SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States to prioritize ef-
forts to control the ongoing desert locust outbreak in East 
Africa and other affected regions, mitigate the impacts on 
food security, economic productivity, and political sta-
bility, improve interagency coordination to prevent future 
outbreaks, and promote resilience in affected countries. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States Agency for International 
Development reports that countries in East Africa 
are currently suffering the worst desert locust out-
break in decades, which will devour crops and pas-
ture and destroy local livelihoods across the region. 
(2) As of December 2020, the Food and Agri-
culture Organization reported that there were 42 
million people experiencing acute food insecurity in 
East Africa, which numbers are projected to in-
crease if the desert locust outbreak is not controlled. 
(3) The desert locust outbreak in East Africa, 
particularly in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, is neg-
atively impacting food security, local livelihoods and 
economic productivity, and may threaten political 
stability in the region. 
(4) Proactive investments now to control the 
desert locust outbreak could reduce the need for a 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:54 Mar 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1079.IH
H1079
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
much larger United States humanitarian response 
effort later, as well as support economic and political 
stability and build resilience in affected countries. 
(5) In order to optimize the United States re-
sponse to the desert locust outbreak, an interagency 
working group should be established to develop and 
implement a comprehensive, strategic plan to control 
the desert locust outbreak in East Africa and other 
affected regions, mitigate impacts on food security, 
economic productivity, and political stability and 
prevent future outbreaks. 
SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President shall establish 
an interagency working group to coordinate the United 
States response to the ongoing desert locust outbreak in 
East Africa and other affected regions, including the de-
velopment of a comprehensive, strategic plan to control the 
outbreak, mitigate the impacts on food security, economic 
productivity, and political stability, and prevent future 
outbreaks. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The interagency working 
group shall be composed of the following: 
(A) Two representatives from the United 
States Agency for International Development. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:54 Mar 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1079.IH
H1079
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(B) One representative from each of the 
following: 
(i) The United States Mission to the 
United Nations Agencies for Food and Ag-
riculture. 
(ii) The National Security Council. 
(iii) The Department of State. 
(iv) The Department of Defense. 
(v) The Department of Agriculture. 
(vi) Any other relevant Federal de-
partment or agency. 
(2) CHAIR.—The President shall designate one 
of the representatives from the United States Agen-
cy for International Development described in para-
graph (1)(A) to serve as chair of the interagency 
working group. 
(c) DUTIES.—The interagency working group shall— 
(1) assess the scope of the desert locust out-
break in East Africa and other affected regions, in-
cluding its impact on food security, economic pro-
ductivity, and political stability in affected countries; 
(2) assess the impacts of restrictions relating to 
the coronavirus disease 2019 (commonly referred to 
as ‘‘COVID–19’’) pandemic; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:54 Mar 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1079.IH
H1079
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(3) monitor the effectiveness of ongoing assist-
ance efforts to control the desert locust outbreak 
and mitigate its impacts and identify gaps and op-
portunities for additional support to such programs; 
(4) review the effectiveness of regional and mul-
tilateral efforts to control the desert locust outbreak 
and the coordination among relevant United States 
Government agencies, regional governments, and 
international organizations, including the World 
Food Programme and the United Nations Food and 
Agriculture Organization; and 
(5) not later than 90 days after the establish-
ment of the interagency working group under sub-
section (a), develop and submit to the President and 
the appropriate congressional committees a com-
prehensive, strategic plan to control the desert locust 
outbreak, including a description of efforts to— 
(A) improve coordination among relevant 
United States Government agencies, regional 
governments, and international organizations, 
including the World Food Programme and the 
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organiza-
tion; 
(B) ensure delivery of necessary assets 
control the desert locust outbreak and humani-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:54 Mar 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1079.IH
H1079
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
tarian and development assistance to address 
and mitigate impacts to food security, economic 
productivity, and political stability; and 
(C) to the extent practicable, prevent and 
mitigate future desert locust and other, similar 
destructive insect outbreaks (such as Fall 
Armyworm) in Africa and other parts of the 
world, which require a humanitarian response. 
(d) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP SUPPORT.—The 
interagency working group shall continue to meet not less 
than semi-annually to facilitate implementation of the 
comprehensive, strategic plan required by subsection 
(c)(5). 
(e) SUNSET.—This section shall terminate on the 
date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, or at such time as there is no longer an upsurge 
in the desert locust outbreak in East Africa, whichever oc-
curs earlier. 
(f) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres-
sional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:54 Mar 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1079.IH
H1079
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and 
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:54 Mar 12, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1079.IH
H1079
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS