{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://juliabrownley.house.gov/brownley-schiff-introduce-legislation-to-help-america-meet-protein-demand-by-expanding-research-and-domestic-manufacturing-investments-in-protein-innovation/", "Brownley, Schiff Introduce Legislation to Help America Meet Protein Demand by Expanding Research and Domestic Manufacturing Investments in Protein Innovation", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Julia Brownley", "B001285", "juliabrownley.house.gov", "juliabrownley", "https://juliabrownley.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) introduced the Producing Real Opportunities for Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition Act (PROTEIN Act), legislation to make a strategic federal investment in protein innovation through boosted support for research, workforce development, and domestic manufacturing capacity. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) is introducing companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.\n\nGlobal demand for meat is projected to double by 2050, but the United States currently lacks the infrastructure, workforce, and research pipeline to meet that exploding demand for protein sustainably. Congresswoman Brownley and Senator Schiff\u2019s bill seeks to ensure the United States doesn\u2019t fall behind and makes critical investments in meeting protein demands for the future through improved and expanded innovation.\n\n\u201cProtein innovation is an emerging but essential pillar of the U.S. bioeconomy that is critical to strengthening food security and addressing the climate crisis,\u201d said Congresswoman Brownley. \u201cWhile the United States has driven important breakthroughs in this field, countries like China and Canada are outpacing our investments in this cutting-edge technology. As global demand for meat continues to grow, we must diversify our protein sources to strengthen domestic supply chains and expand choices for American consumers. By investing in protein innovation, we can create thousands of high-paying jobs, bolster food security, confront the climate crisis, and reassert U.S. leadership in this rapidly growing industry. The PROTEIN Act does exactly that, making it a win-win-win for our economy, our climate, and our future.\u201d\n\n\u201cRight now in America, it seems all anyone can talk about is protein, but the exploding demand for it is not something our current food system will be able to meet. Investing in protein innovation, which is already supporting thousands of jobs in California and across the U.S., will help us meet those needs while investing in a climate-friendly food system and positioning the U.S. as a global leader in a growing market that will create new revenue opportunities for American producers,\u201d said Senator Schiff.\n\nThe United States is falling behind in public investment in protein innovation research and development, with other countries dramatically ramping up their investment in this industry. The plant-based food sector alone already supports over 55,000 American jobs, and the broader protein innovation industry could create up to 10 million jobs globally by 2050.\n\nIn the United States, California is the epicenter of protein innovation\u2014home to more than 150 companies focused on plant-based, cultivated, and other alternatives, making up nearly one-third of the entire U.S. sector. The PROTEIN Act also presents an opportunity to create new markets for Californian and American farmers.\n\nSpecifically, the PROTEIN Act would:\n\nEstablish at least 3 research centers of excellence for alternative protein innovation\n\nCreate a new USDA research program on protein security focused on biomanufacturing, bioprocessing, and converting underutilized biomass into high-value ingredients\n\nLaunch a Food Biomanufacturing Grant Program to build and scale domestic production capacity\n\nEstablish a Bioworkforce Development Grant Program to train workers, fund scholarships, and support regional economic development in this emerging sector\n\nRequire a National Strategy on Protein Security\u2014a whole-of-government plan coordinating various federal agencies\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by Food Solutions Action and the Good Food Institute.\n\n\u201cThe Good Food Institute commends Senator Schiff and Representative Brownley for their strong commitment to securing a more prosperous and resilient future for food and agriculture. The PROTEIN Act would position America as the global leader in food biomanufacturing for generations to come, building on years of groundbreaking innovation happening in the Golden State and across the heartland,\u201d said Pepin Tuma, Vice President, Good Food Institute.\n\n\u201cThe PROTEIN Act takes a proactive, whole-of-government approach to securing America\u2019s food future. By investing in critical infrastructure, expanding domestic production, and increasing consumer choice it positions the U.S. to lead in food innovation for decades to come,\u201d said Mike Ryan, Vice President, Food Solutions Action.