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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For Immediate Release: January 24, 2012
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
Washington, DC – Tonight, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) issued the following response to President Obama's State of the Union address to Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly oppose H.R. 1633, the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act. Regrettably, the House Republican majority is choosing to waste precious floor time debating this political statement instead of allowing a vote on President Obama's American Jobs Act.
Contrary to the claims of my Republican colleagues, H.R. 1633 has nothing to do with job creation or economic growth. This legislation addresses a nonexistent issue since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated repeatedly it has no intention of regulating "farm dust."
I rise today in support of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act 2012 (H.R. 2112). This legislation combines three fiscal year 2012 appropriations measures: Agriculture; Commerce-Justice-Science; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. H.R. 2112 also includes a short-term continuing resolution that will fund the remainder of the federal government through December 16.
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
St. Paul, MN – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) issued the following statement as the head of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi announced a new U.S. commitment to famine relief at a University of Minnesota forum.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly object to the Republican majority's mean-spirited $650 million cut to vulnerable women, infants and children. The Republican's Fiscal Year 2012 Agriculture Appropriations legislation, H.R. 2112, chooses to make this drastic reduction to the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program at a time of economic crisis for millions of American families. WIC is a proven strategy to guarantee that lower-income expectant and breastfeeding mothers and their children up to five years of age receive nutritious food.
Please join Congresswoman McCollum's official Facebook page to stay informed on her activities in St. Paul and Washington, DC.
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
Washington, DC – Tonight, the Congressional Hunger Center honored Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) for her leadership in Congress on domestic and international hunger issues. Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and Congressman James P. McGovern (D-MA) – bipartisan co-chairs of the Congressional Hunger Center – presented Congresswoman McCollum with the award.
Good evening. It is such an honor to receive this very special award and the recognition of a community committed to ending hunger.
Thanks to my colleagues Jo Ann Emerson and Jim McGovern for their tireless leadership in fighting hunger. I also want to thank Ambassador Tony Hall and the board and staff of the Congressional Hunger Center for their efforts to make the fight against hunger a priority on Capitol Hill.
[As prepared.]
Mr. Chair, my amendment will ensure that the Food and Drug Administration is adequately funded to protect our nation's food supply, prevent food-borne illnesses from happening, and properly investigate outbreaks when they do occur.
My home state of Minnesota has been impacted by 2 food recalls in the past few weeks, including tainted e. coli hazelnuts and salmonella-infected meat.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1 - legislation introduced by the House Republican majority that would cut over $60 billion in essential funding to America's communities without making a significant impact on this year's federal deficit.