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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6776 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6776
To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 with respect to the use of
cash-value benefits and coupons for purchases of fresh, nutritious,
unprepared foods from community supported agricultural entities, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 17, 2025
Ms. Underwood (for herself and Mr. Van Drew) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce,
and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 with respect to the use of
cash-value benefits and coupons for purchases of fresh, nutritious,
unprepared foods from community supported agricultural entities, 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 ``Farmers to Families Act''.
SEC. 2. USE OF CASH-VALUE BENEFITS AND COUPONS FOR CERTAIN LOCAL FOODS.
The Child Nutrition Act of 1966 is amended by inserting after
section 17 (42 U.S.C. 1786) the following:
``SEC. 18. USE OF CASH-VALUE BENEFITS AND COUPONS FOR CERTAIN LOCAL
FOODS.
``(a) Purchases of Certain Local Foods.--Not later than 18 months
after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall
allow cash-value benefit funds and coupon funds to be used by
participants and recipients to purchase fresh, local, nutritious,
unprepared foods, including pre-order boxes of such foods, from a
covered agricultural entity.
``(b) Single EBT Access Device for Cash-Value Benefits and Coupon
Funds.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date
of the enactment of this section, a State agency--
``(A) shall provide cash-value benefit funds and
coupon funds through the electronic benefits transfer
system of such State established pursuant to section
17(h)(12);
``(B) shall ensure such coupon funds can be
accessed through the electronic benefits transfer
access device provided to participants pursuant to
section 17(h)(12); and
``(C) may provide different payment mechanisms on
such access device that separate the funds stored on
such access device based on if the funds are cash-value
benefit funds or coupon funds.
``(2) Processing of payments.--
``(A) In general.--A State agency shall require a
community supported agricultural entity to use a
qualified payment device from the list established
pursuant to subparagraph (B)(i) to accept payments from
an electronic benefits transfer access device described
in paragraph (1)(A).
``(B) Qualified payment device.--
``(i) Rulemaking.--Not later than 18 months
after the date of the enactment of this
section, the Secretary shall issue regulations
establishing a list of payment devices that the
Secretary determines to be qualified payment
devices for the purposes of subparagraph (A).
``(ii) Criteria.--In issuing regulations
under clause (i), the Secretary shall ensure
that each payment device included on the list
established pursuant to clause (i) is a
singular device that can accept and process,
without requiring an additional device,
payments from an electronic benefits transfer
access device described in paragraph (1)(A),
including payments from cash-value benefit
funds and coupon funds stored on such card.
``(iii) Updates.--The Secretary shall
review and update on a regular basis the
regulations issued under clause (i).
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Cash-value benefit.--The term `cash-value benefit'
has the meaning given the term `cash-value voucher' in section
246.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor
regulations).
``(2) Covered agricultural entity.--The term `covered
agricultural entity' means--
``(A) any food hub, farmers' market, or other
distributor that markets local food from farmers to
consumers;
``(B) a community supported agriculture program (as
such term is defined in section 249.2 of title 7, Code
of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)); or
``(C) a farmer (as such term is defined in section
249.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or
successor regulations)).
``(3) Coupon.--The term `coupon' has the meaning given the
term in section 17(m)(10).
``(4) Participant.--The term `participant' means a
participant in the supplemental nutrition program for women,
infants, and children under section 17.
``(5) Recipient.--The term `recipient' has the meaning
given the term in section 17(m)(10).
``(6) State agency.--The term `State agency' means a State
agency (as defined in subsection (b) of section 17) that
administers a program pursuant to a grant under subsection (m)
of such section.''.
SEC. 3. FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WIC PARTICIPANTS.
(a) Inclusion of Covered Agricultural Entities.--Section 17(m)(1)
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(m)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``foods at farmers' markets and (at the
option of a State) roadside stands, as defined in the State
plans submitted under this subsection'' and inserting ``foods,
at--''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(A) farmers' markets, as defined in the State plans
submitted under this subsection;
``(B) roadside stands, as defined in the State plans
submitted under this subsection; and
``(C) in accordance with section 18(a), covered
agricultural entities (as such term is defined in section
18(c)).''.
(b) Automatic Streamline of Benefits.--Section 17(m)(5) of the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(m)(5)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(H) That each farmer (as such term is defined in
section 249.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations
(or successor regulations)) is automatically authorized
as a covered agricultural entity (as such term is
defined in section 18(c)) for purposes of this
subsection.''.
SEC. 4. WIC ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Agriculture shall include on a publicly available
website of the Department of Agriculture--
(1) a single application portal for producers to be--
(A) authorized as a farmer for purposes of section
17(m) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C.
