Federal RuleAug 21
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DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
RuleLabor DepartmentFederal Contract Compliance Programs OfficeSignificant Wallet
119-s-3471119th CongressWALLET
EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act
Sponsored By: Senator Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
In Committee
Summary
Would use federal food purchasing to prioritize equity, worker protections, and climate-friendly farm practices. The bill creates rules, targets, and funding so the Department of Agriculture would buy more food from beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged producers, favor vendors with worker protections, and reward practices that cut emissions and limit deforestation.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Grants and pilot to help vendors
This bill would create a best‑value procurement pilot and vendor readiness program. The pilot must select bids equal to at least 20% of USDA annual food spending and ends five years after enactment. USDA would give technical assistance and run competitive grants for covered producers and cooperatives. Grants could be up to $100,000 per recipient for up to three years. The bill would appropriate $25,000,000 for FY2026, available through FY2031, to run the pilot, help, and grants.
More USDA buying from small farms
This bill would require USDA to prioritize four buying goals: equity, resilient supply chains, worker well‑being, and climate. The Secretary would competitively seek contracts with covered producers and offer technical assistance. For each fiscal year 2026 through 2031 USDA would use at least $2,000,000 from Section 32 to buy from covered producers and entities. USDA would give Congress a baseline report within one year and then yearly reports starting two years after enactment with spending shares, supplier names, and greenhouse gas estimates.
Who counts as covered producers
This bill would define who counts as a covered producer or covered entity for USDA buying. Beginning farmers would be those who never ran a farm or who ran one for 10 years or less. A small or medium farm would qualify if gross cash farm income is under $999,999 or by acreage rules the Secretary sets. Covered entities would include nonprofits or for-profit processors, distributors, or food hubs that source at least 51% of their value from covered producers.
New rules to limit deforestation
This bill would require suppliers of forest‑risk commodities to show where products come from. They would need maps, owner details, geolocations, and full supply‑chain traceability. Suppliers would also need measures to avoid deforestation, protect biodiversity, and get free, prior, and informed consent from Indigenous peoples. These rules could raise supplier paperwork and compliance costs while aiming to protect forests and communities.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
VT • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov