SenateS. 4842119th Congress
American Food Supply Chain Resiliency Act
Full Text
Official text as published. Use Ctrl+F / Cmd+F to search within the document.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4842 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4842
To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to permanently
authorize the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, to
establish regional food systems hubs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 18, 2026
Mr. Schiff (for himself, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr.
Justice) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to permanently
authorize the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, to
establish regional food systems hubs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American Food Supply Chain
Resiliency Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) a secure domestic food supply is a national security
imperative for the United States;
(2) a resilient food supply chain in the United States is
necessary for the production of an abundant, affordable supply
of highly nutritious specialty crops, dairy, grains for human
consumption, meat and poultry, aquaculture, and other food
products, which are vital to the health and well-being of all
people in the United States; and
(3) expanded capacity for the aggregation, processing,
manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and
distribution of locally and regionally produced food products,
including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption,
meat and poultry, aquaculture, and other food products, is
needed to increase domestic supply chain resiliency and expand
local, regional, and national market opportunities for
producers.
SEC. 3. RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.
Subtitle A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 210B. RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a local government entity that carries out
middle-of-the-supply-chain activities;
``(B) a Tribal government that carries out middle-
of-the-supply-chain activities;
``(C) an agricultural producer or processor, or
group of agricultural producers or processors;
``(D) a nonprofit organization that carries out
middle-of-the-supply-chain activities;
``(E) a for-profit entity--
``(i) that carries out middle-of-the-
supply-chain activities;
``(ii) that is a small business concern (as
defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 632)); and
``(iii) the activities of which primarily
benefit local and regional producers; and
``(F) an institution, such as an institution of
higher education or hospital, in a partnership with
agricultural producers to establish cooperative or
shared infrastructure, or to invest in equipment, that
will benefit middle-of-the-supply-chain activities of
multiple producers.
``(2) Infrastructure grant.--The term `infrastructure
grant' means a grant made by a State under subsection (e).
``(3) Middle-of-the-supply-chain activity.--The term
`middle-of-the-supply-chain activity' means aggregation,
processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling,
or distribution of a targeted agricultural product.
``(4) Program.--The term `program' means the resilient food
systems infrastructure program established under subsection
(b).
``(5) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the
Agricultural Marketing Service.
``(6) Specialty crop.--The term `specialty crop' has the
meaning given the term in section 3 of the Specialty Crops
Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note; Public Law
108-465).
``(7) State.--The term `State' includes--
``(A) American Samoa;
``(B) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands; and
``(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
``(8) Targeted agricultural product.--
``(A) In general.--The term `targeted agricultural
product' means--
``(i) a specialty crop;
``(ii) dairy;
``(iii) grain;
``(iv) meat;
``(v) poultry; and
``(vi) an aquacultural product.
``(B) Exclusions.--The term `targeted agricultural
product' does not include--
``(i) animal feed;
``(ii) fuel;
``(iii) cotton;
``(iv) fiber; or
``(v) any other product not intended for
human consumption.
``(9) Underserved producer.--The term `underserved
producer' means--
``(A) a beginning farmer or rancher (as defined in
section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)));
``(B) a veteran farmer or rancher (as defined in
that section); and
``(C) a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher
(as defined in that section).
``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program, to
be known as the `resilient food systems infrastructure program', under
which the Secretary shall seek to enter into cooperative agreements
with States--
``(1) to build resilience in the middle of the supply
chain; and
``(2) to strengthen local and regional food systems by
creating new revenue streams for producers in those States.
``(c) Application.--
``(1) In general.--A State seeking to enter into a
cooperative agreement under the program shall submit an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, including a State
plan described in paragraph (2).
``(2) State plan.--A State plan submitted as part of an
application under paragraph (1) shall include--
``(A) the anticipated priorities and needs of the
State in carrying out the cooperative agreement;
``(B) a plan for awarding infrastructure grants,
including--
``(i) how the State will ensure that the
purpose and priorities of the program are
fulfilled; and
``(ii) how the State will ensure the
prioritization described in subsection (e)(2);
``(C) whether and in what manner the State will use
funds for supply chain coordination under subsection
(f)(1);
``(D) a plan for conducting outreach required under
subsection (g); and
``(E) metrics that will be tracked by the State in
carrying out the cooperative agreement.
``(d) Cooperative Agreement Amounts.--
``(1) Value basis.--Subject to paragraph (2), the amount
that a State shall receive under a cooperative agreement under
the program for a fiscal year shall bear the same ratio to the
total amount made available under subsection (j)(1) for that
fiscal year as the ratio that the average of the most recent
available value of the combined targeted agricultural product
production in the State bears to the average of the most recent
available value of the combined targeted agricultural product
production in all States.
