Bill > S2338

This bill establishes the Strengthening Local Food Security Program within the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, which aims to support local food systems and improve food security across the United States. The program will provide noncompetitive funding to eligible government units, including state agencies, tribal governments, and territories, to purchase food from local producers and distribute it within their communities. Specifically, the bill focuses on supporting small, beginning, veteran, and underserved farmers, fishers, and ranchers by requiring that at least 51% of purchased food come from these "covered producers." The program prioritizes distributing food to underserved communities with limited access to affordable, healthy foods and high rates of hunger or poverty. Funding will be allocated through a specific formula, with 10% reserved for tribal governments and 1% for each state, and the remaining funds distributed based on existing agricultural funding mechanisms. Eligible units of government must submit applications detailing their plans to grow local food systems, promote food security, and increase nutritious food in schools. The program provides advance funding, requires food to be purchased from producers within 400 miles of the delivery destination, and supports food safety training for producers. The bill authorizes $200 million in mandatory funding for fiscal year 2025 and subsequent years, with an additional $200 million authorized to be appropriated annually through 2029.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2338/all-info