A bill to support nutrition, farmers, the seafood industry, agricultural research, wood energy and innovation, and indigenous self-determination, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- S. 4779
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-15: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-06T13:59:06Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to enhance nutrition access, support farmers and food processors, strengthen the seafood industry, advance agricultural research, promote forestry and wood innovation, bolster U.S. floriculture, and increase tribal self-determination in agriculture and related programs.
Key Provisions
- Title I (Improving Access to Healthy Foods): Expands the micro-grants for food security program by increasing subgrant amounts, allowing other financial assistance, and exempting certain projects from federal property disposition rules. Establishes grants and loans for food banks and pantries in frontier communities in noncontiguous states. Permits SNAP benefits for certain delivery fees in rural Alaska areas and creates a pilot for purchasing locally produced food under the Emergency Food Assistance Program.
- Title II (Improving Support for Farmers and Food Processing): Creates the Arctic Agriculture Accelerator Loan Program offering forgivable loans up to $250,000 for small commercial food processing in noncontiguous states. Increases funding for the geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers program.
- Title III (Improving Seafood Industry): Extends country-of-origin labeling to cooked crab. Allows wild-caught fish and shellfish eligibility for farm loans and farmers' market programs. Requires an action plan for domestic seafood processing infrastructure with grants for pilot projects in select coastal communities. Establishes grants for reusing and recycling marine products from seafood. Creates a "Wild USA Seafood" label and requires "Genetically Engineered" or "Cultivated" prefixes on market names for modified fish products. Prohibits certain finfish aquaculture in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.
- Title IV (Improving Agricultural Research): Authorizes funding for research in states without Agricultural Research Service facilities. Provides grants for seaweed-based methane reduction in livestock feed. Expands the urban, indoor, and emerging agricultural production initiative to include circumpolar and frontier areas. Mandates reports and regulations on coastal seaweed farming practices and impacts.
- Title V (Supporting Forestry): Expands the community wood energy and wood innovation program to include processing and distribution of woody biomass.
- Title VI (Supporting United States Floriculture): Restricts federal procurement of cut flowers and greens to those grown in U.S. states, territories, or tribal areas, with limited exceptions for gifts from foreign entities.
- Title VII (Improving Tribal Self-Determination): Authorizes USDA self-determination contracts for Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Food Safety and Inspection Service functions. Directs a study and plan for a USDA Office of Self-Governance. Modifies the Buy Indian Act to include USDA. Updates water system funding and reauthorizes certain tribal grant programs.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (e.g., SNAP online transactions, error tolerance levels, nonduplication of penalties).
- Modifies the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (e.g., new loan programs, definitions of farming to include commercial fishing).
- Updates the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (e.g., labeling rules, market names).
- Expands the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to cover USDA programs.
- Alters various research, grant, and procurement authorities across multiple statutes, with new authorizations of appropriations through 2031 or later.
Potential Impacts
- Improves food security and infrastructure in rural, frontier, and Alaska communities, potentially reducing costs for residents and emergency food providers.
- Supports small-scale processing and local markets for farmers, fishers, and processors, with emphasis on noncontiguous states.
- Enhances research on sustainable practices like seaweed farming and methane reduction, with possible environmental and economic benefits.
- Strengthens tribal authority over agricultural programs and procurement preferences.
- Affects federal agencies like USDA by expanding contracting, regulatory, and reporting duties; may influence international trade through labeling and procurement rules. No direct impacts on international relations are specified beyond domestic procurement restrictions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- USDA and affiliated agencies (e.g., Food Safety and Inspection Service, Agricultural Research Service).
- Farmers, ranchers, seafood producers, and small food processors, especially in Alaska and rural areas.
- Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Alaska Native villages.
- Rural and frontier communities, emergency food assistance organizations, and retailers using SNAP.
- Academic institutions, nonprofits, and companies involved in agricultural research or marine product reuse.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Expands tribal self-governance and self-determination authorities, aligning with existing Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act frameworks.
- Introduces new regulatory requirements for labeling, aquaculture prohibitions, and coastal farming practices, potentially raising federalism or administrative law considerations.
- Modifies procurement and grant rules with equity-focused priorities (e.g., local hire, environmental justice).
- Authorizes multi-year funding and studies without altering core constitutional powers of Congress or the Executive.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-15: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2026-06-15: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- American Grown Act — issued 2026-06-15 — PDF (62 pages)