``(2) Minimum amount.--A cooperative agreement under the
program shall provide not less than $1,000,000 to a State in a
fiscal year.
``(e) Infrastructure Grants.--
``(1) In general.--A State entering into a cooperative
agreement under the program shall award, on a competitive
basis, grants to eligible entities for the purposes of--
``(A) expanding middle-of-the-supply-chain capacity
for locally or regionally produced targeted
agricultural products;
``(B) offering more and better market opportunities
and new streams of revenue to small and mid-sized
producers of locally or regionally produced targeted
agricultural products; and
``(C) expanding capacity and infrastructure for
middle-of-the-supply-chain activities.
``(2) Priority.--In awarding infrastructure grants under
the program, a State shall give priority to projects that will
benefit--
``(A) underserved producers;
``(B) processors and other middle-of-the-supply-
chain businesses owned by socially disadvantaged
individuals (as defined in section 8 of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637)); and
``(C) institutions described in subsection
(a)(1)(F);
``(D) retail markets; and
``(E) intermediaries in the food supply chain, such
as food hubs, aggregators, wholesalers, and
distributors.
``(3) Grant amount.--The amount of an infrastructure grant
shall be not less than $100,000 and not more than $3,000,000.
``(4) Eligible uses.--An eligible entity may use an
infrastructure grant--
``(A) to expand capacity for processing,
aggregation, and distribution of targeted agricultural
products to create improved local and regional markets
for targeted agricultural products;
``(B) to modernize manufacturing, tracking,
storage, and information technology systems;
``(C) to enhance worker safety through adoption of
new technologies or investment in equipment or facility
improvements;
``(D) to improve the capacity of the eligible
entity to comply with Federal, State, and local food
safety requirements;
``(E) to improve operations through training
opportunities;
``(F) to support construction of a new facility;
``(G) to modernize or expand an existing facility,
including expansion and modifications to existing
buildings and construction of new buildings at existing
facilities;
``(H) to construct wastewater management
structures;
``(I) to modernize processing and manufacturing
equipment;
``(J) to develop, customize, or install equipment
that improves energy efficiency, increases efficiency
in water use, and improves air or water quality; and
``(K) for such other purposes as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
``(5) Simplified equipment-only projects.--
``(A) In general.--A State may award small
infrastructure grants--
``(i) in an amount that is not less than
$10,000 and not more than $100,000; and
``(ii) that are to be used solely for
purchasing equipment.
``(B) Simplified application.--The Secretary shall
establish a simplified application for small
infrastructure grants awarded under subparagraph (A).
``(6) Domestic requirement.--An eligible entity shall not
use an infrastructure grant for any facility or equipment that
is not located in or will not be used in any State.
``(f) Other Uses of Cooperative Agreement Funds.--
``(1) Supply chain coordination.--Of the amount that a
State receives under a cooperative agreement under the program
for a fiscal year, the State may use not more than the lesser
of 20 percent and $1,000,000 for activities to develop or
enhance supply chain coordination in a manner that focuses on
business support and market development to benefit local and
regional food systems and contributes to the success and impact
of the infrastructure grants awarded by the State.
``(2) Coordination and technical assistance.--A State may
coordinate with a regional food systems hub established under
section 210C(b) to complement any technical assistance.
``(3) Administrative costs.--Of the amount that a State
receives under a cooperative agreement under the program for a
fiscal year, not more than 8 percent may be used for
administrative costs.
``(g) Outreach.--A State that enters into a cooperative agreement
under the program shall conduct outreach to interested parties,
including underserved producers, farm and food businesses in supply
chains for locally and regionally produced targeted agricultural
products, and regional communities--
``(1) prior to opening submission for applications for
infrastructure grants; and
``(2) through a transparent process of receiving and
considering public comment to identify State funding
priorities.
``(h) Audit.--Each State that enters into a cooperative agreement
under the program shall--
``(1) conduct an audit of the expenditures under that
cooperative agreement for each fiscal year; and
``(2) submit the audit to the Secretary not later than 30
days after the completion of the audit.
``(i) Performance Measures and Evaluation.--
``(1) Development.--The Secretary, in consultation with
State departments of agriculture and stakeholders, shall
develop performance measures to be used as the sole measures
for evaluating the program.
``(2) Evaluation.--The Secretary, in consultation with
State departments of agriculture, shall periodically evaluate
the performance of the program.
``(3) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary may enter into
cooperative agreements--
``(A) to develop the performance measures under
paragraph (1); or
``(B) to conduct the evaluation under paragraph
(2).
