Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act
Sponsored By: Representative Bresnahan
Introduced
Summary
Local food procurement and regional food systems would get a federal boost through a new USDA program that pays state-level agencies and Tribal governments to buy and distribute fresh, local foods and to build local food-chain capacity.
Show full summary
- Would expand market opportunities for covered local producers by funding purchases of unprocessed or minimally processed local foods like produce, dairy, meat, eggs, seafood, and grains. At least 25% of annual purchases must come from small, mid-size, beginning, or veteran producers.
- Would give state agricultural and related agencies and federally recognized Tribal governments noncompetitive cooperative agreements and require the Secretary to provide guidance and monitoring. Program funds would allocate 10% to Tribal governments and 1% to each State, with the remainder distributed by an Emergency Food Assistance Act formula.
- Would improve access to fresh food through partnerships with food distributors and nonprofits and fund technical assistance for producers, while capping administrative and technical assistance spending at 25% of an award and dedicating at least 50% of the TA portion to the specified producer assistance.
*This bill would increase mandatory federal spending by $200 million annually starting in FY2026.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New USDA program buys local farm foods
USDA would set up a program to buy local, unprocessed or lightly processed foods through State-run, noncompetitive agreements. Food would go to experienced distributors, including nonprofits, to improve access. At least 25% must come from small or mid-size, beginning, or veteran producers (small under $350,000; mid-size $350,000 to $999,999). Producers must be local or within 400 miles. Up to 25% may fund admin and producer support; at least half of that must be technical assistance. Each year, funds would be split: 10% to Tribal governments, 1% to each State, and the rest by formula.
Yearly funding for local farm foods
If enacted, the program would get two funding streams. Starting in fiscal year 2026, USDA would use $200 million a year from the Commodity Credit Corporation. Congress could also appropriate $200 million a year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Those funds would stay available until they are spent. The authorization would end after fiscal year 2030.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bresnahan
PA • R
Cosponsors
Valadao
CA • R
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Wied
WI • R
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Newhouse
WA • R
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Nunn (IA)
IA • R
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Vindman
VA • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Panetta
CA • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Lawler
NY • R
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Davids (KS)
KS • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Fitzpatrick
PA • R
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Crow
CO • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Evans (CO)
CO • R
Sponsored 8/19/2025
Foushee
NC • D
Sponsored 8/19/2025
Vasquez
NM • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
DeGette
CO • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Pettersen
CO • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Larson (CT)
CT • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Courtney
CT • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Davis (NC)
NC • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Alford
MO • R
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Moore (UT)
UT • R
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Gillen
NY • D
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Magaziner
RI • D
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Latimer
NY • D
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Ellzey
TX • R
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Golden (ME)
ME • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Edwards
NC • R
Sponsored 9/23/2025
DeLauro
CT • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Sorensen
IL • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 9/23/2025
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Kelly (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Foster
IL • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 10/14/2025
Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
Sponsored 10/14/2025
Scholten
MI • D
Sponsored 10/14/2025
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Ivey
MD • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Hurd (CO)
CO • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Buchanan
FL • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
LaHood
IL • R
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Gray
CA • D
Sponsored 10/21/2025
Bera
CA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Houlahan
PA • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
McGarvey
KY • D
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Neguse
CO • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Miller (OH)
OH • R
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Mackenzie
PA • R
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 11/10/2025
Miller-Meeks
IA • R
Sponsored 11/10/2025
Tenney
NY • R
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Bost
IL • R
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Salinas
OR • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Tran
CA • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
McDonald Rivet
MI • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Meuser
PA • R
Sponsored 1/21/2026
Carbajal
CA • D
Sponsored 2/3/2026
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Suozzi
NY • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Perez
WA • D
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Carter (LA)
LA • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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