United States Foundation for International Food Security Act of 2025

Bill Summary: United States Foundation for International Food Security Act of 2025

Overview

The United States Foundation for International Food Security Act of 2025 (S. 1888) proposes the establishment of a private, nonprofit corporation designed to combat global hunger and increase agricultural resilience. The Foundation is intended to operate independently of the U.S. government—meaning its employees are not federal employees—while aligning its investments with U.S. national security interests and foreign policy goals.

Main Purpose and Intent

The primary goal of the Foundation is to accelerate food security and agricultural-led economic growth internationally. It aims to move farmers from subsistence agriculture to profitable, high-value crop production by investing in locally led initiatives, technology deployment, and critical infrastructure.

Key Provisions

1. Investment Focus

The Foundation is authorized to provide funding (grants, concessional lending, equity, and project financing) for:
* Productivity: Financing for agricultural inputs, training, and applied research to increase crop and animal yields.
* Infrastructure: Developing irrigation, warehousing, storage, and food processing facilities to prevent food loss and improve market access.
* Technology: Deploying economically viable tech to reduce hunger and modernize distribution.

2. Governance Structure

• Board of Directors: A voting board of up to 15 members with expertise in agriculture, international finance, and national security. The board must maintain a relatively equal balance between the two major U.S. political parties.
• Board of Advisors: A nonvoting body including the Secretary of State, the CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, and faculty from U.S. land-grant universities.
• Independence: The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; it is not a government agency, and its functions cannot be transferred to a federal department without an Act of Congress.

3. Accountability and "Outcome-Based" Funding

The bill emphasizes a data-driven approach to spending:
* Measurable Outcomes: Funding is tied to specific targets (e.g., increased profit for farmers or decreased hunger rates).
* Impact Evaluations: The Foundation must use rigorous evaluations, including comparison groups, to verify that improvements are actually attributable to its funding.
* Independent Oversight: A transparent accountability mechanism will be established to handle compliance reviews and dispute resolutions.

4. Restrictions and Safeguards

• Terrorism and Human Rights: The Foundation is prohibited from supporting governments that repeatedly support international terrorism or engage in gross violations of human rights.
• Sanctions: It cannot deal with persons or entities on U.S. sanctions lists (OFAC).
• Lobbying: Grant funds cannot be used to influence legislation pending before Congress.

Who is Affected?

• International Farmers and Agribusinesses: Local organizations and businesses in eligible countries will be the primary recipients of funding and technical assistance.
• U.S. Taxpayers: Federal funds (via the Department of State) will support the Foundation, though the bill mandates a cost-matching requirement to leverage private and philanthropic donations.
• U.S. Government: The Department of State and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation will collaborate with the Foundation to align global food security with national security.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

• Initial Setup: The Board must hold its first meeting within 120 days of enactment and appoint an Executive Director within 120 days following that meeting.
• Reporting: Starting two years after enactment, the Foundation must submit an annual report to the relevant Senate and House committees by March 31st, including a financial audit and a progress report on key performance indicators.
• Appropriations: The Secretary of State is authorized to award an annual grant to the Foundation using funds from the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.