Food and Agriculture

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, released the following statement on the draft Farm Bill released by House Republicans today.  The draft Farm Bill released today leaves much to be desired, to say the least. Written behind closed doors with little to no input from Democrats, it is the product of a frustratingly… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) has led a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer pushing back against a proposal to restrict consumer warning labels on packaged foods and non-alcoholic beverages in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiations. Read more »

I'm happy to report that many rural, nutrition, and agriculture programs important to Maine saw funding increases in the FY2018 Omnibus Appropriations legislation that was signed on March 23 and funds the federal government through September 30, 2018. Since President Trump suggested severely cutting or even eliminating funding for many of these programs in his budget proposal, it's very… Read more »

At a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture yesterday, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) asked USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong about scientific integrity at the department and received very concerning answers about fear of retaliation among researchers. In February, the Office of the Inspector General released the findings of a survey of USDA scientists… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) has signed on as an original cosponsor of the Stemming the Tide of Rural Economic Stress and Suicide (STRESS) Act. Introduced by Representatives Emmer (R-MN) and O’Halleran (D-AZ), the bill would reauthorize the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, devoting resources to assist farmers coping with mental health issues and thoughts of… Read more »

Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ron Kind (D-WI) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) issued a joint statement today on the USDA’s withdrawal of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule.   “We are extremely disappointed that USDA withdrew the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule. In doing so, USDA has ignored both the… Read more »

"Rural America deserves a better budget. ..." Read more »

The offices of a large group of bipartisan Representatives today hosted a discussion on programs in the Farm Bill that support farmer veterans and reduce veterans' food insecurity. The Veterans in the Farm Bill Congressional Briefing included a panel of federal agency representatives working on these issues and a panel that highlighted opportunities to expand this work in the Farm… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues today in a meeting with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue focused on improving the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) efforts to recruit and train veteran farmers. NOTE: Photos from meeting attached. “Veterans and farming are a natural fit. As we’ve seen in Maine, these men and women… Read more »

At the Capitol today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) hosted a briefing on produce prescription programs, an element of the food is medicine movement that is proving effective at improving people’s diets and health outcomes by increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Launching a national produce prescription pilot program called Harvesting Health is one provision of HR… Read more »