Gabbard Recognized for Food System Support

Representative Tulsi Gabbard was named a top advocate of improving the country’s food system on Tuesday.

Food Policy Action made the announcement when it released its Congressional Progress Report. Representative Gabbard was given a perfect score on the 2015 National Food Policy Scorecard.

“Securing sensible, transparent food policy and supporting local and domestic agriculture have been among my key priorities in Congress,” said Representative Gabbard. “I’ve continued to push for legislation that would increase food and production transparency and fight for making basic labeling available to consumers across the country.

“In addition, I remain committed to fighting against harmful legislation, like the Deny Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act, that rolls back years of progress in food labeling made in 30 states, including Hawaiʻi. Food security is a critical issue for the American people, and especially the people of Hawaiʻi, and I’m humbled to be recognized as an advocate for them and their families.”

On the scorecard, lawmakers votes on various food relevant policies in the United States are taken into consideration. Among the topics are domestic and international hunger, food safety, food access, farm subsidies, animal welfare, food and farm labor, nutrition, food additives, food transparency, local and regional food production, organic farming, and the effects of food production on the environment.

“Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been a strong advocate in Congress for food safety, access, production, and transparency,” said Chef Tom Colicchio, Food Policy Action Co-Founder and good food advocate. “We are grateful for her leadership and continued support of sustainable food policy in both Hawaiʻi and across the United States.”

In 2012, Food Policy Action was established on the efforts of food policy leaders. The goal is to hold legislators accountable on votes that have an effect on food and farming.