Food & Agriculture
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Congresswoman Pingree has introduced comprehensive legislation to build on the success of local and regional food economies by helping farmers tap into growing markets and helping consumers access healthy food. Learn more about HR 3941, the Local FARMS Act here.
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is a national leader on food policy, including issues involving local food, food waste, and organic agriculture. She currently serves on the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees federal funding for the United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.
As Congress prepares to work on the next Farm Bill, Congresswoman Pingree is introducing legislation to support local and regional food systems, increase funding for organic research, standardize food date labels, and reduce food waste across the food chain.
During the last Farm Bill, Congresswoman Pingree served on the House Agriculture Committee. After years of work, the President signed a 2014 Farm Bill containing many of the reforms proposed in her Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act. These reforms take important steps to support local farmers, invest in regional food systems, and give all consumers better access to nutritious food that benefits the local economy.
Among others, her victories include:
- Making it easier to use SNAP benefits to purchase local food
- More funding to promote farmers markets and farm stand, assist farmers seeking organic certification, and make local value-added products.
- Reforming federal insurance programs that work better to protect organic and diversified farms
But there is more work to be done to turn the nation's food policy right side up. Visit here for updates on her work to make our food system work better for the environment, people, and the economy.
More on Food & Agriculture
Washington, D.C.—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced HR 7330, the “Agriculture Research Integrity Act” today to block the reorganization and relocation of federal agriculture research agencies. The bill is cosponsored by Reps. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH), James P. McGovern(D-MA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Mark Pocan (D-WI).
Washington, D.C.—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) released the following statement on USDA’s final standard for labeling genetically modified (GMO) food. The agency plans to use the lesser-known term “Bioengineered” while using a label that avoids any reference to artificial genetic alteration.
Washington, D.C.—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is announcing her support for the 2018 Farm Bill released today and negotiated by the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. The legislation contains numerous provisions that Pingree introduced and fought for to support farmers serving organic and local markets, and to reduce food waste.
She released the following statement on the bill:
Portland, Maine—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) announced today that Buxton-based VitaminSea would receive a $600,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) USDA grant to further develop SeaKelp+, a kelp-based additive for bread.
Portland, Maine—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that over $2 million in USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grants will be awarded to the University of Maine and a Waterville small business to advance Maine’s agricultural economy. FoodCorps, a program that offers food and agriculture education programs in several Maine communities, also received funding.
Washington, DC – Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and David Young (R-Iowa)—co-chairs of the House Food Waste Caucus—as well as Lynn Jenkins (R-Kansas) and Jim McGovern (D-Mass.)—co-chairs of the House Hunger Caucus—have together introduced H.Res. 1113, a resolution in the House designating tomorrow, October 16, 2018, as “World Food Day.”
Portland, Maine—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) announced today that Maine organizations will receive more than $1 million in funding from the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to recruit and train beginning farmers as well as assist farmers with chronic health issues and disabilities. Grants will go to the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Somali Bantu Community Association of Lewiston Maine, and University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
Washington, D.C.—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released the following statement today in response to an update provided by FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb on the agency’s plans to revise its guidance for “added sugars” on packages of pure maple syrup and honey. Pingree has been a vocal advocate for rewriting confusing guidance that was issued earlier this year.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Ranking Member Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02), the four democratic members of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, sent a letter to Secretary Perdue at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to express their concerns with the agency’s proposal to relocate the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) outside of Washington, D.C.