Local Farms and Food Act of 2023
This bill modifies the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP).
The bill reauthorizes LAMP through FY2028, provides additional funding for the program, and expands the program to include grants for food hubs. The bill defines a food hub as a business or organization that actively manages the aggregation, distribution, and marketing of source-identified food products to multiple buyers from multiple producers, who are primarily local and regional producers, to strengthen the ability of those producers to satisfy local and regional wholesale, retail, and institutional demands.
Further, LAMP grants may also be used to support (1) the purchase of general purpose equipment, and (2) the logistics required for the redemption of federal nutrition benefits at farmers' markets.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish a simplified turnkey application project form for eligible entities, including food hubs, that request less than $100,000 and choose from the specific project categories of (1) direct-to-consumer projects, (2) local and regional food market and enterprise projects, and (3) general purpose equipment grants.
The bill also reauthorizes and provides funding for the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program through FY2028.
Further, the bill amends the GusNIP Nutrition Incentive Program to increase the maximum federal cost share to 75% from 50%. Further, under the GusNIP Produce Prescription Program, USDA must establish a panel to review submitted grant applications and make recommendations.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2723 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2723
To modify market development programs under the Department of
Agriculture, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 19, 2023
Ms. Pingree (for herself, Mr. Newhouse, Ms. Tokuda, and Ms. Caraveo)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To modify market development programs under the Department of
Agriculture, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Local Farms and Food Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. LOCAL AGRICULTURE MARKET PROGRAM REFORM.
Section 210A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C.
1627c) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (13) as
paragraphs (6) through (14), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) Food hub.--The term `food hub' means a business or
organization that actively manages the aggregation,
distribution, and marketing of source-identified food products
to multiple buyers from multiple producers, who are primarily
local and regional producers, to strengthen the ability of
those producers to satisfy local and regional wholesale,
retail, and institutional demands.'';
(2) in subsection (b)(4), by inserting ``, regional food
chain coordination,'' after ``collaboration'';
(3) in subsection (c)(4), by striking ``stakeholders.'' and
inserting ``stakeholders, including eligible entities described
in subsection (d)(6)(B) that receive a grant by submitting an
application under subsection (d)(6)(D) through a competitive
cooperative agreement with a nongovernmental organization,
before and after providing grants under the Program.'';
(4) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2019 through
2023'' and inserting ``2024 through 2028'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``or''
at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (J)(ii), by striking
the period at the end and inserting a
semicolon; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(K) to support the purchase of general purpose
equipment; or
``(L) to support the logistics required for the
redemption of Federal nutrition benefits at direct
producer-to-consumer markets.'';
(C) in paragraph (5)(E)--
(i) by striking ``An eligible entity'' and
inserting the following:
``(i) In general.--Except as provided in
clause (ii), an eligible entity''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) Exception.--
``(I) In general.--An eligible
entity described in subparagraph (B)
that has an adjusted gross income of
not more than $250,000 averaged over
the previous 3 years shall contribute
an amount of non-Federal funds in the
form of cash or an in-kind contribution
that is equal to 25 percent of the
amount of Federal funds received.
``(II) Limitation.--The amount of
Federal funds received under a grant by
an eligible entity that provides a
reduced non-Federal contribution in
accordance with subclause (I) may not
exceed $200,000.
``(III) Required documentation.--
The Secretary shall consider a letter
from an accountant stating that the
adjusted gross income of an eligible
entity described in subparagraph (B) is
not more than $250,000 averaged over
the previous 3 years, based on the line
on Internal Revenue Service form 1040
that describes adjusted gross income,
sufficient to demonstrate eligibility
for a reduced non-Federal contribution
under subclause (I).''; and
(D) in paragraph (6)--
(i) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by redesignating clauses (vii)
and (viii) as clauses (viii) and (ix),
respectively; and
(II) by inserting after clause (vi)
the following:
``(vii) a food hub;'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause
(i), by inserting ``, outreach, and
technical assistance'' after
``applications'';
(II) in clause (i)--
(aa) by inserting ``would''
before ``benefit''; and
(bb) by striking ``or'' at
the end;
(III) by redesignating clause (ii)
as clause (iii);
(IV) by inserting after clause (i)
the following:
``(ii) would provide greater geographic
balance relative to the benefits of the
Program; or''; and
(V) in clause (iii) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``are used''
and inserting ``would be used'';
(iii) by redesignating subparagraphs (D)
and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F),
respectively;
(iv) by inserting after subparagraph (C)
the following:
``(D) Simplified applications.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
establish a simplified `turnkey' application
form for eligible entities described in
subparagraph (B) that--
``(I) request less than $100,000;
and
``(II) chose from the project
categories described in clause (ii),
which shall include a specific, limited
set of key activities with predefined
requirements established by the
Secretary.
