Bill > HR6706

This bill, titled the EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act, aims to improve how the Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases food by prioritizing values-aligned criteria. It mandates that the USDA make available and purchase a wider variety of foods that support equity and inclusion, resilient food systems, worker well-being, and climate change mitigation. This includes foods from "covered producers" (defined as beginning, veteran, socially disadvantaged, or small/medium-sized farmers, fishermen, or ranchers) and "covered entities" (non-profit or for-profit organizations like processors or food hubs that source at least 51% of their value from covered producers). The bill also requires the USDA to purchase foods from vendors with collective bargaining agreements or worker justice certifications, and foods produced using climate-friendly agricultural practices or sourced from suppliers with policies to limit deforestation. To ensure transparency and progress, the USDA must submit baseline and annual reports detailing spending in these categories, estimating greenhouse gas emissions from food purchases, and setting targets for increasing spending on these prioritized foods and reducing emissions by 2032. Additionally, the bill establishes a pilot program for "best value" procurement, prioritizing bids that offer the most overall benefit, not just the lowest price, and includes provisions for technical assistance and grants to help covered producers and entities participate in USDA procurement programs.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6706/all-info