I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2723 
To modify market development programs under the Department of 
Agriculture, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 19, 2023 
Ms. PINGREE (for herself, Mr. NEWHOUSE, Ms. TOKUDA, and Ms. CARAVEO) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ag-
riculture 
A BILL 
To modify market development programs under the 
Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Local Farms and Food 
Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. LOCAL AGRICULTURE MARKET PROGRAM REFORM. 
Section 210A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:04 Apr 22, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2723.IH
H2723
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(5) 
through (13) as paragraphs (6) through (14), 
respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
following: 
‘‘(5) FOOD HUB.—The term ‘food hub’ means 
a business or organization that actively manages the 
aggregation, distribution, and marketing of source- 
identified food products to multiple buyers from 
multiple producers, who are primarily local and re-
gional producers, to strengthen the ability of those 
producers to satisfy local and regional wholesale, re-
tail, and institutional demands.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(4), by inserting ‘‘, regional 
food chain coordination,’’ after ‘‘collaboration’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)(4), by striking ‘‘stake-
holders.’’ and inserting ‘‘stakeholders, including eli-
gible entities described in subsection (d)(6)(B) that 
receive a grant by submitting an application under 
subsection (d)(6)(D) through a competitive coopera-
tive agreement with a nongovernmental organization, 
before and after providing grants under the Pro-
gram.’’; 
(4) in subsection (d)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:04 Apr 22, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2723.IH
H2723
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—An eligible 
entity described in subparagraph (B) 
that has an adjusted gross income of 
not more than $250,000 averaged 
over the previous 3 years shall con-
tribute an amount of non-Federal 
funds in the form of cash or an in- 
kind contribution that is equal to 25 
percent of the amount of Federal 
funds received. 
‘‘(II) LIMITATION.—The amount 
of Federal funds received under a 
grant by an eligible entity that pro-
vides a reduced non-Federal contribu-
tion in accordance with subclause (I) 
may not exceed $200,000. 
‘‘(III) REQUIRED
DOCUMENTA-
TION.—The Secretary shall consider a 
letter from an accountant stating that 
the adjusted gross income of an eligi-
ble entity described in subparagraph 
(B) is not more than $250,000 aver-
aged over the previous 3 years, based 
on the line on Internal Revenue Serv-
ice form 1040 that describes adjusted 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:04 Apr 22, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2723.IH
H2723
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
gross income, sufficient to dem-
onstrate eligibility for a reduced non- 
Federal contribution under subclause 
(I).’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (6)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by redesignating clauses (vii) 
and (viii) as clauses (viii) and (ix), re-
spectively; and 
(II) by inserting after clause (vi) 
the following: 
‘‘(vii) a food hub;’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C)— 
(I) in the matter preceding clause 
(i), by inserting ‘‘, outreach, and tech-
nical assistance’’ after ‘‘applications’’; 
(II) in clause (i)— 
(aa) by inserting ‘‘would’’ 
before ‘‘benefit’’; and 
(bb) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end; 
(III) by redesignating clause (ii) 
as clause (iii); 
(IV) by inserting after clause (i) 
the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:04 Apr 22, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2723.IH
H2723
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(ii) would provide greater geographic 
balance relative to the benefits of the Pro-
gram; or’’; and 
(V) in clause (iii) (as so redesig-
nated), by striking ‘‘are used’’ and in-
serting ‘‘would be used’’; 
(iii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(D) and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and 
(F), respectively; 
(iv) by inserting after subparagraph 
(C) the following: 
‘‘(D) SIMPLIFIED APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary 
shall establish a simplified ‘turnkey’ appli-
cation form for eligible entities described in 
subparagraph (B) that— 
‘‘(I) request less than $100,000; 
and 
‘‘(II) chose from the project cat-
egories described in clause (ii), which 
shall include a specific, limited set of 
key activities with predefined require-
ments established by the Secretary. 
‘‘(ii) PROJECT CATEGORIES.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:04 Apr 22, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2723.IH
H2723
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(I) 
DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER 
PROJECTS.—In the case of a direct-to- 
consumer project, an application form 
described in clause (i) shall be avail-
able for the following categories of 
projects: 
‘‘(aa) An outreach and pro-
motion project. 
‘‘(bb) A project to provide 
funding for farmers market man-
ager staff time. 
‘‘(cc) A project to provide 
vendor training. 
‘‘(dd) A planning and design 
project. 
‘‘(ee) A data collection and 
evaluation project. 
‘‘(II) 
LOCAL
AND
REGIONAL 
FOOD
MARKETS
AND
ENTERPRISE 
PROJECTS.—In the case of a local and 
regional food market and enterprise 
project, an application form described 
in clause (i) shall be available for the 
following categories of projects: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:04 Apr 22, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2723.IH
H2723
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(aa) A food hub feasibility 
study project. 
‘‘(bb) A project to provide 
funding for regional food chain 
coordination staff time. 
‘‘(cc) A project to provide 
technical assistance. 
‘‘(dd) A data collection and 
evaluation project. 
‘‘(ee) A project to purchase 
general purpose equipment. 
‘‘(iii) GENERAL PURPOSE EQUIPMENT 
GRANTS.—In the case of a project de-
scribed in clause (ii)(II)(ee), the Secretary, 
acting through the Administrator of the 
Agricultural Marketing Service, in coordi-
nation with the Administrator of the Rural 
Business-Cooperative Service, shall fulfill 
the applicable documentation and moni-
toring 
requirements 
under 
sections 
200.313 and 200.439 of title 2, Code of 
Federal Regulations (as in effect on the 
date of enactment of this clause).’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:04 Apr 22, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2723.IH
H2723
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(v) in subparagraph (E) (as so redes-
ignated), by striking clause (ii) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION.—An eligible entity 
described in subparagraph (B) may use— 
‘‘(I) not more than $100,000 of 
the amount of a grant for an eligible 
activity described in subparagraph (J) 
or (K) of paragraph (2)— 
‘‘(aa) to purchase or up-
grade equipment to improve food 
safety; or 
‘‘(bb) to purchase general 
purpose equipment; and 
‘‘(II) any amount of a grant to 
purchase general purpose equipment 
in 
accordance 
with 
subparagraph 
(D)(ii)(II)(ee).’’; 
(5) in subsection (e)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘2019’’ 
and all that follows through the period at the end 
and inserting the following: ‘‘2024 through 2028 to 
support partnerships— 
‘‘(i) to plan a local or regional food 
system; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:04 Apr 22, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2723.IH
H2723
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(ii) to implement a local or regional 
food system plan; 
‘‘(iii) to develop and implement a re-
gional food chain coordination project; and 
‘‘(iv) to develop and implement a re-
gional outreach, technical assistance, and 
evaluation project.’’; 
(6) in subsection (f)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (d); or’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection 
(d)(5);’’ 
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
subparagraph (C); and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
the following: 
‘‘(B) are eligible to submit an application 
in accordance with subsection (d)(6)(D); or’’; 
and 
(7) in subsection (i)— 
(A) 
in 
paragraph 
(1), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2019’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘$75,000,000 for fiscal year 2024’’; 
(B) 
in 
paragraph 
(2), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2019’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘$30,000,000 for fiscal year 2024’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:04 Apr 22, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2723.IH
H2723
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(C) in paragraph (3)(B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Of the funds’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Of the funds’’; 
and 
(ii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(ii) SIMPLIFIED APPLICATIONS.—Of 
the funds made available for grants under 
subsection (d)(6) for a fiscal year, not less 
than 25 percent, and not more than 50 
percent, shall be used to provide grants to 
eligible entities that submit an application 
in accordance with subsection (d)(6)(D).’’. 
SEC. 3. FUNDING FOR THE SENIORS FARMERS’ MARKET 
NUTRITION PROGRAM. 
Section 4402(a) of the Farm Security and Rural In-
vestment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3007(a)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘Of the funds’’ and all that follows through the 
period at the end and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) MANDATORY FUNDING.—Of the funds of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall use to carry out and expand the 
seniors 
farmers’ 
market 
nutrition 
program 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:04 Apr 22, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2723.IH
H2723
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
$20,600,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
2028. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2024 through 2028.’’. 
SEC. 4. FEDERAL SHARE FOR ACTIVITIES UNDER GUS 
SCHUMACHER NUTRITION INCENTIVE PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 4405(b)(1)(C) of the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 7517(b)(1)(C)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘50’’ and inserting ‘‘75’’. 
SEC. 5. PANEL TO REVIEW PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION PRO-
GRAM APPLICATIONS. 
Section 4405(c)(3) of the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 7517(c)(3)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) PANEL TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary 
shall establish a panel— 
‘‘(I) to review applications sub-
mitted to the Secretary pursuant to 
this paragraph; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:04 Apr 22, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2723.IH
H2723
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘(II) to make recommendations 
to the Secretary with respect to those 
applications. 
‘‘(ii) MEMBERS.—The panel required 
under clause (i) shall include— 
‘‘(I) at least 1 member with expe-
rience as a healthcare provider; and 
‘‘(II) at least 1 member with ex-
perience administering health plans.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:04 Apr 22, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2723.IH
H2723
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS