Brown, Plaskett, Carey Reintroduce Thriving Community Gardens Act

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11), Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (VI-AL)and Congressman Mike Carey (OH-15) havereintroduced the Thriving Community Gardens Act, bipartisan legislation to expand educational opportunities for young people and support local gardens and food production.  

The Thriving Community Gardens Act would allow local educational agencies (LEAs) to use Student Success and Academic Enrichment Grants to develop and operate community gardens. The Thriving Community Gardens Act also directs the Department of Education to gather information from LEAs operating existing community gardens and publish best practices. The legislation was first introduced by Congresswoman Brown during the 117^th Congress.

“Community gardens are good for students, good for neighborhoods, and good for the planet – and we should help more schools develop them,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. “I am proud to reintroduce the Thriving Community Gardens Act, to help more students learn about nutrition, agriculture, and ecology; and support local food production in more communities.”

"I am proud to once again co-lead the Thriving Community Gardens Act with my friend and colleague Congresswoman Shontel Brown," said Congresswoman Plaskett. "If passed, this bill promotes the necessary opportunities to support local agriculture while educating and encouraging healthier food options, and overall combating food insecurity. The benefit of community gardens spans beyond nutrition for young scholars; they obtain a new host of skills and enrichment that have the potential to enhance their lives outside of school, expose them to environmental stewardship, provide therapeutic benefits, and open many other new opportunities.”

"I'm proud to partner with my good friend, Rep. Shontel Brown, on legislation aimed at inspiring our communities to grow their own food and learn new skills in the process," said Congressman Mike Carey. "Community gardens are a wonderful way to bring people together by fostering healthy, self-sustaining habits."

Prior to reintroduction, Congresswoman Brown and USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small visited the Ben Franklin Community Garden in Cleveland last month.   

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