An "action plan on food security" has been announced by USDA to help reduce by half the number of undernourished people worldwide by 2015.  The action is part of the U.S. response to the 1996 World Food Summit in Rome.

"We have added a domestic component to the action plan that will reduce both immediate hunger and the long-term causes of hunger here at home," Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said in making the announcement.

The U.S. plan calls for expanding the African Food Security Initiative, improving food aid measures and promoting free trade and public-private partnerships in agricultural research.

"USDA has proposed new funding for federal food assistance programs and nutrition research, more funds for a pilot national school breakfast program, restoration of food stamp benefits to elderly legal immigrants and food recovery and gleaning grants," Glickman said.

However, the President’s budget proposal for 2000 made substantial cuts in U.S. international food aid.