Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s plan to relocate hundreds of USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) staff to the Kansas City area: “I am appalled with the Trump administration’s decision to force hundreds of Washington-based USDA research staffers to uproot their live... Read more »
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today introduced HR.3220, the Kids Eat Local Act, a bipartisan bill to support local and regional food systems and encourage healthy meal choices among school-aged children. The bill is cosponsored by Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) and Congressman Josh Harder (D-Calif.) “Our children deserve healthy, nutritious lunches that are made with ingredients f... Read more »
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced that the full House Appropriations Committee has approved a FY2020 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies spending bill that reverses the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to a range of USDA programs—including several tackling climate change and the unnecessary relocation of key research staff. “... Read more »
Today, two cattle-raising lawmakers, 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. The PRIME Act (H.R. 2859/S. 1620) would give individual states freedom to permit intrastate distribution of custom-slaughtered meat such as... Read more »
WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) recently sent Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue two letters advocating for the protection of organic integrity in food and livestock. “As an organic farmer, I know there can be absolutely no ambiguity when it comes to strong organic standards,” Pingree said of the urgency behind her correspondence to Secretary Perdue. “If consumers lose co... Read more »
How Farmers Are Fighting Climate Change Farming has always been a risky business. These are especially tough times for farmers—they’re operating on thin margins, trade wars are jeopardizing export markets, a serious mental health and substance abuse crisis is ravaging rural communities, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. Farmers are acutely feeling the economic effect of climat... Read more »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today wrote to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and expressed her opposition to a USDA proposed rule that would institute work requirements for individuals who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. In her letter, Pingree noted that when the state of Maine imposed a similar policy during the LePage administra... Read more »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Dan Newhouse (R-Washington), the co-chairs of Bipartisan Congressional Food Recovery Caucus, welcomed President Trump’s announcement that his administration will focus on food waste reduction throughout April. The president’s official message states that food waste “undermines environmental stewardship and the ability of America... Read more »
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), a long-time organic farmer and advocate for sustainable agriculture, has led a letter to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Gottlieb urging him to provide guidance on lawful pathways for food products containing hemp-derived CBD in interstate commerce. Read more »
