Vice Ranking Member Amo Introduces R.U.B.I.O. Act After Secretary Rubio Obscures Dire State of Food Aid for Starving Kids
May 22, 2025
The Reaffirming Unified Boundaries for Integrity and Oversight (R.U.B.I.O.) Act would ensure the Secretary of State is only doing one job.
WASHINGTON, DC – House Foreign Affairs Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI), introduced the Reaffirming Unified Boundaries for Integrity and Oversight or R.U.B.I.O. Act to prohibit the Secretary of State from taking on additional roles in the Federal government while serving as Secretary.
To ensure that Secretaries of State have adequate time and attention to manage our nation’s foreign policy, this legislation requires that the Secretary of State do only the job the Senate confirmed them to do – serve as Secretary of State.
“Foreign aid should be a foreign policy priority, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio is dropping the ball. In my questioning yesterday in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, our Secretary didn’t know the true state of the delayed contracts for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food aid manufactured by Rhode Island nonprofit, Edesia Nutrition, meant to save the lives of starving children around the world” said Vice Ranking Member Amo (D-RI). “To ensure Secretary Rubio can focus on preventing children from starving while supporting American jobs, I’m introducing the R.U.B.I.O. Act to prevent the Secretary of State from holding more than one job. This bill just makes sure our food aid programs don’t fall through the cracks and the Secretary has the time and energy to do his job well.”
Watch Vice Ranking Member Amo’s Questioning of Secretary Rubio Here.
BACKGROUND
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is not only serving as Secretary of State but also as Acting National Security Advisor, Acting National Archivist, and Acting U.S.A.I.D. Administrator, roles typically filled by separate — and Senate confirmed — individuals.
On May 21, 2025, Amo questioned Secretary Rubio about the ready-to-use therapeutic food aid program that has been impacted by the Department’s work stoppage orders and disorganization. In the hearing, Rubio confirmed Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) produced by Rhode Island's Edesia Nutrition is lifesaving aid and Amo pressed the Secretary to do everything to keep starving children from dying.
Amo has been trying to hold Rubio accountable to solve State Department administrative problems that threaten Rhode Island jobs and prevent life saving aid from reaching starving children for months.
On January 31, 2025, Amo asked Secretary Rubiofor information on the Trump administration's unilateral foreign aid pause impact on the production and delivery of Rhode Island-made RUTFs. Amo called outSecretary Rubio for missing a deadline to provide clarity on foreign aid distribution on February 7.
On February 25, 2025 Amo sent a letter to Secretary Rubio asking for Edesia Nutrition’s funding to be released.
Amo led a bipartisan letter to the House Appropriations Committee for FY26 requesting robust funding for the production and distribution of American-made RUTF and to fund cost-effective and evidence-based nutrition interventions.
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