H.R. 6697 — EAT Healthy Foods from Local Farmers Act

This section amends the commodity supplemental food purchase authority under the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (TEFAP)—which provides USDA commodities to states for distribution to low-income individuals and households through emergency feeding organizations—by (1) expanding eligible commodities to include those purchased by state agencies using new federal funds; (2) striking subsection (c); (3) redesignating former subsection (d) as (c) and streamlining its allocation provisions; and (4) adding a new subsection (d) that authorizes $200 million annually for FY2026 through FY2030 for state projects to purchase priority agricultural products (i.e., fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, seafood, grains, poultry, or other foods) from eligible entities (i.e., underserved small businesses such as women- or veteran-owned growers, packers, processors, distributors, food hubs, or cooperatives sourcing from beginning or family farms) for distribution to needy persons. States must submit project plans for allocation based on the existing TEFAP formula, use funds to enhance supply chain resiliency and build ties with emergency feeding organizations, issue reports on expenditures, and may enter cooperative agreements with other states; USDA must issue implementation guidance within 180 days of enactment and report to congressional agriculture committees within four years on program effectiveness. This section also makes a conforming amendment to state plan requirements under section 202A(b)(5) by striking the reference to donated commodities under former section 203D(d).

This section establishes a cross-agency working group within the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture to collaborate with relevant USDA agencies, organizations, and stakeholders in reviewing and redirecting all department procurement of priority agricultural products. The working group aims to support a wider range of agricultural producers and distributors while advancing USDA goals of nutrition security, access to culturally or religiously relevant foods, resilient local and regional food systems, rural job creation, and reduced concentration in agricultural production and distribution ownership. The working group must submit an annual report to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry describing its accomplishments, suggestions, and recommendations for administrative actions and legislation.