H.R. 4782

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program under which the Secretary will enter into cooperative agreements with State, local, or Tribal governments to increase the purchase of local foods, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · July 29, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Bresnahan · Committee: Committee on Agriculture

Table of contents

• H.R. 4782
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Local farmers feeding our communities program

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act.

SEC. 2. Local farmers feeding our communities program

• (a) In general
  • The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a program under which the Secretary will enter into cooperative agreements (on a noncompetitive basis) with eligible entities—
    • to help support covered local producers through building and expanding economic opportunities;
    • to establish and broaden partnerships with such covered local producers and the food distribution community to ensure distribution of fresh and nutritious foods; and
    • to strengthen such entity’s local and regional food security and systems.
• (b) Use of funds
  • An eligible entity selected to enter into a cooperative agreement under this section shall use funds received through such agreement—
    • to purchase unprocessed or minimally processed local foods (including seafood, meat, milk and dairy products, eggs, produce, and poultry) from covered producers;
    • to ensure that at least 25 percent of the total annual value of products purchased by the eligible entity comprises purchases from small-size producers, mid-size producers, beginning farmers or ranchers, or veteran farmers or ranchers;
    • to provide technical assistance supporting—
      • covered local producers, including in obtaining food safety training and certifications; and
      • efforts to grow the local agricultural value chain;
    • to distribute such local foods to organizations that have experience in food distributiondistribution, including nonprofits, to improve access to healthy and nutritious food; and
    • to build and expand economic opportunity for covered local producers.
• (c) Limitation on use of funds
  • (1) In general
    • Of the amount made available to an eligible entity through a cooperative agreement under this section, an eligible entity may use not more than 25 percent of such amount—
      • to cover administrative expenses; and
      • to provide technical assistance described in subsection (b)(3);
  • (2) Allocation for technical assistance
    • Of the amount described in paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall use not less than 50 percent to provide technical assistance described in subsection (b)(3).
• (d) Technical assistance to eligible entities
  • The Secretary shall provide to eligible entities entering into a cooperative agreement under this section guidance, technical assistance, instruction, and monitoring throughout the life cycle of the cooperative agreement.
• (e) Amount of allocation
  • Of the amounts made available to carry out this section for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall—
    • allocate 10 percent to Tribal governments, to be allocated using a funding formula determined by the Secretary; and
    • of the amounts remaining after making the allocation under paragraph (1), allocate 1 percent to each State (other than Tribal governments); and
    • after making the allocations under paragraphs (1) and (2), allocate the remaining amounts to each eligible entity (other than Tribal governments) by applying the formula described in section 214 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (). 7 U.S.C. 7515
• (f) Definitions
  • In this section:
    • The terms and have the meanings given such terms in section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (). beginning farmer or rancher veteran farmer or rancher 7 U.S.C. 2279
    • The term means a fisherman, farmer, producer, rancher, processor, or cooperative processor that is— covered producer
    • The term means a State agency, commission, or department that is responsible for agriculture, procurement, food distribution, emergency response, or other similar activities within the State. eligible entity
    • The term means an individual whose annual gross cash farm income is equal to or exceeds $350,000 and is less than $999,999. mid-sized producer
    • The term means one whose annual gross cash farm income is less than $350,000. small-sized producer
    • The term means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, each territory or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe.
    • The term means only those agricultural products that retain their inherent character. Such term includes— unprocessed or minimally processed local foods
• (g) Funding
  • (1) Mandatory funding
    • Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter.
  • (2) Authorization of appropriations
    • There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, to remain available until expended.