the most plentiful, affordable, and safest food anywhere in the world. It is because of this that we can share that bounty with those in need around the world. Our farmers and ranchers lead the world in large part because of their increasing efficiency and their rapid adoption of the best technologies.

"Agriculture Day is also a time to recognize the many other contributions made by the men and women in agriculture. Agriculture is expected to generate $57 billion in exports this year, and along with related industries, it provides 24 million jobs for Americans.

(end excerpt)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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