Sponsors (5)
The bill expands local procurement and provides sustained federal funding to boost food access and support small/regional producers, but it uses CCC funds and includes sourcing, timing, and administrative limits that could raise costs, strain local implementers, and reduce direct food aid for the neediest.
Low-income individuals and food-insecure communities will get increased access to locally produced food through purchases distributed to hunger-relief organizations and participating schools.
Small, mid-sized, beginning, veteran, and underserved producers will have expanded sales opportunities via a guaranteed market (at least 51% of annual purchases) and local procurement rules.
A dedicated $200 million per year from the Commodity Credit Corporation provides a stable federal funding stream to launch and sustain the program nationwide.
Low-income beneficiaries and schools could face higher per-unit food costs or reduced availability because the 400-mile sourcing limit and in-area purchase rules restrict supplier options.
Taxpayers and Commodity Credit Corporation resources will fund the $200 million annual program cost, potentially diverting funds from other CCC uses or federal priorities.
Requiring awarded funds to be spent within three years may strain state and local administrative capacity and lead to rushed purchases or inefficient use of funds.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a USDA program giving noncompetitive awards to eligible governments to buy local/regional food from targeted producers and distribute it to schools and hunger-relief groups.
Introduced July 17, 2025 by John F. Reed · Last progress July 17, 2025
Creates a new USDA program that pays eligible state, territorial, and Tribal agencies (and similar units) to buy local and regional food from small, mid-sized, beginning, veteran, and underserved farmers, fishers, and ranchers and to distribute that food inside their jurisdictions. The program’s goals are to strengthen local food supply chains, expand economic opportunities for targeted producers, and route healthy local food to schools and hunger-relief organizations.