Harper Responds to State Losing Two Important Agriculture Programs

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. – State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, issued the following statement after the United States Department of Agriculture announced that they are removing federal funds, resulting in the loss of the Illinois EATS Program and the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program:

“One of my top priorities as Chair of the House Agriculture & Conservation committee is to improve local food infrastructure and eliminate food deserts across Illinois. It is more than upsetting that the powers that be in Washington continue to pull us back in the other direction, having absolutely no regard for the work we are doing to ensure that our residents lead healthy lives. From the tariffs, to the fact that we don’t have a farm bill, and the USDA funding freezes, it is all having a terrible effect on food, farms and jobs in this state. Next week, I will be holding a subject matter hearing to find out exactly how these unnecessary federal actions will impact our farmers and our food system.”