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FIRST IN PI ... ADVOCATES TOLD FOREIGN FOOD AID ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK: According to multiple sources, the nonprofit lobbying community has been made aware that the Obama administration is considering a major change to the Food for Peace programs in its upcoming 2014 budget. The programs, administered through the U.S. Agency for International Development, helps provide overseas food assistance.

'I have heard that the administration may be considering cutting the Food for Peace program and changing it drastically," Ellen Levinson, executive director of the Alliance for Global Food Security and president ofLevinson & Associates, said when reached for comment. 'This is not time to be cutting our commitments overseas to food assistance." The proposed changes might convert some of the program into straight cash grants instead of in-kind food assistance. 'I would be rather shocked if any such proposal actually came out of the administration. Hopefully this will not be in any final budget,' Levinson said. The White House declined to comment.

Eric D. Schwerin
eschwerin@rosemontseneca.com

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