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Food and Agriculture

SCHOOL MEALS: Rep. Pingree’s Bipartisan Bills to Source School Meals Locally, Reduce School Food Waste Advance Through House Education and Labor Committee

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Today the House Education and Labor Committee advanced H.R. 8450, the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act, which includes four major bills supported by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine). The bills championed by Pingree and included in the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act include: Kids Eat Local Act - Bipartisan legislation introduced by…

Ahead of June 30 Deadline, Pingree Joins Bipartisan Effort Pushing House Leadership to Extend USDA Child Nutrition Waiver Authority, Keep Maine Students Fed at School

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Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) has joined a bipartisan effort, led by U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), pushing House leadership in both parties to act with urgency to extend the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) ability to give U.S. schools the flexibilities they need to make sure America’s students are fed. In a letter sent…

In Brunswick, USDA Under Secretary Moffitt, Rep. Pingree Meet with Mainers Leading the Way in Organic Farming

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BRUNSWICK, MAINE – Today in Brunswick, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt joined Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) Executive Director Sarah Alexander for a roundtable discussion with Maine organic farmers. While at Crystal…

In FDA Hearing, Pingree Presses Commissioner on COVID Vaccine Access for Children Under 5

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In a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies hearing on Thursday, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) pressed FDA Commissioner Robert Califf for answers on the FDA’s timeline for making the COVID vaccine available to children age 5 and younger.  “I totally understand and appreciate how…

During Small Business Week, Pingree Recognizes Maine 1st District SBA Award Winners

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As Maine and the country celebrate National Small Business Week, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) is recognizing First District Small Business Association (SBA) 2022 Small Business Award winners for their hard work and contributions to their communities. Six small business owners in Pingree’s district are being honored this year, including Tyler Frank of Portland, who was named…

Rep. Pingree Applauds Biden for Announcing Plan to Hold 1st White House Food Conference in 50+ Years, Following Passage of Congressional Funding to Reestablish Summit

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Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today welcomed the news that President Biden will hold a White House conference on hunger, nutrition, and health this September, following repeated calls from dozens of Democratic and Republican Representatives. Pingree, who also serves on the House Appropriations Committee, championed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus spending bill…

Pingree to USDA Sec. Vilsack: Meet with Maine Farmers Affected by PFAS Contamination

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WASHINGTON, DC—In a House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee budget hearing today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) underscored the widespread per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination affecting Maine farms and families, and questioned U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on what resources and funding the Department needs to address the…

Pingree Welcomes $10.5 Million USDA Clean Energy Investment to Support On-Farm Solar Projects in Maine’s 1st District

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Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced a $10.5 million investment in clean energy infrastructure for Maine’s First Congressional District to help agricultural producers, rural small business owners and residents lower energy costs and make energy-efficiency improvements. The federal funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for…

‘FINALLY’: Pingree Hails Long-Awaited Finalization of USDA Livestock Rule

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Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s finalization of Obama-era Origin of Livestock rule, which levels the playing field for organic dairy farmers, thus protecting the integrity of the organic label: “Finally, family-run organic farms will not be harmed by unfair loopholes in…

Maine Delegation Urges More USDA Aid for PFAS Crisis

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WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) and Jared Golden (D-ME-02) urged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to swiftly and fully utilize all USDA resources and authorities that can assist in responding to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)…

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