“Advocating with CARE on Capitol Hill proves to me even more how important it is to remind our senators and representatives what CARE does and the results it gets 365 days a year,” says Roxanne Varzi, a dedicated member of the CARE Women’s Network (CWN). “It is always my honor to do this work with CARE.”
Over two days in June 2023, CWN members united in Washington, D.C., with advocates from across the nation for CARE on Capitol Hill. This year’s theme was “End Hunger,” and efforts focused on lobbying for the Farm Bill’s reauthorization. The Farm Bill includes the “Food for Peace” and “McGovern-Dole Food for Education” programs, international initiatives supporting global food security and reinforcing both emergency and non-emergency food assistance. More than 828 million people face food insecurity and up to 45 million people are confronting starvation – a staggering reality underscoring the need for immediate action. According to CWN member and former co-chair Elizabeth Wiggs Cooper, “CARE’s mission in DC is exactly what CWN is all about: working for the security of women, girls, and their communities around the world.”
The impact of CARE’s advocacy work is undeniable. In December 2022, the U.S. Congress passed the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act (GFSA), thanks to CARE’s relentless advocates and strong bipartisan relationships. This landmark legislation reaffirms the nation’s commitment to combatting global food insecurity and malnutrition, with a focus on programs like Feed the Future, responsible for lifting over 23 million people out of poverty since 2010. CARE’s advocacy prioritizes women smallholder farmers, recognizing their crucial role in nourishing families and communities while fostering economic growth.
Backed by unwavering compassion and resolute conviction, together with CARE’s advocates, we can create a world where every individual thrives, and hunger becomes a thing of the past.