WASHINGTON – Below are statements from House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott, Subcommittee Chair Jahana Hayes and Congressman Jim McGovern following the conclusion of today’s White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.

“Today is a historic day as we celebrate the second White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health – the first since 1969. I am proud to support the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals to improve food access and affordability, integrate nutrition and health throughout our Federal programs, and empower all consumers to make and have access to healthy choices,” said Chairman David Scott.

“This bipartisan conference gave a voice to a breadth of stakeholders, including impacted individuals, State agencies, Tribal governments, school systems, academic researchers, food companies, and other community partners,” Chairman David Scott continued. “These voices are important to hear from to inform us on how to best target the underlying causes of food insecurity and ensure our Federal nutrition programs are as effective as possible, particularly as we head into the 2023 Farm Bill.”

“I look forward to continuing to work with President Biden, Secretary Vilsack, and all of the partners attending the conference today to address hunger in America, and I thank Chairman Jim McGovern and his partner, the late Representative Walorksi, for their tireless work to make the Conference a reality,” said Chairman David Scott.

“Hunger is not inevitable – it is a policy choice. Today’s White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health is our commitment to choosing to address food insecurity. I bring a unique perspective to this effort as the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations and as someone who once relied on federal nutrition programs to feed my family. I extend my sincerest thanks to President Biden for making the conference a reality. I look forward to continuing this work alongside Chairman Scott on the House Agriculture Committee to keep our communities healthy, fed, and safe,” said Chair Jahana Hayes.

“Together with a bipartisan group of Members of Congress, advocates, people who have experienced hunger, agriculture groups, medical experts, and private sector partners, President Biden boldly committed our country to unite around the visionary goal of ending hunger and reducing diet-related disease. In the days ahead let us heed the President’s bold, bipartisan call to get to work. I look forward to joining Chairman Scott, Chairwoman Hayes, and my colleagues on the Agriculture Committee to turn this national strategy into life-saving legislative action,” said Congressman Jim McGovern.