,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dadj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #a1 #bjbj,mr4 ,booker introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to provide additional emergency funding for certain nutrition programs4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,local ,food ,assistance and ,resilient ,markets ,act of #bjbj or the ,local ,,farm ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,definition of ,secretary ,in this ,act1 the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 #c4 ,specialty crop block grants 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 an emergency feeding organization 7as defined in section #bja;,a of the ,emergency ,food ,assistance ,act of #aihc 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #geja772 and 7,b7 a local or regional food enterprise1 including a farmers market1 a food hub1 an agricultural cooperative1 a producer association1 a nonprofit organization1 and a for-profit entity focused primarily on marketing locally grown food4 7#b7 ,program ,the term program means the specialty crop block grant program established under section #aja of the ,specialty ,crops ,competitiveness ,act of #bjjd 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #afba note2 ,public ,law #ajh-dfe74 7b7 ,grants 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall provide grants to ,states under the program to award as subgrants to eligible entities to procure and distribute specialty crops to needy persons at zero cost to those persons4 7#b7 ,distribution requirement ,of the grant amount provided to a ,state under paragraph 7#a71 a ,state shall use #ej percent to award subgrants to eligible entities that purchase specialty crops-- 7,a7 from small1 beginning1 and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers 7as defined in section #cee7;e7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjc7;e7772 and 7,b7 that would otherwise be sold through direct-to-consumer1 direct-to-institution1 direct-to-retail1 or direct-to-restaurant marketing channels1 including local and regional food enterprises such as food hubs1 agricultural cooperatives1 and producer associations4 7c7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity receiving a subgrant under subsection 7b77#a7-- 7#a7 shall use not less than #ej percent of the subgrant funds for specialty crop purchases2 and 7#b7 may use the remaining subgrant funds for transportation1 storage1 overhead1 and investment in cold storage infrastructure4 7d7 ,funding 7#a7 ,in general ,there is appropriated to the ,secretary1 out of funds of the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 #a1jjj1jjj1jjj to carry out this section1 to remain available until expended4 7#b7 ,emergency designation 7,a7 ,in general ,the amounts provided by this subsection are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section #d7;g7 of the ,statutory ,pay-,as-,you-,go ,act of #bjaj 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #icc7;g774 7,b7 ,designation in ,senate ,in the ,senate1 this subsection is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section #daab7;a7 of ,h4 ,con4 ,res4 #ga 7#aaeth ,congress71 the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year #bjah4 #d4 ,online supplemental nutrition assistance program 7a7 ,definition of program ,in this section1 the term program means the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq474 7b7 ,grants 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than ,august #ae1 #bjbj1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,food and ,nutrition ,service1 shall distribute grants to ,state agencies that administer the program in the ,state to develop tools and provide technical assistance-- 7,a7 to increase the quantity of retailers that accept and redeem program benefits online2 and 7,b7 to expand the capacity of retailers to accept and redeem program benefits online4 7#b7 ,priority for use of funds ,in using a grant received under paragraph 7#a71 a ,state agency shall give priority1 and use not less than #be percent of the grant funds1 to assist-- 7,a7 farmers markets1 food hubs1 agricultural and consumer cooperatives1 producer associations1 nonprofit organizations1 and for-profit entities focused primarily on marketing locally grown food2 and 7,b7 retailers in food deserts that sold less than #ejj1jjj in food products in the preceding year4 7#c7 ,maximum amount ,the amount of a grant distributed under paragraph 7#a7 shall not exceed #b1ejj1jjj4 7c7 ,funding 7#a7 ,in general ,there is appropriated to the ,secretary1 out of amounts in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 #ajj1jjj1jjj to carry out subsection 7b71 to remain available until expended4 7#b7 ,emergency designation 7,a7 ,in general ,the amounts provided by this subsection are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section #d7;g7 of the ,statutory ,pay-,as-,you-,go ,act of #bjaj 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #icc7;g774 7,b7 ,designation in ,senate ,in the ,senate1 this subsection is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section #daab7;a7 of ,h4 ,con4 ,res4 #ga 7#aaeth ,congress71 the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year #bjah4 #e4 ,temporary modifications to matching requirements under certain nutrition programs 7a7 ,access to local foods3 ,farm to ,school program ,section #ah7;g77#d7 of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agfi7;g77#d77 is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking ,the ,federal and inserting ,subject to subparagraph 7,c71 the ,federal2 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking ,as a condition and inserting ,subject to subparagraph 7,c71 as a condition2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 ,temporary waiver 7i7 ,definition of covered period ,in this subparagraph1 the term covered period means the period beginning on the date of enactment of the ,local ,,farm ,act of #bjbj and ending on the last day of the second fiscal year beginning after that date of enactment4 7ii7 ,temporary waiver ,during the covered period1 the ,federal share of costs for a project funded through a grant awarded under this subsection shall equal #ajj percent of the total cost of the project4 4 7b7 ,gus ,schumacher ,nutrition ,incentive ,program ,section #ddje7;b77#a77;,c7 of the ,food1 ,conservation1 and ,energy ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #geag7;b77#a77;,c77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,d77iii7 and inserting the following3 7i7 ,in general ,except as provided in clause 7ii7 and subparagraph 7,d77iii7 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7ii7 ,temporary reduction 7,i7 ,definition of covered period ,in this clause1 the term covered period means the period beginning on the date of enactment of the ,local ,,farm ,act of #bjbj and ending on the last day of the second fiscal year beginning after that date of enactment4 7,,ii7 ,temporary reduction ,during the covered period1 the ,federal share of the cost of carrying out an activity under this subsection shall not exceed #ge percent of the total cost of the activity4 4 7c7 ,community food projects ,section #be7;e7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjcd7;e77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking ,the ,federal and inserting ,subject to paragraph 7#d71 the ,federal2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#d7 ,temporary waiver 7,a7 ,definition of covered period ,in this paragraph1 the term covered period means the period beginning on the date of enactment of the ,local ,,farm ,act of #bjbj and ending on the last day of the second fiscal year beginning after that date of enactment4 7,b7 ,temporary reduction ,during the covered period1 the ,federal share of the cost of establishing or carrying out a community food project under subsection 7b7 shall equal #ajj percent of the total cost of the project4 4 #f4 ,local ,agriculture ,market ,program2 ,beginning ,farmer and ,rancher ,development ,grant ,program 7a7 ,local ,agriculture ,market ,program 7#a7 ,in general ,there is appropriated for the ,department of ,agriculture1 out of amounts in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 #ejj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj1 to remain available until expended1 to carry out the ,local ,agriculture ,market ,program established under section #baj;,a of the ,agricultural ,marketing ,act of #aidf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #afbg;c74 7#b7 ,reservations of amounts ,of the amount made available under paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 #ajj1jjj1jjj shall be used to provide grants under the program described in that paragraph to recipients of grants under that program that were awarded before the date of enactment of this ,act for projects to respond to the ,,covid-#ai pandemic2 7,b7 #ajj1jjj1jjj shall be used to provide grants under the program described in that paragraph to organizations that serve socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers 7as defined in section #cee7;e7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjc7;e7772 7,c7 #be1jjj1jjj shall be used for grants under paragraph 7#e7 of section #baj;,a7d7 of the ,agricultural ,marketing ,act of #aidf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #afbg;c7d77 to carry out market rebuilding projects authorized under paragraph 7#b77,k7 of that section2 and 7,d7 #be1jjj1jjj shall be used for grants under paragraph 7#f7 of that section to carry out those market rebuilding projects4 7#c7 ,market rebuilding projects ,section #baj;,a7d77#b7 of the ,agricultural ,marketing ,act of #aidf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #afbg;c7d77#b77 is amended-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,i71 