U.S. Conference of Mayors

U.S. Conference of Mayors

Mayor Rawlings-Blake was one of eight mayors in the country to be invited to the Food Desert Summit in October 2011, hosted by First Lady, Michelle Obama. The Mayor participated in a round-table discussion on ways to bring healthy and affordable food into food desert communities. As a result of that event, the Mayor helped establish and co-chaired the US Conference of Mayors (USCM) Food Policy Task Force.

With her Presidency of USCM beginning in summer 2015, Mayor Rawlings-Blake will continue to prioritize food issues and help other mayors and cities to shape their food policy agendas.

The USCM Food Policy Task Force focuses on issues including the impact of the Farm Bill and Child Nutrition Reauthorization on urban areas, reducing obesity, increasing access to healthy food in low-income communities, and increasing local food procurement in cities.

The Task Force reviews issues and policy barriers to addressing food access, food security issues in urban areas, including recommendations on increasing SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participation via recommendations on best policies and practices, support for farmers’ markets, food desert mapping and healthy food retail.

Below are several documents that the Task Force has submitted to Congress in support of federal nutrition benefits in the Farm Bill.

2015 USCM Farm Bill Resolution
2015 USCM Child Nutrition Reauthorization Resolution
2015 USCM Dietary Guidelines Resolution
Letter from 11 US Mayors to Congress in support of federal nutrition benefits
2012 USCM Farm Bill Resolution
2012 USCM Food Day Resolution