\n\n\u201cPBFI applauds Senator Schiff and Representative Brownley for advancing the PROTEIN Act which will maintain the United States\u2019 leadership in food security and innovation. By creating a USDA protein security research program and dedicated protein innovation centers, this bill will generate long-term opportunities for farmers, food workers, and rural communities. Plant-based companies and researchers in particular have been waiting for programs like this to lower the risk of scaling up, build shared infrastructure instead of one-off projects, and move promising ideas from the field to full-scale production here at home,\u201d said Sanah Baig, Executive Director, Plant Based Foods Institute.\n\n\u201cThe PROTEIN Act recognizes that the future of protein is a national food security and competitiveness issue. This bill will help close the gap between promising breakthroughs and real-world deployment in U.S. communities. A significant percentage of the alternative protein industry is currently located in the US with the potential to be a huge economic driver for this country. However, growth and commercialization will be dependent on establishing a vibrant research ecosystem solving the industry\u2019s commercialization hurdles, a highly trained workforce, and a network of infrastructure-rich centers for scale up. For our students, faculty, and the growing US industry, the PROTEIN Act would catalyze this development here at home,\u201d said Professor David Block, University of California-Davis & Center Director, Integrative Center for Alternative Meat and Protein (iCAMP).\n\n\u201cGlobal protein demand is rising faster than our current food technologies can sustainably meet, and the science is clear that we need diversified approaches. The PROTEIN Act\u2019s federal investments in biomanufacturing research and infrastructure will help bridge the gap between laboratory breakthroughs and commercial-scale production,\u201d said Galina Hale, Professor of Economics and Coastal Science and Policy, University of California at Santa Cruz.\n\n\u201cThe evidence increasingly shows that sustainable protein diversification will require coordinated public investment in both research infrastructure and scaling pathways. The PROTEIN Act takes a data-driven approach\u2014funding rigorous science at research institutions while building the commercial bridge that\u2019s often missing between promising findings and real-world food systems impact,\u201d said Maya B. Mathur, PhD, Associate Professor, Stanford University.\n\n\u201cThe scientific fundamentals for creating high-quality alternative proteins are well established, but translating these discoveries into commercially viable products at scale requires significant infrastructure investment. The PROTEIN Act\u2019s focus on research centers, biomanufacturing facilities, and dedicated USDA programs will accelerate the development of next-generation plant-based and hybrid foods. This comprehensive federal strategy addresses the critical bottleneck between laboratory innovation and market-ready products that can actually feed people sustainably,\u201d said D. Julian McClements, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Food Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst.\n\n\u201cThe PROTEIN Act invests in the research and workforce development America needs to lead in next-generation agriculture. This legislation will help universities continue our good work by expanding training pipelines, deepening collaboration with farmers and producers, and advancing technologies critical to food security and supply-chain resilience,\u201d said David Kaplan, Distinguished Professor, Biology, Tufts University.\n\n\u201cThe PROTEIN Act\u2019s comprehensive approach\u2014combining Centers of Excellence, demonstration facilities, and workforce development\u2014creates the essential ecosystem for scaling biomanufacturing innovations from promising laboratory concepts to market-ready solutions that can meet global food security challenges. This isn\u2019t just about supporting research; it\u2019s about building the pathways that ensure discoveries actually reach the people who need them,\u201d said Robert Cunningham, Senior Advisor for Strategic Engagement, Wyss Institute at Harvard University.\n\n\u201cAMPS strongly supports this landmark effort to ensure the United States sustains its strategic leadership in the global bioeconomy and food innovation. Protein diversification is not only essential to modernizing our food system, it is the cornerstone of reducing dependence on foreign markets and securing resilient supply chains. This forward-looking policy lays the foundation for a stronger American economy and lasting food security at home and abroad, positioning the U.S. to lead for decades to come,\u201d said Suzi Gerber, Executive Director, Association for Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Innovation.\n\n\u201cPassing the PROTEIN Act would help ensure that America continues to lead in agricultural and biotech innovation. Other countries are investing heavily in this space, and we need to keep pace,\u201d said Paul Shapiro, Co-Founder, Fungi Protein Association.\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://juliabrownley.house.gov/brownley-schiff-introduce-legislation-to-help-america-meet-protein-demand-by-expanding-research-and-domestic-manufacturing-investments-in-protein-innovation/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9029779359698296, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}