``(ii) Project categories.--
``(I) Direct-to-consumer
projects.--In the case of a direct-to-
consumer project, an application form
described in clause (i) shall be
available for the following categories
of projects:
``(aa) An outreach and
promotion project.
``(bb) A project to provide
funding for farmers market
manager staff time.
``(cc) A project to provide
vendor training.
``(dd) A planning and
design project.
``(ee) A data collection
and evaluation project.
``(II) Local and regional food
markets and enterprise projects.--In
the case of a local and regional food
market and enterprise project, an
application form described in clause
(i) shall be available for the
following categories of projects:
``(aa) A food hub
feasibility study project.
``(bb) A project to provide
funding for regional food chain
coordination staff time.
``(cc) A project to provide
technical assistance.
``(dd) A data collection
and evaluation project.
``(ee) A project to
purchase general purpose
equipment.
``(iii) General purpose equipment grants.--
In the case of a project described in clause
(ii)(II)(ee), the Secretary, acting through the
Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing
Service, in coordination with the Administrator
of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service,
shall fulfill the applicable documentation and
monitoring requirements under sections 200.313
and 200.439 of title 2, Code of Federal
Regulations (as in effect on the date of
enactment of this clause).''; and
(v) in subparagraph (E) (as so
redesignated), by striking clause (ii) and
inserting the following:
``(ii) Exception.--An eligible entity
described in subparagraph (B) may use--
``(I) not more than $100,000 of the
amount of a grant for an eligible
activity described in subparagraph (J)
or (K) of paragraph (2)--
``(aa) to purchase or
upgrade equipment to improve
food safety; or
``(bb) to purchase general
purpose equipment; and
``(II) any amount of a grant to
purchase general purpose equipment in
accordance with subparagraph
(D)(ii)(II)(ee).'';
(5) in subsection (e)(2)(A), by striking ``2019'' and all
that follows through the period at the end and inserting the
following: ``2024 through 2028 to support partnerships--
``(i) to plan a local or regional food
system;
``(ii) to implement a local or regional
food system plan;
``(iii) to develop and implement a regional
food chain coordination project; and
``(iv) to develop and implement a regional
outreach, technical assistance, and evaluation
project.'';
(6) in subsection (f)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subsection
(d); or'' and inserting ``subsection (d)(5);''
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
subparagraph (C); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the
following:
``(B) are eligible to submit an application in
accordance with subsection (d)(6)(D); or''; and
(7) in subsection (i)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$50,000,000 for
fiscal year 2019'' and inserting ``$75,000,000 for
fiscal year 2024'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$20,000,000 for
fiscal year 2019'' and inserting ``$30,000,000 for
fiscal year 2024''; and
(C) in paragraph (3)(B)--
(i) by striking ``Of the funds'' and
inserting the following:
``(i) In general.--Of the funds''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) Simplified applications.--Of the
funds made available for grants under
subsection (d)(6) for a fiscal year, not less
than 25 percent, and not more than 50 percent,
shall be used to provide grants to eligible
entities that submit an application in
accordance with subsection (d)(6)(D).''.
SEC. 3. FUNDING FOR THE SENIORS FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM.
Section 4402(a) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 3007(a)) is amended by striking ``Of the funds'' and all
that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following:
``(1) Mandatory funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity
Credit Corporation, the Secretary of Agriculture shall use to
carry out and expand the seniors farmers' market nutrition
program $20,600,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.''.
SEC. 4. FEDERAL SHARE FOR ACTIVITIES UNDER GUS SCHUMACHER NUTRITION
INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
Section 4405(b)(1)(C) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 7517(b)(1)(C)) is amended by striking ``50'' and
inserting ``75''.
SEC. 5. PANEL TO REVIEW PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM APPLICATIONS.
Section 4405(c)(3) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 7517(c)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) Panel to review applications.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
establish a panel--
``(I) to review applications
submitted to the Secretary pursuant to
this paragraph; and
``(II) to make recommendations to
the Secretary with respect to those
applications.
``(ii) Members.--The panel required under
clause (i) shall include--
``(I) at least 1 member with
experience as a healthcare provider;
and
``(II) at least 1 member with
experience administering health
plans.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture.
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