Biden Admin Puts Partisanship Over Addressing Hunger

Press Release

Today, Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Agriculture Committee Republican Leader Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA), Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Oversight and Reform Republican Leader James Comer (R-KY), and Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Republican Leader Andy Harris (R-MD) sent a letter to the White House Director of the Domestic Policy Council Susan Rice to question the administration's partisan conference process that has shut out stakeholders and policymakers who are critical to developing the nation's nutrition policies.

In the letter, the Members write: "As key stakeholders in ensuring the government plays its appropriate role in the fight to end hunger and improve the health of all Americans, we have watched with interest the developments around the second national White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health (Conference), set to take place on September 28, 2022."

"What began with a promise to engage stakeholders in a bipartisan process has deteriorated into a partisan gathering lacking the direction and clarity needed to drive significant, long-lasting change. For the Conference policy recommendations to be considered bipartisan, the White House should have meaningfully engaged a variety of stakeholders, including Congressional colleagues from both sides of the aisle at all stages of the Conference. At a time when food prices continue to soar under record-high inflation rates, and while an external investigation into FDA's food safety centers--ordered by FDA Commissioner Califf himself--remains underway, it is critical this process involve all appropriate policymakers and stakeholders in any policy goals emerging from the Conference," the Members continue.

"Moving forward, we plan to take an active oversight role, given our seats on committees of jurisdiction over the recommendations likely to stem from the Conference," the Members conclude.