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Urban Agriculture

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 13, 2017
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Agriculture and Food Food Processing and Sales

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on my colleagues to please join the Urban Agriculture Production Act of 2017, a bipartisan measure that bolsters local farming and inspires communities to create food production systems that stimulate development and healthy eating.

There are more than 23 million people in food-desert neighborhoods across our country where there are no stores within 1 mile to buy healthy food. Without healthy options, people are relegated to eating unhealthy, processed, junk food because that is all that is available and affordable.

Communities that lack access to fresh, nutritious, affordable foods are also facing growing epidemics of obesity-related diseases such as hypertension, high blood pressure, and diabetes. This bill is a step to correct this unacceptable trend.

Community gardens, greenhouses, farmers' markets, hoop houses, and other local food initiatives tend to be the best outlets to purchase local fresh

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foods. Our bill builds on these local successes by expanding local farming in nontraditional agricultural areas like our cities and towns.

Mr. Speaker, urban food production should be part of America's solution for healthier communities. I hope my colleagues will join me in helping to unleash the power of our communities to produce healthier foods for the future. Let's make it happen.

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