S.Amdt. 5491

1. Adds SEC. 1056. REPORT ON NATIONAL SECURITY IMPACT OF RISING GLOBAL FOOD PRICES AND WORLDWIDE SHORTAGES OF FOOD AND WATER at the end of subtitle E of title X

   Adds a section

   In S. 3001 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (4) Near term.--The term "near term" means the five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.

   Inserted: SEC. 1056. REPORT ON NATIONAL SECURITY IMPACT OF RISING GLOBAL FOOD PRICES AND WORLDWIDE SHORTAGES OF FOOD AND WATER.

   Inserted: (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:

   Inserted: (1) Rising fuel prices, increased demand for food, and distribution challenges in developing countries have contributed to rising food prices, which are adversely affecting the security and welfare of millions of people worldwide.

   Inserted: (2) In 2008, rising food prices sparked violent protests in Haiti and Egypt, and have posed challenges to stability and governance throughout the sub-Saharan region.

   Inserted: (3) The lack of access to safe water and sanitation affects more than 2,000,000,000 people worldwide, posing a significant global security, environmental, and public health concern. Climate change may exacerbate these challenges.

   Inserted: (4) The World Health Report 2002 notes that effects of climate change on human health will undoubtedly have a greater impact on societies or individuals with scarce resources, where technologies are lacking, and where infrastructure and institutions such as the health sector are least able to adapt.

   Inserted: (5) The United States National Security Strategy dated March, 2006 states that the United States faces new security challenges, including "environmental destruction, whether caused by human behavior or cataclysmic mega-disasters such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, or tsunamis. Problems of this scope may overwhelm the capacity of local authorities to respond, and may even overtax national militaries, requiring a larger international response. These challenges are not traditional national security concerns, such as the conflict of arms or ideologies. But if left unaddressed they can threaten national security.".

   Inserted: (b) Report on the National Security Impact of Rising Global Food Prices and Worldwide Shortages of Food and Water.--

   Inserted: (1) Requirement for report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to Congress a report on the national security impact of rising global food prices and worldwide shortages of food and water.

   Inserted: (2) Content.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall include--

   Inserted: (A) a description of the economic, geographic, ecological, social, and political factors contributing to the rise in price and shortage of worldwide food supplies;

   Inserted: (B) a description of the impact of changing climate patterns on global stability with respect to arable land and water resources;

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   Inserted: (C) an assessment of the implications, if any, that might exist for United States national security and future missions for the Armed Forces given the potential social and political consequences of shortages in the global supply of food and water;

   Inserted: (D) an assessment of the potential implications for future demand for international humanitarian operations and other international assistance activities given the potential social and political consequences of shortages in the global supply of food and water; and

   Inserted: (E) an assessment of the national security implications for the United States of succeeding or failing to succeed, with other leading and emerging major contributors of greenhouse gas emissions, in efforts to reduce emissions.

   Inserted: (3) Form of report.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle E of title X, add the following:

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As printed