McGovern Statement on New Thrifty Food Plan Guidelines

Statement

Congressman James P. McGovern (D-MA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, issued this statement following the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) concluding a congressionally-mandated review of Thrifty Food Plan guidelines:

"Even before COVID hit, too many people in my district and across America couldn't afford the basic human right of access to nutritious food. By carefully reviewing the Thrifty Food Plan as Congress required in our bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill--and modernizing prices to align with the real cost of a healthy diet--the USDA is bringing federal nutrition assistance programs in line with evidence-based research showing that increasing benefits prevents hunger and improves health.

"Thank you President Biden and Secretary Vilsack for responding to Congressional calls for action and caring deeply about the needs of food insecure families. But our work is just beginning. Now is the time for a White House conference on food, nutrition, hunger and health so we can build on our progress and put the full weight of the federal government behind ending hunger once and for all."

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