# 114-hr-4833: Food Deserts Act of 2016

114-hr-4833, Food Deserts Act of 2016, is a 114th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4833
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 114-hr-4833
- Congress: 114
- Title: Food Deserts Act of 2016
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.
- Introduced: 2016-03-22
- Sponsor: Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN)
- Cosponsors: 24
- Policy area: Agriculture and Food
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Food Deserts Act of 2016 This bill establishes a Department of Agriculture program to provide grants to states for revolving funds to support the establishment and operation of grocery stores in underserved communities. An underserved community is a community that has: (1) limited access to affordable, healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, in grocery retail stores or farmer-to-consumer direct markets; and (2) a high rate of hunger or food insecurity or a high poverty rate. States must use the funds to make loans to support grocery stores in underserved communities, including for: opening a store (excluding new construction), supporting an existing store, purchasing an existing store, or supporting a store located in a community that would be underserved without the store. States may only make loans for qualified grocery stores that: emphasize unprocessed, healthful foods; provide staple foods and a variety of raw fruits and vegetables; have a plan to keep the foods in stock; and charge prices at or below municipal averages. States must prioritize loan applications from entities that meet criteria, including: hiring workers from the underserved community, providing classes or educational information about a healthful diet, sourcing food from local urban farms and gardens, not selling alcohol or tobacco products, or demonstrating existing supply chain relationships or expertise in the grocery industry.

## Cosponsors (24)

- Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6] (D-SC), 2016-03-22T00:00:00.000Z
- ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D-MD), 2016-03-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] (D-TX), 2016-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- LUIS GUTIERREZ (D-IL), 2016-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- WM. CLAY (D-MO), 2016-03-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] (D-WI), 2016-03-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2016-03-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2016-03-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large] (D-VI), 2016-03-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2016-03-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2016-04-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kirkpatrick, Ann [D-AZ-1] (D-AZ), 2016-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- MICHAEL HONDA (D-CA), 2016-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (D-TX), 2016-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2016-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2016-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8] (D-NY), 2016-05-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2016-05-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2016-07-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1] (D-NJ), 2016-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] (D-OH), 2016-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5] (D-MN), 2016-11-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2016-11-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Delaney, John K. [D-MD-6] (D-MD), 2016-11-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 114-hr-5044: Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2016 to respond to Zika virus.
- 114-hr-4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act
- 114-hr-3308: Seniors Have Eyes, Ears, and Teeth Act
- 114-hr-2867: Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015
- 114-hr-2150: Raise the Wage Act
- 114-hr-1786: James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act

## Sources
- [114-hr-4833 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4833)

## Related
- [114-hr-5044: Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2016 to respond to Zika viru…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5044)
- [114-hr-4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4592)
- [114-hr-3308: Seniors Have Eyes, Ears, and Teeth Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3308)
- [114-hr-2867: Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2867)
- [114-hr-2150: Raise the Wage Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2150)
- [114-hr-1786: James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-1786)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4833 (as of 2025-11-18).