Farmers Feeding America Act of 2023

To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to make commodities available for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Farmers Feeding America Act of 2023 2. Availability of commodities for the Emergency Food Assistance Program Section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2036(a) (1) by striking 2023 2028 (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in subparagraph (D)— (i) in clause (viii), by striking and (ii) by adding at the end the following: (x) for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028, $500,000,000; and ; and (B) in subparagraph (E)— (i) by striking 2024 2029 (ii) by striking specified in subparagraph (D)(ix) described in subparagraph (D)(x) 3. Emergency food program storage and distribution Section 204(a)(1) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 ( 7 U.S.C. 7508(a)(1) $100,000,000 $200,000,000 4. Emergency food program infrastructure grants Section 209(d) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 ( 7 U.S.C. 7511a(d) 2023 2028 5. Geographically isolated States Section 214 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 ( 7 U.S.C. 7515 (1) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following: (3) Alternative delivery options for geographically isolated States (A) Definition of geographically isolated State In this paragraph, the term geographically isolated State (i) the State of Hawaii; (ii) the State of Alaska; (iii) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; (iv) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; (v) the Virgin Islands of the United States; and (vi) Guam. (B) Alternative delivery options At the request of a geographically isolated State, the Secretary shall coordinate with the geographically isolated State— (i) to establish alternative delivery options for commodities allocated to that geographically isolated State under this section to ensure that the geographically isolated State is able to receive those commodities; and (ii) to allow for the geographically isolated State to order commodities through the Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. (C) Direct purchase option The Secretary may transfer to a geographically isolated State the cash value of not more than 20 percent of the commodities allocated to that geographically isolated State under this section to be used by the geographically isolated State to procure domestically grown food in lieu of receipt of those commodities. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (e) Fresh produce packages (1) In general In purchasing fresh produce packages to provide under the program established under this Act, the Secretary may consider additional factors beyond lowest price in determining winning bids for contracts for those fresh produce packages, including product variety and transportation distance. (2) Nutrition The Secretary shall carry out paragraph (1) in a manner that maintains the goal of maximizing the amount of nutritious food available through the program described in that paragraph. .

Summary: Farmers Feeding America Act of 2023This bill reauthorizes The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), increases funding for the program, and provides additional delivery options for geographically isolated states (i.e., Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam).TEFAP is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people with low income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. Through TEFAP, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases a variety of commodities and makes those food products (e.g., canned, frozen, dried, and fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy, and whole-grain and enriched grain products) available to state distributing agencies.The bill increases funding for purchasing commodities under the program.Further, the bill directs USDA to coordinate with geographically isolated states to (1) establish alternative delivery options for allocated commodities, and (2) allow for the states to order commodities through the USDA Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. USDA may also provide geographically isolated states the ability to directly purchase domestically grown food in lieu of receiving a portion of the commodities. Under this option, USDA may distribute as cash to the state up to 20% of the cash value of the commodities that are allocated to the state under TEFAP. Further, USDA may consider additional factors beyond lowest price in determining winning bids for contracts for fresh produce packages (including product variety and transportation distance).