“Bread for the World urges members of Congress to restore funding for Feed the Future Innovation Labs, a network of U.S. universities researching innovative ways to feed the world and position the United States as a leader in global food security and research.  

“Housed and led by U.S. universities, Feed the Future Innovation Labs have helped advance solutions to reduce global hunger and malnutrition. The knowledge gained by the labs has led to game-changing breakthroughs, including developing crops that can grow in harsh growing conditions, improving livestock resilience to disease, and strengthening the resiliency of aquatic food systems.”

Earlier this year, the White House cut off almost all funding for the innovation labs, forcing the vast majority of labs to close. On October 1, the White House cancelled the remaining $72 million in federal funding for the labs as a part of its “pocket rescission” of nearly $5 billion in international assistance. Senate Republicans had spared the $72 million for innovation lab funding from the White House’s first rescissions package in July.

Before the White House cancelled funding for the program, innovation labs were based in more than 80 universities across the United States. While a few innovation labs have been able to sustain or resume operations thanks to private donations and funding from individual universities, most remain closed down.

The innovation lab program has enjoyed broad, bipartisan support among members of Congress. Every $1 invested in the program has resulted in an $8 return in investment for U.S. taxpayers.

“Innovation lab research breakthroughs, as well as the education the labs provided, have enabled numerous communities around the world to become self-sufficient. The knowledge gained in innovation labs have also greatly benefitted U.S. farmers and growers who were able to apply that knowledge, as well as the communities the labs were based in.

“The defunding of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab network will have adverse ramifications both in the U.S. and globally. Bread urges Congress to restore funding for this consequential program.”

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“Bread for the World urges members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to come together in good faith to end the government shutdown. The proposed continuing resolution must be duly considered, while members also seek to address the devastating impact of recent Medicaid cuts on families. Extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits has bipartisan support in both houses of Congress, and many lawmakers are concerned about the impact of recent cuts on their constituents.

“Government shutdowns often have a devastating impact on people who struggle to put food on the table, including working families with children, at-risk seniors, people with disabilities, and others facing food insecurity as funding for SNAP, WIC, school meals, and other nutrition assistance programs runs out.

“Government shutdowns are especially hard on lower- and middle-income federal employees and contractors who will not receive pay during the shutdown. The longer a shutdown lasts, the more difficult it is for these families.

“But, in this case, the implications could be even worse for tens thousands of federal workers and their families if the White House follows through on its threat of mass firings. Thousands of federal employees in both Republican and Democratic districts are likely to be affected.  

“For the good of America’s families, members of Congress need to put their differences aside, act with good faith, and negotiate a bipartisan deal to end the government shutdown.”

Potential Impacts of an Extended Government Shutdown

• Food assistance for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients could be impacted by delays and other issues within a month of a government shutdown. The 2018-2019 shutdown lasted 35 days.
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which serves approximately 7 million pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children up to age five each month, is expected to run out of funding within a week of a government shutdown.  
• Free and reduced-price school meal programs across the country, as well as meals served in Head Start and day care centers, could be affected. Schools and school districts will need to subsidize the cost of the meals. Rural and other school districts with smaller budgets could be hit especially hard. This happened during the 2018 government shutdown.
• Emergency humanitarian aid programs could be interrupted due to agencies being forced to shut down as well as potential staff cuts, which could have fatal consequences.

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