WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture, Representative Brad Finstad (MN-01), and Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) alongside Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN), led their colleagues in sending a bicameral letter to President Biden, urging him to reject a proposal before the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Council, which would alter governance and leadership arrangements at FAO, strengthen China’s position, and weaken American agricultural leadership on the world stage.

If adopted, the new governance would extend the Director-General’s current maximum tenure from eight years to a decade, increase the Director-General’s already $300,000 annual salary and allowance, and exert more control over the U.S.-led World Food Programme. The Members expressed their concerns that adoption of the proposal would expand China’s influence in the organization and advance foreign policy goals that pose a threat to the United States.

“When as many as 700 million people face hunger globally and manmade global conflicts are on the rise, this proposal de-emphasizes any of FAO’s successful efforts to achieve food security and allows China to expand its global influence by taking advantage of America as it transitions political administrations,” the Members wrote. “America cannot afford to sit idly by – even in a time of political transition – while China positions itself to expand its influence over a body to which our nation belongs. We urge you to reject any proposal that could undermine efficiency in food and agriculture-related organizations, strengthen China’s position, or weaken America’s leadership on the world stage.”

The Members concluded, “We urge you to position American farmers, ranchers, foresters, and agricultural producers as the global leader in food and agriculture and to represent our country’s production and ideals across the globe.”

Reps. Finstad and Mann and Sens. Marshall and Hagerty were joined on the letter by Chairman of the Select Committee on the CCP John Moolenaar (MI-02), and Reps. Austin Scott  (GA-08), Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), David Rouzer (NC-07), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Mary Miller (IL-15), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Trent Kelly (MS-01), and Mark Alford (MO-04).

 Full text of the letter can be found here.