The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust

Speeches Shim

The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust (BEHT) is a special authority in Agricultural Act of 2014, also known as the Farm Bill, that allows USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (FFP) to respond to unanticipated food crises abroad, when other Title II resources are not available. 

The BEHT was originally authorized by the Agriculture Trade Act in 1980 as the Food Security Wheat Reserve, a reserve designed to hold up to four million metric tons of wheat, later broadened to include a number of other commodities. In 1998, the reserve was renamed the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. 

In 2008, as global food prices spiked, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sold the remaining stocks (about 915,000 MT), converting the trust into an all cash reserve for the purchase of U.S. commodities. The 2008 Farm Bill authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to invest the funds in low-risk, short-term securities or instruments to maximize the trust’s value. The BEHT is under the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture, with the USAID Administrator overseeing the release and use of the funds. 

When unforeseen food needs arise, the Secretary of Agriculture may authorize the release of funds at the request of the USAID Administrator for the purchase of U.S. commodities in order to quickly meet humanitarian needs. The BEHT enables the Office of Food for Peace to meet urgent food needs without compromising its ability to provide assistance to other needy populations. The trust currently holds more than $260 million. 

In the last ten years, the following drawdowns from the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust have included:

2014

$50 million

Purchase of 189,970 MT commodities and bags for South Sudan. (Approximately $180 million total cost includes associated costs provided for by USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation.)

2008-10

$149 million

Purchase of 344,820 MT commodities and bags for Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and North Korea. ($279.5 million total cost with associated costs included.)*

2008

Remaining stocks of 915,349 MT sold 

Sold all remaining stocks: 

Sold 260,370.65 MT on 4/23/08 

Sold 500,049.02 MT on 5/23/08 

Sold 154,929.48 MT on5/30/08 

$242,526,887 (total value of sale)

2005

700,000 MT

Released for Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan. 

($377.4 million total cost with associated costs included.)
*Includes outstanding costs provided in FY 2009 and 2010 for programming in prior fiscal years.