,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cjgb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #i1 #bjac ,mr4 ,kildee introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,ways and ,means1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the establishment of the ,local ,food for ,healthy ,families ,program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,local ,food for ,healthy ,families ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,local ,food for ,healthy ,families ,program 7a7 ,establishment of program ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture 7hereinafter in this ,act referred to as the ,secretary unless the context specifies otherwise7 shall establish the ,local ,food for ,healthy ,families ,program for the purpose of making grants to certain entities to carry out projects to provide incentives to low-income families receiving supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to purchase fruits and vegetables4 7b7 ,administrative costs ,not more than #aj percent of the funds made available to carry out this ,act for a fiscal year may be used by the ,secretary to administer1 evaluate1 and monitor this ,act for such fiscal year4 7c7 ,advisory committee ,the ,secretary shall convene an advisory committee composed of representatives of organizations that have prior experience implementing local fruit and vegetable incentive programs to advise him on the design of the ,local ,food for ,healthy ,families ,program4 #c4 ,eligible entities 7a7 ,applications ,subject to subsection 7b71 to be eligible to receive a grant to carry out a project under this ,act1 the following entities may submit to the ,secretary an application that contains such information and assurances1 at such time and in such form1 as the ,secretary may require by rule3 7#a7 ,private nonprofit entities4 7#b7 ,agricultural cooperatives4 7#c7 ,producer networks or associations4 7#d7 ,community health organizations4 7#e7 ,public benefit corporations4 7#f7 ,economic development cooperatives4 7#g7 ,farmers' markets4 7#h7 ,community supported agriculture programs4 7#i7 ,buying clubs4 7#aj7 ,retail food stores that participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program4 7#aa7 ,state1 local1 or tribal agencies4 7b7 ,required assurance ,an application submitted under subsection 7a7 shall include an assurance that the applicant will impose on recipients of incentives under this ,act the same terms and conditions that apply to purchases made by individuals using supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits4 #d4 ,priority ,in making grants under section #b1 the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that-- 7#a7 are located in underserved communities1 7#b7 provide locally produced fruits and vegetables1 7#c7 maximize the share of funds used for direct incentives to participants1 7#d7 use direct-to-consumer sales marketing1 7#e7 demonstrate a track record of designing and implementing successful nutrition incentive programs that connect low-income consumers and agricultural producers1 7#f7 develop innovative linkages between for-profit and nonprofit organizations1 and 7#g7 address other criteria as established by the ,secretary4 #e4 ,matching funds requirement 7a7 ,federal share of costs ,not more than #ej percent of the cost of any project for which a grant is made under section #b may be paid with ,federal funds4 7b7 ,non-,federal share of costs ,an eligible entity that applies for a grant under section #b shall agree to provide not less than #ej percent of the cost of the project for which application is submitted from non-,federal sources1 except that-- 7#a7 an eligible entity that is a nonprofit entity may value in cash or in-kind 7fairly evaluated7 its share of the cost of such project1 and 7#b7 an eligible entity that is a for-profit entity may value only in cash 7and may not include services of an employee1 including salaries paid or expenses covered by the employer7 its share of the cost of such project4 #f4 ,independent evaluations ,the ,secretary shall provide for an independent evaluation of each project for which a grant is made under this ,act4 ,such evaluation shall-- 7#a7 measure the impact of such project on-- 7,a7 improving the nutrition and health status of families that participate in projects carried out under this ,act1 and 7,b7 increasing the quantity of fruits and vegetables purchased by such families1 and 7#b7 use rigorous methodologies capable of producing scientifically valid information regarding the effectiveness of such project4 #g4 ,technical assistance and related information 7a7 ,technical assistance ,in carrying out this ,act1 the ,secretary may provide technical assistance regarding the operation of the ,local ,food for ,healthy ,families ,program to entities that request such information4 7b7 ,sharing information ,the ,secretary may provide for sharing of information concerning the operation of the ,local ,food for ,healthy ,families ,program1 the operation of projects carried out under such program1 and the issues arising from such program and such projects1 with and among-- 7#a7 governmental1 for-profit1 and nonprofit groups1 and the public through publications1 conferences1 and other appropriate forums1 and 7#b7 researchers1 practitioners1 and other interested persons4 #h4 ,treatment of funds 7a7 ,in general ,the value of any incentive provided under this ,act to a participating family shall not be considered income or resources for any purpose under any ,federal1 ,state1 or local law4 7b7 ,no limitation on benefits ,a grant made available under this ,act shall not be used to carry out any project that limits the use of benefits provided under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq47 or any other ,federal nutrition law4 7c7 ,household allotment ,incentives provided under this ,act to families that receive supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits shall not-- 7#a7 be considered to be part of such benefits2 or 7#b7 be used in the collection or disposition of claims under section #ac of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbb74 #i4 ,appropriation of funds ,out of any funds in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury shall transfer to the ,secretary to carry out the ,local ,food for ,healthy ,families ,program #bj1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjad through #bjah4