Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4782
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-16T08:06:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to create a new program that forms cooperative agreements with State, local, or Tribal governments. The goal is to increase purchases of local foods, support local producers, improve food distribution, and strengthen regional food systems.
Key Provisions
- The Secretary must establish the program on a noncompetitive basis and provide ongoing guidance, technical assistance, and monitoring to participants.
- Eligible entities (State agencies handling agriculture, procurement, food distribution, or emergency response) use funds to:
- Buy unprocessed or minimally processed local foods (such as seafood, meat, dairy, eggs, produce, and poultry) from covered producers located within the entity's area or no more than 400 miles away.
- Ensure at least 25% of annual purchases come from small-size producers (gross income under $350,000), mid-size producers ($350,000–$999,999), beginning farmers or ranchers, or veteran farmers or ranchers.
- Offer technical assistance for food safety training and building local agricultural supply chains.
- Distribute foods through experienced nonprofits and similar organizations.
- Administrative and technical assistance costs are capped at 25% of funds received, with at least half of that amount required for technical assistance.
- Funding allocation: 10% reserved for Tribal governments via a Secretary-determined formula; 1% allocated to each State; remaining funds distributed using the formula from the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983.
- Mandatory funding of $200 million annually from the Commodity Credit Corporation beginning in fiscal year 2026, plus an authorization of $200 million per year through 2030.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill creates an entirely new program rather than amending prior statutes. It introduces mandatory funding through the Commodity Credit Corporation and specific purchase requirements tied to producer size and experience, which are not present in existing agricultural support programs.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Requires the Department of Agriculture to administer agreements and allocate funds; State and Tribal agencies gain new resources and responsibilities for local food procurement.
- Citizens: May improve access to fresh, local foods through distribution networks and support regional food security.
- International relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
- Overall, it channels federal resources toward local producers and distribution while limiting administrative spending.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Secretary of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture staff.
- State agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture or food distribution.
- Tribal governments.
- Covered producers, including farmers, ranchers, fishermen, processors, and cooperatives.
- Small-size, mid-size, beginning, and veteran farmers or ranchers.
- Nonprofit organizations involved in food distribution.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The use of mandatory funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation bypasses annual appropriations for the core program amount. The noncompetitive nature of agreements and geographic limits on producers (within entity boundaries or 400 miles) are new requirements. The bill defines key terms such as "beginning farmer or rancher" and "unprocessed or minimally processed local foods" to guide implementation. No constitutional issues are addressed in the text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]
Cosponsors (72)
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8], Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6], Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4], Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2], Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16], Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16], Rep. Gray, Adam [D-CA-13], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6] and 22 more
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-13: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- 2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-07-29: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (7 pages)