WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Bill Gates spoke at a Senate Hunger Caucus Briefing on Tuesday, May 7. Sen. Moran is one of five bipartisan co-chairs for the caucus, which is a coalition of U.S. Senators who work to raise awareness about hunger.

“As a co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus, I was delighted to have Bill Gates speak at the briefing,” Sen. Moran said. “I’m of the view that we change the world one soul, one person at a time, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation does just that by working tirelessly to support agricultural development as a means of fighting hunger in developing countries.”

The Senate Hunger Caucus Event boasted nearly 100 attendees with former Senate Agriculture Committee Chief Economist Stephanie Mercier and DuPont Pioneer Vice President of Strategy Jeff Austin as guest speakers. Topics discussed included international food and agriculture development programs that are authorized in the Farm Bill, DuPont Pioneer’s work to develop seed technology that improves yields and accommodates growing conditions in African countries, and agriculture’s role in today’s global economy.

The Senate Hunger Caucus was formed in 2004 by Blanche Lincoln, an Arkansas Democrat, and Gordon Smith, an Oregon Republican. It exists to promote anti-hunger causes and provide a forum for briefings about hunger issues. In addition to raising awareness, the Senate Hunger Caucus facilitates communication between those working to combat hunger and lawmakers who support programs and policies assisting those in need. Current Senate Hunger Caucus Co-Chairs include: Sens. Boozman (R-Ark.), Brown (D-Ohio), Casey (D-Penn.), Durbin (D-Ill.), and Moran.