Federal News Service, October 2, 2007, Tuesday

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Federal News Service

October 2, 2007, Tuesday

HEADLINE: HEARING OF THE AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE;

SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL FOOD PROGRAMS;
CHAIRED BY: REPRESENTATIVE ROSA L. DELAURO (D-CT);
WITNESSES: THOMAS MELITO, DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRADE AT THE GAO; MARK EVERETT KEENUM, UNDERSECRETARY, FARM AND FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICES; JIM KUNDER, ACTING DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT; JOSETTE SHEERAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, U.N. WORLD FOOD PROGRAM; DAVID EVANS, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY; JAMES EVANS, PRESIDENT, USA DRY PEA AND LENTIL COUNCIL; ELLEN LEVINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALLIANCE FOR FOOD AID; SEAN CALLAHAN, VICE PRESIDENT, OVERSEAS OPERATIONS, CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES;
LOCATION: 2362A RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C.

BODY:
HEARING OF THE AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL FOOD PROGRAMS CHAIRED BY: REPRESENTATIVE ROSA L. DELAURO (D-CT) WITNESSES: THOMAS MELITO, DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRADE AT THE GAO; MARK EVERETT KEENUM, UNDERSECRETARY, FARM AND FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICES; JIM KUNDER, ACTING DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT; JOSETTE SHEERAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, U.N. WORLD FOOD PROGRAM; DAVID EVANS, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY; JAMES EVANS, PRESIDENT, USA DRY PEA AND LENTIL COUNCIL; ELLEN LEVINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALLIANCE FOR FOOD AID; SEAN CALLAHAN, VICE PRESIDENT, OVERSEAS OPERATIONS, CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES LOCATION: 2362A RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C. TIME: 10:00 A.M. EDT DATE: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2007

Let's move on with our first panel Dr. Thomas Melito, Director in The International Affairs and Trade Team at the GAO. In this capacity, he is primarily responsible for GAO's work involving multilateral organizations and international finance.

And over the last ten years, Dr. Melito has been focusing on a wide range of development issues including debt relief for poor countries, global health, and human trafficking.

Dr. Melito has recently testified before the Senate and House on GAO's report on challenges that U.S. agencies face in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of food aid.

He has also recently reported on the weaknesses in U.N. procurement processes, U.S. employment at the U.N. strengthening U.N. oversight, monitoring and evaluation of U.S. human-trafficking programs. And slow progress of management reform at the U.N.

Dr. Melito holds an MA, and Ph.D., in economics from Columbia University, and a BS in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. Many, many thanks to you, doctor, for being here this morning.

And as you know your formal statement will be inserted into the record, so please proceed with a summary of your statement.