Food and Agriculture

A number of agriculture reforms to support local food and organic farming written by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME), and mirrored in Senate companion legislation, have been included in the Senate Farm Bill released today.  “I applaud the Senate on showing what a bipartisan process for the Farm Bill can produce. I certainly wish the House had done the same. The Senate… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) welcomed over $65,000 in USDA Rural Development funds to help farms and other rural businesses in Bowdoinham, Cumberland and Freeport cuts costs through renewable power systems. During recent debate on the House’s failed Farm Bill, Pingree had advocated for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) that provides the grants—the legislation… Read more »

Engine, a nonprofit organization in Biddeford, will receive technical support from Local Food, Local Places (LFLP), a federal initiative that that helps communities reinvest in existing neighborhoods and improve quality of life as they develop the local food economy. Read more »

“I’m glad this partisan legislation did not pass. It would have taken food assistance away from millions of Americans, weakened environmental stewardship of the nation’s farmlands, and left Maine farmers and rural communities ill-prepared for the challenges and the opportunities of the next five years. ..." Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) today joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, as well as her colleague Congressman David Young (R-IA) and stakeholders, for a roundtable discussion on the issue of food waste.   “I applaud Secretary Perdue for exploring what USDA can do to help reduce the massive amount of food that goes to waste in the United… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Congressman David Young (R-IA) launched a bipartisan House Food Waste Caucus to explore opportunities to reduce food waste.   Last Friday was “Stop Food Waste Day,” an international day of action to address food waste.  It is estimated that 40 percent of the food produced in the U.S. goes to waste.  A recent U.S.… Read more »

Today, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue appeared before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture where Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) pressed him on his support for the 2018 Farm Bill draft and FY 2019 USDA budget. Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) questioned today the Commissioner of the Food of Drug Administration, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, on nutrition facts labels on single-ingredient products, such as maple syrup and honey, during a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies.    “The… Read more »

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 »