Hearing of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. Lowey, Markup on the FY 2021 Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA Funding Bill

Hearing

Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks at the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee's markup of its fiscal year 2021 bill:

I thank Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member Fortenberry for their work on this bill, as well as the efforts of the staff to review member requests and craft the product before us.

A survey of mothers with children under the age of 12 found that more than 40% have faced food insecurity since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, up from 15% just two years ago. At a time when hunger is growing, the food supply is under threat, and more and more Americans are falling into poverty, this bill responds effectively to:

-Meet the needs of SNAP and WIC to ensure the most vulnerable have access to nutritious meals;
-Reduce hunger by increasing funding for the Summer EBT program; and
-Increase investments in the child nutrition program by $1.5 billion.

It would also give FDA a much-needed $41 million boost so it can continue to review treatments and, one day, vaccines for COVID19, as well as ensure the safety of the food we eat and medicines and medical devices that save lives.

I look forward to moving this bill through the Appropriations process.

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