WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and 12 members of Congress representing New England today wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, urging the Department to increase support for dairy farmers in the region who are grappling with an uncertain future due to the cancellation of their contracts by Danone, a multinational food company and… Read more »
Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) urged the House Agriculture Committee to support a resolution recognizing National Blueberry Month and the contributions of the blueberry industry. Pingree worked with the resolution’s sponsor, Rep. Sanford Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), on an amendment to ensure this resolution (H.Res.… Read more »
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, today called the panel’s markup of the agriculture provisions of the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation legislation a “win” for climate research, renewable energy, and the nation’s forests. The bill specifically includes $7.75 billion for climate-focused agricultural research;… Read more »
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $700 million will soon be available to help farm and meatpacking workers who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will be available through the USDA’s new Farm and Food Workers Relief (FFWR) grant program.
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), who is an organic farmer and… Read more »
Today, Congresswomen Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Julia Brownley (D-CA), and Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH) introduced two bills, the Zero Food Waste Act and the Cultivating Organic Matter through the Promotion Of Sustainable Techniques (COMPOST) Act, to reduce the amount of food wasted in the U.S. and to redirect food waste to composting projects. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)… Read more »
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded the University of Maine a $300,000 grant to build agricultural literacy through immersive culinary experiences for Maine’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Culinary Arts Instructors, encouraging use of Maine grown, processed, and produced foods in their programs and… Read more »
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) joined legislation to expand on the success of the universal free school meals approach recently extended by the USDA to bring long-term relief to millions of food-insecure families. The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021 would permanently provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to all… Read more »
Today, Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) re-introduced the PRIME (Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption) Act to make it easier for small farms and ranches to serve consumers. Companion legislation has been introduced in the United States Senate by Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Rand Paul (R-KY). The PRIME Act would give individual… Read more »
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y) today introduced the Rural Forest Markets Act, bipartisan legislation to help small-scale, family forest owners access new economic opportunities and develop solutions to mitigate the climate crisis.
“As we grapple with the effects of climate change, companies… Read more »
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-NJ), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) today led 30 of their colleagues in a letter urging House and Senate leadership to support a historic, long-term investment in farmers, ranchers, and rural communities as a part of upcoming infrastructure and climate… Read more »
