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119-hr-6776119th CongressWALLET

Farmers to Families Act

Sponsored By: Representative Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]

In Committee

Summary

This bill would change the Child Nutrition Act to expand federal nutrition benefits to buy locally produced foods and create a national technical-assistance center to help farmers and markets connect to those programs.

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  • WIC participants and families could use cash-value benefits and coupons at more local sellers, including farmers markets, roadside stands, and pre-order box arrangements. States must make those coupon and cash-value funds accessible through the same electronic benefits transfer (EBT) device.
  • Farmers and market operators gain new sales channels and simpler enrollment. Farmers are automatically designated as eligible sellers for the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program and the Agriculture Secretary must publish a joint producer portal within 90 days.
  • State agencies and operators would follow a single EBT access-device model and a qualified payment-device list with rulemaking to allow one integrated device to accept benefits. The bill also creates a competitively selected Technical Assistance Center to train, share best practices, assist compliance, and report annually within 18 months.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

More WIC and farmers market access

If enacted, WIC and Farmers' Market Nutrition Program benefits would be usable at more local food sellers. Within 18 months, WIC cash-value and coupon funds could buy fresh, local, unprepared foods and pre-order boxes from covered local producers. The bill would expand FMNP redemption sites to include farmers' markets and roadside stands and would require States to put cash-value and coupon funds on the State EBT access device.

Technical help for farmers and markets

If enacted, USDA would set up a Technical Assistance Center within 18 months. The Center would train farmers and market operators on SNAP, FMNP, SFMNP, WIC, and accepting EBT payments. USDA would run a competition to pick who operates the Center and require the Center to send annual reports starting two years after enactment.

New rules and devices to accept EBT

If enacted, the Secretary would publish a list of qualified payment devices and rules within 18 months so vendors can accept EBT with a single device. States would be required to have CSAs use those qualified devices to accept EBT once the list exists. The Secretary would also post a single USDA portal and definitions within 90 days to help producers register and comply.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]

IL • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 12/17/2025

  • Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 7/20/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 7/20/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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