Food Deserts Act
Sponsored By: Representative Carson
In Committee
Summary
Creates capitalization grants to set up state-run revolving loan funds that finance grocery stores in underserved communities. The program channels federal money into state funds that lend for store openings or operations and pushes stores to sell healthful foods and hire locally.
Show full summary
- Residents and families in qualifying areas could gain more access to fresh fruits, vegetables and staple foods, plus programs that teach about healthful diets and prioritize local hiring and sourcing.
- Small grocers and nonprofits can get loans only if they match at least 20% from nonfederal sources and meet grocery-operator criteria; loans must be at or below market rates, may be interest-free for up to 30 years, start repayment within one year, and must be fully amortized by the end of the term.
- States receive grants distributed by a formula tied to the underserved population share to capitalize revolving funds that a state instrumentality will run; states may charge up to a 4% administrative fee and cannot make a single loan that exceeds 10% of that year’s available distributions.
*Authorizes $150.0 million for fiscal year 2026 to capitalize these state revolving funds.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Grants to states for grocery access
The bill would let USDA give states money to set up revolving funds for grocery stores in underserved areas. Funds would be split by each state’s share of the underserved population. States would have to deposit the money into a revolving fund, run a loan process, and follow program rules. The bill authorizes $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2026. It would also define key terms like grocery store, healthful food, and underserved community to set who can qualify.
Low-cost state loans for grocery stores
This bill would let states offer low‑cost loans to open or run grocery stores in underserved areas. Loans could not pay for new construction to open a store, and borrowers would need at least a 20% non‑Federal match. Stores would need to focus on healthy foods, stock produce and staples, and keep prices affordable; states would favor applicants that hire locals, teach about healthy diets, or buy from local farms. Loans could be at or below market rates, may be interest‑free, and could last up to 30 years or the project’s useful life; payments would start no later than one year after money goes out. A single loan in a year could not exceed 10% of the fund’s available money that year, and if an area later is no longer underserved, recipients there would not get new loans under this program.
Up to 4% loan fee for stores
States would be allowed to charge a one‑time administrative fee up to 4% of the loan. For example, a $100,000 loan could have a $4,000 fee. States would have to use the fees to run the revolving fund and its administration.
USDA help for store operations
If enacted, USDA would give technical help to participating stores. Help would cover food sourcing, storage, and other operations. This is support, not cash, and is meant to help keep healthy food available.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Carson
IN • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
MI • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 1/16/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 1/20/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 1/23/2025
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 1/23/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 1/31/2025
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/4/2025
Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 2/10/2025
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Connolly
VA • D
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Keating
MA • D
Sponsored 2/13/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 3/24/2025
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 4/21/2025
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 4/21/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 4/21/2025
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/19/2025
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Escobar
TX • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 9/18/2025
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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