Food and Agriculture

During House floor debate on agriculture appropriations legislation today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree highlighted the need to reinstate funding for the USDA and FDA amid many negative impacts the shutdown is having on agriculture and families in Maine.  This week, the House is voting on a series of bipartisan appropriations bill—which had previously received overwhelming… Read more »

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… Read more »

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.   “The USDA’s plan for labeling genetically modified food is an… Read more »

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… Read more »

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.  “Some of the most exciting things about Maine aquaculture right now are consumers’ growing awareness of seaweed’s nutritional benefits and the… Read more »

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… Read more »

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.” Each year, the United… Read more »

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… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) today led a bipartisan letter of 43 House members urging leadership of the Farm Bill conference committee to include the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) in the legislation’s final text. LAMP would consolidate numerous existing programs that support new market development into a single streamlined program with permanent, mandatory… Read more »

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. “The FDA… Read more »