H.R. 4516: Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act

This bill, known as the Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act, proposes several changes to how foreign assistance commodities are managed, specifically to ensure that critical items such as food, medicine, and vaccines are distributed to intended beneficiaries before they expire or spoil. Below are the key components of the bill:

Key Findings

• The bill recognizes that foreign assistance commodities are vital for helping people in crisis situations, such as those affected by natural disasters or living in developing areas with limited healthcare.
• It states that U.S. investments in global health can benefit the U.S. economy significantly and have created numerous jobs over the years.
• It highlights the importance of reliable access to vaccines and medications for global safety.
• U.S. food assistance not only helps those in need internationally but also supports American farmers and agribusinesses.
• Increasing access to family planning can prevent maternal and child deaths.
• The bill asserts that destroying foreign assistance commodities that could aid those in need is unethical and against U.S. interests.

Prohibition on Destruction of Commodities

The bill mandates that:

• All perishable and nonperishable commodities intended for foreign assistance must be made available to those in need before they spoil or expire. This includes food, medicine, and vaccines.
• U.S. government officials, particularly the Secretaries of State and Agriculture, must ensure the timely delivery of these commodities.
• No commodities can be destroyed unless every effort has been made to sell, donate, or otherwise distribute them before they spoil.

Reporting Requirements

The Secretary of State is required to submit reports regarding any commodities that expired, spoiled, or were destroyed without being distributed. These reports must include:

• Descriptions of efforts made to distribute the commodities.
• Reasons why the commodities were not delivered to beneficiaries.
• Intended uses and purposes of the commodities.
• Geographic locations intended to receive the commodities.
• Procurement and market value of the commodities.
• Costs incurred for destroying or disposing of the commodities.

Implementation Timeline

The bill requires the Secretary of State to submit an initial report within 90 days of enactment and continue annual reporting thereafter to ensure transparency regarding the handling of foreign assistance commodities.

Definitions

The term "commodity" in this context refers to any food, medicine, vaccines, or other products intended for foreign assistance that are held by the U.S. government or partners involved in the foreign aid process.

Relevant Companies

None found