William Lambers

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One of the most important actions for peace after World War II were nutrition programs for children. Hunger threatened millions of lives in Europe and Asia because of food shortages caused by the fighting.

Children were especially vulnerable to deadly malnutrition. Our infant feeding and school meal programs made a silent, but powerful contribution to winning the post-war peace.

Today if we want true peace and stability it will depend on our leadership in fighting global malnutrition. That's why it's vital the House of Representatives pass the Global Nutrition Resolution (H. Res 189). We have to show that fighting child malnutrition is a priority. The Senate just passed their version of the resolution (S. 260).

We need the House on board in the fight against child hunger at this critical time. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., who supports the resolution, says “Good nutrition saves lives. It keeps children healthy. And it results in healthier, more stable and productive families and adults…. Over 151 million children in the world are undernourished. It is critical for the United States to sustain our engagement on child nutrition and build on our success.”

McGovern says the resolution "is the best way for us to show the world what America stands for and use our influence to make a real difference in people’s lives.”

Bread for the World has been advocating for the resolution's passage, encouraging citizens to contact their representatives. Mount St. Joseph University students, in their human rights class, wrote to Congress last year asking support of the resolution.

There are major hunger emergencies all across the globe in Syria, Afghanistan, Haiti, the Sahel of Africa, Southern Africa, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan. There can be no peace or progress in these nations under the stress of hunger. That we must realize if we are serious about peace.

The civil war in Yemen has caused the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. Hunger has dramatically escalated because of the war, with over twenty million Yemenis needing food aid.

The tragic reality is Yemeni children are being threatened with deadly malnutrition. Small children suffer horrible stunting, both physical and mental, because of the lack of food. Once this happens it cannot reversed. The child will perish if help does not arrive.

We are literally in a race against time to get life-saving food to children in Yemen. Dwight Eisenhower’s Food for Peace program and its nutrition programs are vital to this effort.

Food for Peace funds the magical peanut paste Plumpy'nut, which can save children's lives from malnutrition in Yemen and other countries. We have to make sure there is enough of this food and others available that can rescue children before it's too late. Malnutrition causes lasting physical and mental damage if left untreated, or death.

The McGovern-Dole global school lunch program, run by USDA, needs a big expansion. These school meals can save a generation of children and future mothers from the scourge of malnutrition. At the same time children can get the education they need because of the nutritious food.

The program is named after former Senators George McGovern and Bob Dole, who spent a career fighting hunger together, even though in opposite political parties. Today's Republicans and Democrats can likewise work together fighting hunger.

We need a Congress united and committed to fighting hunger and malnutrition. It starts with the House voting in favor of the global nutrition resolution (H.Res 189).

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program and Catholic Relief Services on the book, "Ending World Hunger."