Food and Agriculture

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 »

In a House Appropriations Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) asked Acting U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics (REE) Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young how the REE mission area is coordinating climate change research… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), alongside Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M) and 16 of her House colleagues today reintroduced the bicameral Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA). This bold, comprehensive legislation sets a roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions from agriculture by 2040 and empowers farmers with the tools and resources needed to improve soil health,… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) questioned Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s plans to address climate change and PFAS contamination, as well as the status of organic rules.  A video of today’s full Subcommittee hearing is available for viewing here. “I appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s understanding of the importance of… Read more »

In reaction to the news of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today released the following statement: “Small-scale producers bore the brunt of supply chain changes and pandemic-related losses in agriculture, and yet, they received inadequate support from the previous Department of… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.), joined by Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to support small meat and poultry processors. The Strengthening Local Processing Act will increase options for local livestock and poultry producers and assist smaller facilities as… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) cosponsored the Local and Regional Farmer and Market Support Act, also known as the Local Farmer Act, introduced by Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, (D-N.C.). The Local Farmer Act would help the farmers, farms, and families hardest hit by COVID-19 by targeting aid directly to local and regional food producers and markets as they… Read more »