Harper to Continue as Chair of House Agriculture and Conservation Committee

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Reinforcing her commitment to removing greenhouse gases, building flexibility to climate change, and increasing agricultural productivity and incomes, state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, will once again serve as chair of the House Agriculture & Conservation Committee, a role that she has held since 2019.

“Illinois is a state where 75 percent of our land area is under agricultural cultivation, making agriculture our largest industry by far, stimulating economic, agronomic, and environmental growth,” Harper said. “It also increases vulnerable communities' ability to access fresh, healthy foods and helps to combat preventable diet related diseases.”

In her time as Chair, Harper managed to create the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program, supporting organizations that process, collect, or distribute agricultural produce in Illinois. She also sponsored House Bill 2879, the Farm to Food Bank Program Act, creating a program that aims to expand the availability of fresh agricultural produce in Illinois’ emergency food system by obtaining that produce directly from Illinois farms or farm produce distributors. 

“Farming communities are the beating heart of Illinois,” Harper said. “We must ensure that they have a seat at the table during important conversations so that they can thrive for generations to come.”