Food Insecurity & Agriculture

I have always said “Food is Medicine.” Ensuring everyone in our community has access to fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables is not an easy task, but it can and will have an immeasurably positive impact on our schools, our economy, and our neighborhoods.

During my tenure in the Pennsylvania Legislature, I championed Pennsylvania’s Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which links public and private funds to expand and build grocery stores in food deserts across our state. Through this initiative, we brought nearly 100 grocery stores to areas in Philadelphia and underserved areas across the commonwealth that previously had very limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. I was proud to see this become the model for a nationwide program in 2014.

Since coming to Congress, I’ve continued to be a strong advocate for eliminating food insecurity and bolstering access to healthy, nutritious foods. That’s why I am a proud leader of a bill to re-authorize the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which helps local retailers to provide fresh, healthy, affordable foods to urban areas like ours. Further, I know that by promoting these statewide agricultural partnerships, it not only benefits our city but strengthens our commonwealth’s economy.

For additional information about my work on food insecurity and agriculture, read more below or contact my office here.