Sponsors (3)
The bill directs predictable federal funds to buy more local and culturally appropriate food—benefiting low-income people and small producers and strengthening local supply chains—but raises federal costs and creates administrative and logistical burdens with some risk of uneven distribution.
State governments and emergency feeding organizations receive predictable federal funding ($200M/year FY2026–2030) that they can plan around and use within two-year windows to run emergency food purchase programs.
Low-income individuals (including school and food program recipients) gain greater access to fresh, culturally and religiously appropriate foods through State purchases and program prioritization, improving nutrition security.
Small, underserved, and local/regional agricultural producers (including women-, veteran-, and beginning-farmer operations) gain increased access to USDA and State procurement, expanding market opportunities, likely increasing sales and supporting rural jobs.
Taxpayers and program beneficiaries face higher federal costs — the bill authorizes roughly $200M/year (about $1 billion over five years) and shifting procurement priorities could increase per-unit purchase costs, which may raise taxpayer spending or reduce the quantity of food programs can buy.
State agencies, eligible entities, USDA, and vendors will face additional administrative burden to prepare plans, cooperative agreements, implement new procurement practices, and meet reporting/performance requirements.
Low-income communities risk gaps in food aid if States fail to expend funds on time and reallocation depends on Secretary determinations, potentially producing inequitable distribution of resources.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes States to use federal funds to buy priority agricultural products from eligible local producers for emergency food distribution and creates a USDA working group; funds $200M/year for FY2026–2030.
Introduced December 12, 2025 by Kim Schrier · Last progress December 12, 2025
Authorizes states to buy specified agricultural products from defined eligible producers and distributors for distribution to needy people through emergency feeding organizations, and funds that activity at $200 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2030. Requires USDA to issue guidance, set allocation and reporting rules, and evaluate the program; also creates a cross-agency USDA working group to change procurement practices to support diverse producers, nutrition security, local food systems, and rural job creation.