GusNIP Expansion Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 7571

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-03-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.

Last Updated

2026-07-02T08:07:24Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The GusNIP Expansion Act of 2026 aims to strengthen and sustain the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), a federal initiative that encourages low-income individuals participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, a government program providing food benefits to eligible low-income households) to buy more fruits and vegetables. It does this by improving funding mechanisms, expanding grant opportunities, and promoting long-term program scalability to address food insecurity and improve dietary health.

Key Provisions

• Short Title: The bill is titled the "GusNIP Expansion Act of 2026."
• Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive Grants:
• Limits the federal government's contribution to 50% of project costs, but allows waivers of this limit for projects in areas with long-term high poverty (defined as counties or census tracts where at least 20% of the population has lived in poverty for 30 years, based on U.S. Census data).
• Introduces cooperative agreements (formal partnerships) lasting at least 4 years between eligible organizations (like non-profits), the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service or National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and state SNAP agencies or local partners. These aim to expand existing incentive programs statewide, with requirements that 90% of funds be used for actual incentives redeemed at retailers. Priority goes to projects in diverse retail settings, such as farmers markets and independent stores, and only for entities with prior grants.
• Produce Prescription Program:
• Establishes a pilot grant program to test projects that increase fruit and vegetable consumption, reduce food insecurity, and lower healthcare costs. It also creates an expansion grant program for larger-scale clinical research integrated into healthcare practices.
• Sets criteria for grants: Pilot grants focus on new research, best practices, or building infrastructure (e.g., at community health centers or produce retailers). Expansion grants require at least 300 participants, a comparison group or scalability proof, and interventions lasting 12 months or more.
• Specifies grant amounts: $100,000–$400,000 for pilots; $1,000,000–$2,500,000 for expansions.
• Requires a review panel to evaluate grant applications within 1 year of enactment.
• Mandates a study (due within 3 years, in consultation with health agencies like HHS and CMS) on transitioning produce prescriptions to coverage under health insurance programs within 10 years.
• Funding Authorization:
• Extends overall program funding through fiscal year 2031, with increased annual amounts: $57.5 million for 2027–2031 and $56 million starting in 2032.
• Allocates produce prescription funds equally (50/50) between pilots and expansions.
• Dedicates up to $12 million annually (2027–2031) for administrative costs and 80% of remaining funds to cooperative agreements.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Section 4405 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 7517) by extending funding beyond 2023 to 2031 and beyond, increasing annual appropriations, and introducing new matching requirements with poverty waivers.
• Adds cooperative agreements for scaling programs, which were not previously specified, and detailed criteria for produce prescription grants, including size limits and research standards.
• Shifts funding allocations to prioritize expansions and infrastructure, and introduces a structured path for integrating produce prescriptions into health insurance, including a required federal study and review panel—features absent from prior law.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will face increased administrative responsibilities, such as managing new cooperative agreements, grant reviews, and a multi-agency study, potentially requiring more staff and coordination with health entities like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This could enhance inter-agency collaboration on public health.
• Citizens: Low-income and food-insecure individuals may gain better access to affordable fruits and vegetables through expanded incentives and prescriptions, potentially improving nutrition, reducing diet-related health issues, and lowering personal healthcare costs over time.
• International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic nutrition and agriculture programs.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• USDA Agencies: Food and Nutrition Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture, responsible for grant administration and partnerships.
• State and Local Entities: SNAP agencies, non-profits, local governments, community health centers, and retailers (e.g., farmers markets, independent stores) that partner on projects.
• Eligible Participants: Low-income SNAP recipients, particularly in high-poverty areas, who benefit from incentives and prescriptions.
• Healthcare Providers: Clinics and researchers involved in produce prescription pilots, with potential future ties to insurance coverage.
• Farmers and Retailers: Producers and small retailers who supply fruits and vegetables, gaining from increased demand via incentives.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The bill reinforces existing USDA authority under the 2008 Act without creating new regulatory burdens, but introduces enforceable criteria (e.g., 90% fund usage for redemptions) that could lead to audits or disputes over grant compliance. The poverty waivers use standard Census data, ensuring objective eligibility without legal challenges to fairness.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I to promote general welfare through nutrition programs; no apparent First Amendment, due process, or federalism issues, as it involves voluntary grants and state partnerships.
• Political: Supports bipartisan goals of reducing food insecurity and healthcare costs, potentially appealing across rural-urban divides by prioritizing diverse retailers. The 10-year transition study could influence future health policy debates on integrating social services like nutrition into insurance, but it avoids mandating changes to private or state health systems.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]

Recent Actions

• 2026-03-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
• 2026-02-13: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2026-02-13: Introduced in House
• 2026-02-13: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• GusNIP Expansion Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-13 — PDF (9 pages)