WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 4842

American Food Supply Chain Resiliency Act

119th Congress Introduced by Cindy Hyde-Smith and 3 co-sponsors

The bill permanently expands and funds mid-supply-chain infrastructure and regional hubs to strengthen domestic, local-regional food systems and resilience.

Introduced in Senate
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4842

Purpose and overall intent

  • Title: American Food Supply Chain Resiliency Act (S. 4842, 119th Congress)
  • Primary aim: Permanently authorize and expand the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, create regional food systems hubs, and reinforce domestic food supply chain resilience.
  • Rationale (findings): A secure, resilient domestic food supply is essential for national security and public health, enabling an abundant, affordable supply of specialty crops, dairy, grains, meat, poultry, and other human-consumable products; bolster local and regional processing, storage, transportation, and distribution capacity; and expand markets for producers.

Key provisions and changes

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (new Sec. 210B)

  • Definitions and scope

    • Eligible entities: Local governments, Tribal governments, agricultural producers/processors or groups, nonprofits, small for-profit entities benefiting local/regional producers, and certain cross-sector institutions (e.g., higher ed or hospitals in partnerships).
    • Middle-of-the-supply-chain activities: Aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transport, wholesale, and distribution of targeted agricultural products.
    • Targeted agricultural products: Includes specialty crops, dairy, grain, meat, poultry, and aquaculture; excludes animal feed, fuel, cotton, fiber, and non-human-consumption products.
    • Underserved producers: Beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.

  • Program establishment and administration

    • The Secretary of Agriculture, via the AMS, establishes the program to enter cooperative agreements with States to build mid-supply-chain resilience and create new revenue streams for producers.

  • State applications and plans

    • States submit applications and a detailed plan, including priorities, grant award plans, supply chain coordination, outreach, and performance metrics.

  • Cooperative agreements and funding (subsection (d))

    • Funding formula: State funding is proportional to the State’s share of targeted product production compared with all states; minimum of $1,000,000 per State annually.
    • Infrastructure grants: Competitive grants to eligible entities to expand mid-supply-chain capacity, create new market opportunities, and build infrastructure.
    • Grant amounts: $100,000 to $3,000,000 per grant; simplified equipment-only grants for $10,000–$100,000 with a streamlined application.
    • Eligible uses: Expand processing/aggregation/distribution, modernize facilities, improve energy/water/air quality, workforce training, compliance with food safety, new facilities or expansions, wastewater management, and other Secretary-approved purposes.
    • Domestic requirement: Grants must be used within U.S. facilities and equipment (no out-of-state use).

  • Priorities and accessibility

    • Preference for underserved producers, socially disadvantaged ownership, institutions, retail markets, and intermediaries (hubs, aggregators, distributors).
    • Simple, equipment-only grants designed to lower barriers for small projects.

  • Other uses of funds

    • Supply chain coordination and technical assistance, regional hub coordination, and program administration (capped at 8% for admin costs).

  • Outreach, audits, performance, and evaluation

    • States must conduct outreach before grant cycles and throughout public input processes.
    • Annual audits of expenditures; performance measures developed and used to evaluate the program.

  • Funding and appropriations

    • Authorization of appropriations: $200,000,000 per fiscal year 2027–2031, with funds available until expended.
    • Administrative costs: No more than 3% of program funds may be used for administration.

Regional Food Systems Hubs (new Sec. 210C)

  • Establishment and scope

    • Not less than 10 regional hubs nationwide, plus one intertribal hub for Tribal producers.
    • Hubs will collectively cover all states and territories, with the intertribal hub serving national Tribal needs.

  • Purpose and activities

    • Provide localized assistance and market development to improve: (1) local/regional supply chains (aggregation, distribution, processing) and (2) regional food system economic development.

  • Hub activities

    • Integrate USDA and other federal resources; deliver business technical assistance, financial assistance, and procurement support; support workforce training; improve compliance with food safety requirements; assist in constructing, expanding, or modernizing facilities; and enhance energy/water quality and environmental performance.
    • Subawards to carry out Hub activities; up to 20% of subaward funds may be used for administrative costs.

  • Coordination and consultation

    • Hubs must consult with SBA, DOC, EDA, Farm Credit Administration, and state-level stakeholders (ag departments, economic development, small business centers, private investors, etc.).

  • Reporting

    • Annual Hub reports detailing increased sales, new markets and customers, new on-farm activities, job creation, barriers to market, and remedies.

  • Funding

    • Hubs funded under cooperative agreements with an authorized appropriation of $75,000,000 per year for 2027–2031 (available until expended).

Who would be affected

  • Producers, processors, and agribusinesses involved in mid-supply-chain activities for targeted agricultural products.
  • Underserved and socially disadvantaged producers, including beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers.
  • Tribal producers and Tribal organizations, with dedicated intertribal hub support.
  • Local and state governments, and regional economic development entities.
  • Institutions such as schools, hospitals, and government facilities that purchase and/or procure locally produced foods.
  • Regional hubs and stakeholders (SBA, DOC, EDA, Farm Credit, private investors, etc.) involved in program coordination and implementation.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Enactment path: Bill introduced in the Senate on June 18, 2026; referred to the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee.
  • Funding runway: Authorized appropriations of up to $200 million annually (2027–2031) for program operations; Hub activities funded at $75 million annually (2027–2031).
  • Implementation timeline: Requires cooperative agreements with States, competitive hub establishment, and ongoing audits and performance evaluations; annual reporting by Hubs; administrative cap at 3–8% for various costs.
  • Operational notes: Emphasizes domestic use and market development for local/regional products; prioritizes underserved communities and partners with multiple federal and non-federal entities for coordination and support.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current law (as amended by the bill) or draft a one-page briefing for policymakers.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.