H.R. 6776

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6776 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6776

To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 with respect to the use of 
cash-value benefits and coupons for purchases of fresh, nutritious, 
unprepared foods from community supported agricultural entities, and 
for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 17, 2025

Ms. Underwood (for herself and Mr. Van Drew) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 
and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 with respect to the use of 
cash-value benefits and coupons for purchases of fresh, nutritious, 
unprepared foods from community supported agricultural entities, 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 ``Farmers to Families Act''.

SEC. 2. USE OF CASH-VALUE BENEFITS AND COUPONS FOR CERTAIN LOCAL FOODS.

The Child Nutrition Act of 1966 is amended by inserting after 
section 17 (42 U.S.C. 1786) the following:

``SEC. 18. USE OF CASH-VALUE BENEFITS AND COUPONS FOR CERTAIN LOCAL 
FOODS.

``(a) Purchases of Certain Local Foods.--Not later than 18 months 
after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall 
allow cash-value benefit funds and coupon funds to be used by 
participants and recipients to purchase fresh, local, nutritious, 
unprepared foods, including pre-order boxes of such foods, from a 
covered agricultural entity.
``(b) Single EBT Access Device for Cash-Value Benefits and Coupon 
Funds.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
of the enactment of this section, a State agency--
``(A) shall provide cash-value benefit funds and 
coupon funds through the electronic benefits transfer 
system of such State established pursuant to section 
17(h)(12);
``(B) shall ensure such coupon funds can be 
accessed through the electronic benefits transfer 
access device provided to participants pursuant to 
section 17(h)(12); and
``(C) may provide different payment mechanisms on 
such access device that separate the funds stored on 
such access device based on if the funds are cash-value 
benefit funds or coupon funds.
``(2) Processing of payments.--
``(A) In general.--A State agency shall require a 
community supported agricultural entity to use a 
qualified payment device from the list established 
pursuant to subparagraph (B)(i) to accept payments from 
an electronic benefits transfer access device described 
in paragraph (1)(A).
``(B) Qualified payment device.--
``(i) Rulemaking.--Not later than 18 months 
after the date of the enactment of this 
section, the Secretary shall issue regulations 
establishing a list of payment devices that the 
Secretary determines to be qualified payment 
devices for the purposes of subparagraph (A).
``(ii) Criteria.--In issuing regulations 
under clause (i), the Secretary shall ensure 
that each payment device included on the list 
established pursuant to clause (i) is a 
singular device that can accept and process, 
without requiring an additional device, 
payments from an electronic benefits transfer 
access device described in paragraph (1)(A), 
including payments from cash-value benefit 
funds and coupon funds stored on such card.
``(iii) Updates.--The Secretary shall 
review and update on a regular basis the 
regulations issued under clause (i).
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Cash-value benefit.--The term `cash-value benefit' 
has the meaning given the term `cash-value voucher' in section 
246.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
regulations).
``(2) Covered agricultural entity.--The term `covered 
agricultural entity' means--
``(A) any food hub, farmers' market, or other 
distributor that markets local food from farmers to 
consumers;
``(B) a community supported agriculture program (as 
such term is defined in section 249.2 of title 7, Code 
of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)); or
``(C) a farmer (as such term is defined in section 
249.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
successor regulations)).
``(3) Coupon.--The term `coupon' has the meaning given the 
term in section 17(m)(10).
``(4) Participant.--The term `participant' means a 
participant in the supplemental nutrition program for women, 
infants, and children under section 17.
``(5) Recipient.--The term `recipient' has the meaning 
given the term in section 17(m)(10).
``(6) State agency.--The term `State agency' means a State 
agency (as defined in subsection (b) of section 17) that 
administers a program pursuant to a grant under subsection (m) 
of such section.''.

SEC. 3. FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WIC PARTICIPANTS.

(a) Inclusion of Covered Agricultural Entities.--Section 17(m)(1) 
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(m)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``foods at farmers' markets and (at the 
option of a State) roadside stands, as defined in the State 
plans submitted under this subsection'' and inserting ``foods, 
at--''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(A) farmers' markets, as defined in the State plans 
submitted under this subsection;
``(B) roadside stands, as defined in the State plans 
submitted under this subsection; and
``(C) in accordance with section 18(a), covered 
agricultural entities (as such term is defined in section 
18(c)).''.
(b) Automatic Streamline of Benefits.--Section 17(m)(5) of the 
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(m)(5)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
``(H) That each farmer (as such term is defined in 
section 249.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations 
(or successor regulations)) is automatically authorized 
as a covered agricultural entity (as such term is 
defined in section 18(c)) for purposes of this 
subsection.''.