``(j) Funding.--
``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to any
other funds made available to carry out this section, there is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out
this section $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through
2031, to remain available until expended.
``(2) Administrative costs.--Of the funds made available to
carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall
use not more than 3 percent for administrative expenses.''.
SEC. 4. REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS HUBS.
Subtitle A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621
et seq.) (as amended by section 3) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 210C. REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS HUBS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Beneficiary.--The term `beneficiary' means--
``(A) a farm, including a small and medium-sized
farm;
``(B) an agribusiness; and
``(C) a food business.
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a nonprofit organization;
``(B) an institution of higher education; and
``(C) a Tribal organization.
``(3) Hub.--The term `Hub' means a food systems hub
established under subsection (b).
``(4) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the
Agricultural Marketing Service.
``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall enter into cooperative
agreements with eligible entities, on a competitive basis, to
establish--
``(1) not fewer than 10 regional food systems hubs, which
shall collectively geographically cover all States,
territories, and possessions of the United States; and
``(2) 1 intertribal food systems hub to provide assistance
exclusively to Tribal producers and businesses nationally.
``(c) Purpose.--The purpose of a Hub is to provide localized
assistance and market creation to beneficiaries to improve--
``(1) local and regional food supply chains and markets,
including aggregation, distribution, and processing needs; and
``(2) local and regional food system economic development.
``(d) Activities.--
``(1) In general.--A Hub shall--
``(A) integrate the assistance and resources of the
Department of Agriculture and other Federal agencies
available to support beneficiaries;
``(B) provide direct business technical assistance
to beneficiaries, including financial coaching,
business planning, market development, succession
planning, and accessing land and capital;
``(C) provide financial assistance to
beneficiaries;
``(D) provide technical assistance to beneficiaries
to create new, and expand or support existing,
procurement opportunities from--
``(i) public agencies, including schools,
child and senior centers, emergency food
agencies participating in Department of
Agriculture food programs, hospitals,
correctional facilities, Department of Veterans
Affairs hospitals, United States Armed Forces
bases, food is medicine programs, and rural
healthcare initiatives; and
``(ii) grocery retailers, aggregators,
distributors, and other private institutions,
such as institutions of higher education,
prisons, and hospitals; and
``(E) carry out any other activities that
facilitate the development of a resilient domestic food
system, as determined by the Secretary.
``(2) Priorities.--A Hub shall prioritize providing
services to--
``(A) beneficiaries that are owned or operated by,
or partner with, underserved producers (as defined in
section 210B(a)); and
``(B) recipients of assistance under other
Department of Agriculture programs, including--
``(i) infrastructure grants (as defined in
section 210B(a)) under the resilient food
systems infrastructure program established
under section 210B; and
``(ii) grants awarded directly to producers
for the purpose of expanding markets.
``(3) Subawards.--
``(A) In general.--An eligible entity entering into
a cooperative agreement under subsection (b) may
provide subawards, including to contractors, to carry
out the activities of the Hub established pursuant to
the cooperative agreement.
``(B) Administrative costs.--An entity receiving a
subaward under subparagraph (A) may use not more than
20 percent for administrative costs.
``(e) Limitation on Administrative Costs.--Of the amount that an
eligible entity receives under a cooperative agreement under subsection
(b) for a fiscal year, not more than 20 percent may be used for
administrative costs.
``(f) Consultation.--In providing assistance, a Hub shall consult
with--
``(1) the Small Business Administration;
``(2) the Department of Commerce;
``(3) the Economic Development Administration;
``(4) the Farm Credit Administration; and
``(5) relevant stakeholders in each State, territory, or
other area in which the Hub provides assistance, including--
``(A) State departments of agriculture;
``(B) economic development commissions;
``(C) small business development centers;
``(D) private investment entities;
``(E) philanthropic entities; and
``(F) other relevant financial entities, such as
independent bankers and community development financial
institutions.
``(g) Reports.--Each Hub shall submit to the Secretary an annual
report describing the activities of the Hub, including--
``(1) as a direct result of the activities of the Hub--
``(A) the amount of increased sales by
beneficiaries;
``(B) the number of new markets accessed, including
the number of new purchasing agreements with schools,
food service companies, independent grocery
wholesalers, hospital systems, and other entities;
``(C) the number of new on-farm activities
initiated, such as value-added production, agritourism,
new crops, or new practices of beneficiaries, as
applicable;
``(D) the number of new customers of beneficiaries;
and
``(E) the number of new jobs offered by
beneficiaries;
``(2) the barriers to market participation faced by
beneficiaries and potential remedies; and
``(3) such other matters as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to any other
funds made available to carry out this section, there is authorized to
be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $75,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, to remain available until
expended.''.
<all>