Blog > Press Releases > Press Release: Coalition of Health Professionals Calls on Congress to Prioritize Health in Farm Policy
March 27, 2024
Contact:
Anna Chen
consortiummedia@burness.com
Against the backdrop of the mounting threat of climate change, 81 health organizations sign letter urging Congress to center health through both nutrition and conservation programs in U.S. Farm Policy
March 27, 2024 – Eighty-one of the nation’s leading health organizations today issued a letter calling on the U.S. Congress to center both nutrition and conservation in farm policy. As Congress decides the future of farm policy, the letter outlines the opportunity for our leaders to build health equity and also address the climate crisis.
“As health professionals and scientists, we urge U.S. farm policy to prioritize affordable and nutritious food as well as clean air and water,” said Dr. Lisa Patel, Executive Director of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health. “Leaders have the opportunity through farm policy to improve health long-term by addressing the climate crisis and by making the places where we live healthier environments.”
In the letter, America’s doctors, nurses, scientists and other health leaders implore elected leaders to meet this moment with the health of their constituents as the north star. “We do a disservice to both nutrition and conservation programs by prioritizing one over the other or considering them separate issues when both are critical to human health,” said Patel.
While U.S. farm policy impacts all of our lives, nutrition will have the greatest benefit for low-income families and children. For example, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, is part of farm policy and serves over 41 million people, including 15 million children and over 1.2 million veterans. Conservation programs can restore healthy soil, water, and clean air, while helping farmers produce nutrient-dense food and decrease air pollution and greenhouse gas production, which poses the highest risk to children, older adults, pregnant people and people with low incomes. These populations most affected by lack of healthy foods and climate change have the most to gain from health-centered farm policy.
The non-partisan, open letter calls on Congress to protect the health of the American public including the most vulnerable. “Congress must take action and ensure that farm policy protects and promotes the health of all Americans to secure our children’s and grandchildren’s futures,” said Patel.
The letter has been signed by the nation’s leading health organizations, representing doctors, nurses, scientists and health professionals across the country, including:
Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health Executive Committee Members
American Academy of Pediatrics
American College of Emergency Physicians
American College of Physicians
American Medical Association
American Psychiatric Association
Florida Clinicians for Climate Action
Medical Students for a Sustainable Future
Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate
Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action
Academic Pediatric Association
African Heritage Physician Associate Caucus
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
American Academy of Pediatrics CA2
American Academy of Pediatrics, Colorado Chapter
American Academy of Pediatrics, New Mexico Chapter
American Academy of Pediatrics, Nevada Chapter
American Academy of Pediatrics, Washington Chapter
American College of Lifestyle Medicine
American College of Osteopathic Internists
American College of Preventive Medicine
American College of Radiology
American Heart Association
American Medical Student Association
American Public Health Association
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Arizona Health Professionals for Climate Action
Association of Academic Physiatrists
Association of Medical Device Reprocessors
Carolina Advocates for Climate, Health, and Equity
Children’s Environmental Health Network
Climate Code Blue
Climate Health Now
Climate Psychiatry Alliance
Connecticut Health Professionals for Climate Action
Endocrine Society
Georgia Clinicians for Climate Action
Global Climate and Health Alliance
Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education
Health Care Without Harm
Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate
Healthy Air and Water Colorado
Healthy Climate Wisconsin
Idaho Clinicians for Climate and Health
Illinois Clinicians for Climate Action
Infectious Diseases Society of America
Interfaith Public Health Network
Mass General Brigham
Medical Society of Delaware
Michigan Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Michigan Allergy & Asthma Society
Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action
Michigan State Medical Society
Mississippi Health Professionals for Climate and Health Equity
National Environmental Health Association
National Medical Association
Nevada Clinicians for Climate Action
New Mexico Health Professionals for Climate Action
New Hampshire Healthcare Workers for Climate Action
Physicians Against Red Meat (PHARM)
Physicians for Social Responsibility
- Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility
- Physicians for Social Responsibility Iowa
- Physicians for Social Responsibility Maine Chapter
- Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania
- Physicians for Social Responsibility New Mexico Chapter
- Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility
- Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility
Planetary Health Alliance
Puerto Rico Clinicians for Climate Action
Radiologists for a Sustainable Future
Rhode Island Medical Society
Society for General Internal Medicine
Society for Pediatric Dermatology
Union of Concerned Scientists
Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment
White Coats for Planetary Health (UM)
Wilderness Medical Society
Yale Center on Climate Change and Health