SEC. 4. WIC ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Agriculture shall include on a publicly available 
website of the Department of Agriculture--
(1) a single application portal for producers to be--
(A) authorized as a farmer for purposes of section 
17(m) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(m)) to sell fresh, local, nutritious, unprepared 
foods to an individual described in paragraph (5)(A) of 
such section 17(m); and
(B) in accordance with section 17(m)(5)(H) of such 
Act, authorized as a covered agricultural entity under 
section 18 of such Act, as added by this Act, to sell 
fresh, local, nutritious, unprepared foods to an 
individual described in paragraph (5)(A) of such 
section 17(m);
(2) guidance for--
(A) State WIC offices administering WIC;
(B) farmers; and
(C) farmers' markets; and
(3) best practices for State agencies and local agencies 
carrying out--
(A) a farmers' market nutrition program for WIC 
participants pursuant to a grant under section 17(m) of 
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(m)); 
and
(B) the requirements under section 18 of such Act, 
as added by this Act.

SEC. 5. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR FARMERS' MARKET OPERATORS AND 
FARMERS.

(a) Establishment.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall--
(1) establish a Technical Assistance Center for farmers' 
market operators and farmers (in this section referred to as 
the ``Center''); and
(2) to the extent practicable, consult on the design and 
scope of the Center with farmers, farmers' market managers, 
State agencies, and community organizations with experience in 
implementation of Federal nutrition benefits.
(b) Administration.--
(1) Selection process.--To carry out the activities of the 
Center under subsection (c), the Secretary shall seek to enter 
into a cooperative agreement, on a competitive basis, with an 
eligible entity.
(2) Application.--An eligible entity seeking to enter into 
a cooperative agreement shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require.
(3) Panel review.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
establish a panel--
(i) to review applications submitted to the 
Secretary under paragraph (2); and
(ii) to make recommendations to the 
Secretary with respect to selecting an eligible 
entity under paragraph (1) in accordance with 
subparagraph (C).
(B) Members.--The panel established under 
subparagraph (A) shall include at least--
(i) 1 member with experience as a farmers' 
market manager; and
(ii) 1 member with experience providing 
technical assistance to farmers regarding 
accepting Federal nutrition benefits.
(C) Selection criteria.--The panel established 
under subparagraph (A) shall only recommend eligible 
entities to the Secretary with respect to selecting an 
eligible entity under paragraph (1) that the panel has 
determined to possess expertise in providing training 
and technical assistance to farmers' markets and 
farmers regarding Federal nutrition programs.
(4) Priority.--In selecting an eligible entity under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible 
entity that--
(A) has experience engaging with Federal nutrition 
programs administered by the Department, such as FMNP, 
WIC, or other nutrition incentive programs; and
(B) has a history of effectively serving small and 
mid-sized farms, local agriculture, and underserved 
communities.
(5) Eligible entity defined.--For purposes of this 
subsection, the term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a nonprofit organization;
(B) an institution of higher education;
(C) a cooperative extension service;
(D) a regional food system network; or
(E) any other entity with demonstrated capacity to 
carry out the activities described in subsection (c), 
as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Activities.--The Center shall provide services related to the 
programs under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(m)) and section 18 of such Act, as added by this Act, including--
(1) assisting farmers and farmers' market operators with 
understanding and complying with eligibility, application, and 
authorization requirements--
(A) under the supplemental nutrition assistance 
program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
(B) under the FMNP;
(C) under the SFMNP; and
(D) for accepting cash-value benefits;
(2) providing training to farmers' market managers and 
local farm vendors on how to accept electronic benefits 
transfer payments from recipients and participants of such 
programs, including guidance on the use of qualified payment 
devices authorized by the Secretary under section 18(b)(2)(B) 
of such Act, as added by this Act;
(3) creating, maintaining, and distributing resources and 
best practices for the acceptance and administration of 
nutrition benefits in farmers' market settings;
(4) sharing implementation information with State agencies, 
local agencies, stakeholders and other technical assistance 
providers in a timely manner; and
(5) collecting and analyzing information on related program 
outcomes.
(d) Annual Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Center shall submit 
to the Secretary and relevant congressional committees a report that--
(1) summarizes the activities of the Center, including the 
information collected pursuant to subsection (c)(5); and
(2) makes recommendations on how to encourage farmers and 
farmers' markets to engage with programs under section 17(m) of 
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(m)) and section 
18 of such Act, as added by this Act.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Cash-value benefit.--The term ``cash-value benefit'' 
has the meaning given the term ``cash-value voucher'' in 
section 246.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
successor regulations).
(2) Cooperative extension service.--The term ``cooperative 
extension service'' has the meaning given such term in section 
1404 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
(3) Covered agricultural entity.--The term ``covered 
agricultural entity'' has the meaning given the term in section 
18 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as added by this Act.
(4) Farmer.--The term ``farmer'' has the meaning given the 
term in section 249.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations 
(or successor regulations).
(5) FMNP.--The term ``FMNP'' means the farmers' market 
nutrition program for WIC participants under section 17(m) of 
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(m)).
(6) Institution of higher education.--The term 
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1001).
(7) SFMNP.--The term ``SFMNP'' means the senior farmers' 
market nutrition program under section 4402 of the Farm 
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3007).
(8) WIC.--The term ``WIC'' means the special supplemental 
nutrition program for women, infants, and children under 
section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786).
(9) WIC terms.--The terms ``State agency'' and ``local 
agency'' have the meanings given the terms, respectively, in 
section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786).
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