We applaud the Administration’s new emergency request for assistance to Ukraine, which is critical to America’s leadership. At the same time, it is imperative to recognize how Putin’s war is exacerbating the growing global threats that also impact U.S. national security, including the worldwide food crisis. We urge Congress to build on this important proposal and also address the interconnected emergency threats of global hunger, the growing refugee crises, and a global pandemic – all of which require urgent action to protect the economic and security interests of American families.

As America leads the world with this significant and bipartisan response of desperately needed security, economic, and humanitarian assistance for the Ukrainian people, it is critical that we respond with clarity and strength when it comes to these other emergency threats – starting with additional resources to adequately address the unprecedented levels of global hunger. If we don’t get this right, national security experts are already warning we could see severe consequences with new waves of global unrest and conflict similar to the 2007 and 2008 food crisis.

Along with this proposal, the looming and dangerous threat of new COVID-19 variants coming to our shores argues for including the global pandemic response proposal already before Congress as part of this comprehensive emergency global threat response.

These extraordinary challenges cannot be addressed with a piecemeal approach nor wait for lawmakers to complete action on FY23 spending bills. As Congress continues to work on next year’s budget, long-term investments in pandemic prevention and global food security will be equally critical for breaking the cycle of raging global crises. We look forward to working with policymakers to advance these critical resources at a time when American leadership in the world could not be more vital.