1786(m)) to sell fresh, local, nutritious, unprepared
foods to an individual described in paragraph (5)(A) of
such section 17(m); and
(B) in accordance with section 17(m)(5)(H) of such
Act, authorized as a covered agricultural entity under
section 18 of such Act, as added by this Act, to sell
fresh, local, nutritious, unprepared foods to an
individual described in paragraph (5)(A) of such
section 17(m);
(2) guidance for--
(A) State WIC offices administering WIC;
(B) farmers; and
(C) farmers' markets; and
(3) best practices for State agencies and local agencies
carrying out--
(A) a farmers' market nutrition program for WIC
participants pursuant to a grant under section 17(m) of
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(m));
and
(B) the requirements under section 18 of such Act,
as added by this Act.
SEC. 5. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR FARMERS' MARKET OPERATORS AND
FARMERS.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall--
(1) establish a Technical Assistance Center for farmers'
market operators and farmers (in this section referred to as
the ``Center''); and
(2) to the extent practicable, consult on the design and
scope of the Center with farmers, farmers' market managers,
State agencies, and community organizations with experience in
implementation of Federal nutrition benefits.
(b) Administration.--
(1) Selection process.--To carry out the activities of the
Center under subsection (c), the Secretary shall seek to enter
into a cooperative agreement, on a competitive basis, with an
eligible entity.
(2) Application.--An eligible entity seeking to enter into
a cooperative agreement shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
(3) Panel review.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
establish a panel--
(i) to review applications submitted to the
Secretary under paragraph (2); and
(ii) to make recommendations to the
Secretary with respect to selecting an eligible
entity under paragraph (1) in accordance with
subparagraph (C).
(B) Members.--The panel established under
subparagraph (A) shall include at least--
(i) 1 member with experience as a farmers'
market manager; and
(ii) 1 member with experience providing
technical assistance to farmers regarding
accepting Federal nutrition benefits.
(C) Selection criteria.--The panel established
under subparagraph (A) shall only recommend eligible
entities to the Secretary with respect to selecting an
eligible entity under paragraph (1) that the panel has
determined to possess expertise in providing training
and technical assistance to farmers' markets and
farmers regarding Federal nutrition programs.
(4) Priority.--In selecting an eligible entity under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible
entity that--
(A) has experience engaging with Federal nutrition
programs administered by the Department, such as FMNP,
WIC, or other nutrition incentive programs; and
(B) has a history of effectively serving small and
mid-sized farms, local agriculture, and underserved
communities.
(5) Eligible entity defined.--For purposes of this
subsection, the term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a nonprofit organization;
(B) an institution of higher education;
(C) a cooperative extension service;
(D) a regional food system network; or
(E) any other entity with demonstrated capacity to
carry out the activities described in subsection (c),
as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Activities.--The Center shall provide services related to the
programs under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C.
1786(m)) and section 18 of such Act, as added by this Act, including--
(1) assisting farmers and farmers' market operators with
understanding and complying with eligibility, application, and
authorization requirements--
(A) under the supplemental nutrition assistance
program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
(B) under the FMNP;
(C) under the SFMNP; and
(D) for accepting cash-value benefits;
(2) providing training to farmers' market managers and
local farm vendors on how to accept electronic benefits
transfer payments from recipients and participants of such
programs, including guidance on the use of qualified payment
devices authorized by the Secretary under section 18(b)(2)(B)
of such Act, as added by this Act;
(3) creating, maintaining, and distributing resources and
best practices for the acceptance and administration of
nutrition benefits in farmers' market settings;
(4) sharing implementation information with State agencies,
local agencies, stakeholders and other technical assistance
providers in a timely manner; and
(5) collecting and analyzing information on related program
outcomes.
(d) Annual Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Center shall submit
to the Secretary and relevant congressional committees a report that--
(1) summarizes the activities of the Center, including the
information collected pursuant to subsection (c)(5); and
(2) makes recommendations on how to encourage farmers and
farmers' markets to engage with programs under section 17(m) of
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(m)) and section
18 of such Act, as added by this Act.
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Cash-value benefit.--The term ``cash-value benefit''
has the meaning given the term ``cash-value voucher'' in
section 246.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or
successor regulations).
(2) Cooperative extension service.--The term ``cooperative
extension service'' has the meaning given such term in section
1404 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
(3) Covered agricultural entity.--The term ``covered
agricultural entity'' has the meaning given the term in section
18 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as added by this Act.
(4) Farmer.--The term ``farmer'' has the meaning given the
term in section 249.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations
(or successor regulations).
(5) FMNP.--The term ``FMNP'' means the farmers' market
nutrition program for WIC participants under section 17(m) of
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(m)).
(6) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(7) SFMNP.--The term ``SFMNP'' means the senior farmers'
market nutrition program under section 4402 of the Farm
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3007).
(8) WIC.--The term ``WIC'' means the special supplemental
nutrition program for women, infants, and children under
section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786).
(9) WIC terms.--The terms ``State agency'' and ``local
agency'' have the meanings given the terms, respectively, in
section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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