Advocating on Capitol Hill for a Global Nutrition Initiative

Recognizing the importance of sustained United States leadership to accelerating global progress against maternal and child malnutrition and supporting United States Agency for International Development's commitment to global nutrition through its multi-sectoral nutrition strategy. H.Res.189

Earlier this year, Rep. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts)  submitted House Resolution 189 (H.Res.189). The measure was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and also to the Committee on Agriculture

In the Senate, Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Chris Coons of Iowa put together a similar measure, which had not been assigned a number as of Lobby Day.

The Resolution is closely linked with Bread for the Worlds' Offering of Letters, Better Nutrition, Better Tomorrow.

Lobby Day
On June 11, Lobby Day, Bread for the World members met with aides (and sometimes with actual legislators) to urge them to cosponsor the two initiatives, and some cases to thank them for already having done so.

On Lobby Day, I met with Mary Nugent at Rep. Debra Haaland's office and Jake Jackson at Rep. Xochitl Torres Small's office (and dropped a package of information by Rep. Ben Ray Lujan's office) to urge their bosses to cosponsor the resolution.

In the Senate, I met with Adriana Mares and Blair Hammond at Sen. Martin Heinrich's office, and with Clint Cowan at Sen. Tom Udall's office. I asked that our senators cosponsor the Collins-Coons resolution, which did not have a number as of that date.

In all my visits, I handed aides letters that were written by members of Central United Methodist Church. The letters created a real connection with constituents back home.

Stay tuned for updates and follow-up action, including visits to the local offices.

Upper Left to Right: Jake Jackson, Blair Hammond, Andrea Mares. Lower Left to Right:Mary Nugent, Clint Cowan