S.Amdt. 3624

SA 3624 is an amendment to bill S. 2296 that aims to add a new section titled "Emergency Authorities to Expand the Timeliness and Reach of United States International Food Assistance."

The purpose of this amendment is to authorize the Secretary of State to buy life-saving food aid commodities, including those available locally and regionally, to provide emergency food and nutrition assistance to the most vulnerable populations in areas facing acute food insecurity.

The amendment adds the following guidelines and restrictions:

• Prioritization: The Secretary should prioritize United States food and nutrition commodities when local or regional options are unavailable, unsafe, impractical, or inappropriate. When buying locally or regionally, the Secretary should, when practicable and appropriate, prioritize areas supported by programs under the Global Food Security Act of 2016.

• Market Protection: Before making local or regional purchases, the Secretary of State must perform market assessments to ensure these purchases do not harm local markets, cause shortages, or displace United States agricultural trade and investment.

• Exclusions: This authority cannot be used for procurements from the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, or any country subject to specific sanctions under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the Arms Export Control Act, or the Export Control Reform Act of 2018.

• Tonnage: Commodities bought under these rules are excluded from gross tonnage calculations for compliance with section 55305(b) of title 46, United States Code.