I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7276 
To establish an interagency working group to develop a comprehensive, stra-
tegic plan to eradicate locust outbreaks in the East Africa region and 
address future outbreaks in order to avert mass scale food insecurity 
and potential political destabilization, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 18, 2020 
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself and Ms. BASS) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To establish an interagency working group to develop a com-
prehensive, strategic plan to eradicate locust outbreaks 
in the East Africa region and address future outbreaks 
in order to avert mass scale food insecurity and potential 
political destabilization, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘East Africa Locust 
Eradication Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States to address 
proactively threats to food security in the East Africa re-
gion and elsewhere, as well as the concomitant potential 
for political instability, caused by periodic locust out-
breaks, and to promote resilience in affected countries. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States Agency for International 
Development reports that the East Africa region is 
currently suffering the worst locust outbreaks in 
decades, which will devour crops and pasture across 
that region. 
(2) As of June 2020, there were more than 26 
million people experiencing acute food insecurity in 
Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, 
Uganda, Sudan, and Djibouti, and untold more will 
be at risk if the locusts are not controlled. 
(3) The World Food Programme reports that 
there may be insufficient resources to conduct aerial 
spraying to address the locust outbreaks that are 
currently devastating the East Africa region, and 
the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organiza-
tion warns that the current outbreaks could develop 
into a plague by the end of 2020 if they are not con-
trolled. 
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(4) The locust outbreaks in the Horn of Africa 
region, particularly in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Soma-
lia, represents an unprecedented threat to food secu-
rity and livelihoods, and potentially, by extension, 
political stability in the region. 
(5) A relatively small investment now to help 
eradicate the locust outbreaks will obviate or amelio-
rate the need for a much larger United States emer-
gency food aid effort later, as well as help promote 
political stability and build resilience. 
(6) In order to optimize a United States re-
sponse to the locust outbreaks and future outbreaks, 
it is necessary to establish an interagency working 
group to develop and implement a comprehensive, 
strategic plan to eradicate locust outbreaks in the 
East Africa region and address future outbreaks. 
SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an inter-
agency working group to develop a comprehensive, stra-
tegic plan to eradicate locust outbreaks in the East Africa 
region and address future outbreaks in order to avert 
mass scale food insecurity and potential political desta-
bilization. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—The interagency working 
group shall be composed of— 
(A) the United States Ambassador to the 
United Nations Agencies for Food and Agri-
culture; 
(B) one member who is an officer or em-
ployee of the National Security Council, who 
shall be appointed by the Assistant to the Presi-
dent for National Security Affairs; 
(C) one member who is an officer or em-
ployee of the Department of State, who shall be 
appointed by the Secretary of State; 
(D) one member who is an officer or em-
ployee of the Department of Defense, who shall 
be appointed by the Secretary of Defense; 
(E) one member who is an officer or em-
ployee of the Department of Agriculture, who 
shall be appointed by the Secretary of Agri-
culture; and 
(F) two members who are officers or em-
ployees of the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development, who shall be appointed 
by the Administrator of the Agency. 
(2) CHAIR.—The President shall designate one 
member of the interagency working group specified 
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in paragraph (1) to serve as chair of the interagency 
working group. 
(c) DUTIES.—The interagency working group shall— 
(1) assess the scope of the locust outbreaks in 
the East Africa region and its impact on food secu-
rity and political stability in the region, including in 
the context of restrictions relating to the coronavirus 
disease 2019 (commonly referred to as ‘‘COVID- 
19’’) pandemic; 
(2) review the effectiveness of regional and mul-
tilateral efforts to eradicate the locust outbreaks in 
the East Africa region and the coordination among 
relevant United States Government agencies, re-
gional governments, and international organizations, 
including the World Food Programme and the 
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization; 
and 
(3) develop a comprehensive, strategic plan to 
eradicate locust outbreaks in the East Africa region 
and address future outbreaks in the region in order 
to avert mass scale food insecurity and potential po-
litical destabilization, including— 
(A) to more effectively address the out-
breaks, including improving— 
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(i) the coordination among relevant 
United States Government agencies, re-
gional governments, and international or-
ganizations, including the World Food Pro-
gramme and the United Nations Food and 
Agriculture Organization; and 
(ii) the delivery of necessary assets to 
achieve the eradication of the outbreaks or 
otherwise mitigate the impact of such out-
breaks to the extent necessary to avoid 
major food insecurity; and 
(B) prevent or mitigate future locust out-
breaks in Africa and other parts of the world. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
on which the interagency working group is established 
under subsection (a), the interagency working group shall 
submit to the President a report that contains the com-
prehensive, strategic plan required by subsection (c)(3). 
SEC. 5. IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPREHENSIVE, STRA-
TEGIC PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date on which the comprehensive, strategic plan is sub-
mitted to the President as required by section 4(d), the 
President shall designate one member of the interagency 
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