Agriculture & Nutrition
Minnesota has a strong tradition of family farmers who help provide the nutritious foods that are fundamental to the success of healthy communities. In recent decades, we have also seen the development of urban agriculture in our Twin Cities.
As a member of the Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations Subcommittee, I'm committed to ensuring agriculture programs are sufficiently funded. I strongly support nutrition assistance programs like the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and farmers’ markets programs that increase access to healthy and locally-grown foods. We must ensure that our family farmers have the resources they need and that all Minnesotans are able to provide nutritious foods for their families.
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Mr. Speaker, in the world’s poorest countries, nearly one billion people struggle with hunger every day. Chronic food insecurity limits a child’s ability to grow and to learn.
Across Africa and Asia, hard-working farmers need help producing enough food to feed their families throughout the year. Many of these farmers are women. In fact, it is estimated that 80 percent of these agricultural workers are women.
McCollum Introduces Bipartisan Global Food Security Act to Fight Hunger, Enhance Agriculture
For Immediate Release: July 25, 2013
Contact: Maria Reppas (McCollum) (202) 225-6631
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the many dedicated volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors and visitors of the Ramsey County Fair on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of this community festival. This annual fair attracts thousands of attendees through a wide variety of events and activities that entertain families today.
For Immediate Release: July 11, 2013
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
Republican Lawmakers Trumpet Certainty for Agribusiness and Vote to Inflict Certain Hunger on Low-Income Americans
Mr. Speaker, on June 10, 2013, Congressman Ellison and I hosted a listening session at the Minnesota State Capitol. We heard from Minnesotans affected by the House Farm Bill’s proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Below is testimony delivered by Dale Simonson and Patricia Lull.
Testimony from Dale Simonson, Minnesota Department of Human Services
For Immediate Release: July 9, 2013
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
Congresswoman McCollum Rejects GOP Effort to Strip Away Nutrition Programs in a New Farm Bill
Mr. Speaker, I remain in strong opposition to the House Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (H.R. 1947) otherwise known as the ‘Farm Bill’. On June 20, 2013, I along with the majority of my colleagues voted against the House Republican’s extreme bill. Now farmers in Minnesota and across this country are depending on Congress to reach a bipartisan agreement that will continue to grow our agricultural economy and enable us to best meet our future agriculture needs.
For Immediate Release: June 20, 2013
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
Republican Bill Would Have Denied Food Assistance to 2 Million Poor Children, Seniors, Working Families
June 10, 2013 - 1:30 PM | Minnesota State Capitol - Room 15
Saint Paul, MN— On Monday, June 10th, Congresswoman McCollum will host a listening session at 1:30 PM at the Minnesota State Capitol to discuss the impact of proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. Anti-hunger leaders will provide testimony about the impact of this proposal on Minnesota’s low-income children, families and seniors.