Wenatchee Times

WASHINGTON, DC – On June 15, 2023, U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) introduced The Expanding Access to (EAT) Healthy Foods from Local Farmers Act.This legislation aims to improve access to nutrition for American families by providing cost-free, healthy food from local farmers.  

Congresswoman Schrier’s bill alters The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which is a federal program that provides low-income Americans with nutrition assistance in emergency situations. Through TEFAP, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases food and makes that food available to local agencies like food banks, soup kitchens, and more. Unfortunately, TEFAP is currently centered on long-lasting, processed products rather than fresh and local food. These restrictions make access to more nutritious produce out of reach for countless American families in need.  

The EAT Act will improve TEFAP by providing emergency feeding organizations with better access to healthy, local food. Specifically, the bill will: 

• Add a new project type under TEFAP’s Farm to Food Bank Project Grants to provide federal funding to states for the purchase of locally grown food from small/beginning/underserved agricultural producers or entities to be distributed to emergency feeding organizations. 
• Create a USDA working group to review and reconsider how all USDA procurement can be directed to support a wider range of farmers, ranchers, and food distributors.

“As a physician, I understand the role that good nutrition plays in health and, conversely, the relationship between poor nutrition and so many of the preventable diseases that plague us today. This bill makes a commonsense update to TEFAP that will provide vulnerable American families with healthy, fresh produce grown by local farmers. All Americans, regardless of their income, should have access to a nutritious diet,” said Rep. Schrier. “And, as we see the consolidation of farms and the loss of small family farms, this bill is a way to specifically direct funding to small and medium-sized family farms here in Washington and across the country.”   

“When food banks can purchase from farmers, more families will have access to nutritious local foods and more small and medium-size farms will benefit,” said Rep. Bonamici. “NW Oregon is home to many farmers who grow delicious, high-quality fruits, vegetables, and more. I will continue to address food insecurity by increasing access and bolstering programs like The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The Expanding Access to (EAT) Healthy Foods from Local Farmers Act will do just that because it will help more people reap health benefits while enjoying the full bounty of Oregon agricultural products.” 

“The EAT Healthy Foods from Local Farmers Act will bring some long-needed improvements to TEFAP so that we can better meet the nutritional needs of struggling families and our struggling family farms. States will have flexibility to buy food directly from smaller and historically marginalized farms and businesses, which will strengthen local food economies and be a sustainable source of food for food banks that will be safe from national food supply chain disruptions. As Washington’s statewide food justice organization that builds collective action to end hunger, we thank Rep. Schrier for introducing this bill that was designed in partnership with food banks and small farms and food hubs to respond to modernize this hunger relief program and increase its ability to respond to community-identified needs,” said Christina Wong, NW Harvest, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy. 

“Feeding America supports the EAT Healthy Foods from Local Farmers Act, and applauds Rep. Schrier for her leadership in working with food banks and farmers locally and nationally to draft the legislation. This legislation provides additional funding and flexibility for the TEFAP Farm to Food Bank program, giving states and food banks the resources and ability to purchase local food through TEFAP. We look forward to working with the Congresswoman and others in Congress to build support for this legislation,” said Vince Hall, Feeding America, Chief Government Relations Officer. 

The Expanding Access to (EAT) Healthy Foods from Local Farmers Act is endorsed byFeeding America, Northwest Harvest, Food Lifeline, Cascadia Produce, Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank, Harvest Against Hunger, Washington Food Coalition, Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, California Association of Food Banks, Oregon Food Bank, Food Bank of Alaska, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Farm Action, Partners for a Hungry Free Oregon, Hopelink, Ballard Food Bank, University District Food Bank, FamilyWorks, and Making A Difference Foundation (Pierce County). 

The following members have signed on as original cosponsors:Rep. Sean Casten (IL-06), Suzan DelBene(WA-01), and Adam Smith(WA-09). 

Original source can be found here.