by striking or at the end2 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,j77ii71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 or2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,k7 to rebuild a market for a value-added agricultural product that has been impacted by ,,covid-#ai during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this subparagraph and ending on the last day of the second fiscal year beginning after that date of enactment4 4 7#d7 ,payments for ,,covid-#ai losses ,section #baj;,a7d7 of the ,agricultural ,marketing ,act of #aidf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #afbg;c7d77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#g7 ,payments for ,,covid-#ai losses 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may make payments to entities eligible to receive a grant under paragraph 7#e7 or 7#f7 that submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing-- 7i7 a description of how the business of the applicant has been impacted by ,,covid-#ai2 7ii7 a narrative explaining how the applicant proposes to use those payments to expand the capacity of the sales of the applicant to properly package and sell agricultural products to consumers2 and 7iii7 such other information as the ,secretary may require4 7,b7 ,applicability of limitations ,a payment under this paragraph shall not be subject to the limitations specified in subparagraphs 7,d7 and 7,e7 of paragraph 7#e7 or 7#f71 as applicable4 4 7b7 ,waiver of matching funds requirements 7#a7 ,definition of covered period ,in this subsection1 the term covered period means the period beginning on the date of enactment of this ,act and ending on the last day of the second fiscal year beginning after that date of enactment4 7#b7 ,value-added producer grants ,subparagraph 7,e7 of section #baj;,a7d77#e7 of the ,agricultural ,marketing ,act of #aidf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #afbg;c7d77#e77 shall not apply to a grant awarded under that section during the covered period4 7#c7 ,farmers' markets and local food promotion program ,subparagraph 7,e7 of section #baj;,a7d77#f7 of the ,agricultural ,marketing ,act of #aidf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #afbg;c7d77#f77 shall not apply to a grant awarded under that section during the covered period4 7#d7 ,regional partnerships ,paragraph 7#d7 of section #baj;,a7e7 of the ,agricultural ,marketing ,act of #aidf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #afbg;c7e77 shall not apply to a grant awarded under that section during the covered period4 7#e7 ,beginning farmer and rancher development grant program ,paragraph 7#e7 of section #beja7;d7 of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bbgi7;d77 shall not apply to a grant awarded under that section during the covered period4 #g4 ,farm microloans ,section #cac7;c7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aidc7;c77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking #ej1jjj and inserting #ajj1jjj2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#e7 ,,covid-#ai response 7,a7 ,definitions ,in this paragraph3 7i7 ,covered microloan ,the term covered microloan means a direct or guaranteed microloan under this subsection-- 7,i7 that is outstanding as of the date of enactment of this paragraph2 or 7,,ii7 that is made or guaranteed by the ,secretary during the covered period4 7ii7 ,covered period ,the term covered period means the period beginning on the date of enactment of this paragraph and ending on the last day of the second fiscal year beginning after the date on which the public health emergency declared by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services under section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d7 on ,january #ca1 #bjbj1 with respect to ,,covid-#ai is lifted4 7,b7 ,exemptions 7i7 ,prohibition of loans for borrowers that have received debt forgiveness ,notwithstanding section #cgc7;b77#a71 a borrower shall not be ineligible to receive a covered microloan because the borrower has received debt forgiveness described in subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,b7 of that section4 7ii7 ,prohibition on delinquent borrowers obtaining loans ,notwithstanding section #cgc7;a7 or any other provision of law1 a borrower shall not be ineligible to receive a covered microloan because the borrower is delinquent on any loan made or guaranteed under this title or any other ,federal law4 7iii7 ,requirement to be unable to obtain credit elsewhere ,notwithstanding sections #cjb7;a77#a77;,d71 #caa7;a77#a77;,d71 and #ccc7a77;,a71 a borrower shall not be required to demonstrate an inability to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to be eligible to receive a covered microloan4 7iv7 ,citizenship requirement ,notwithstanding sections #cjb7;a77#a77;,a7 and #caa7;a77#a77;,a71 a borrower shall not be required to be a citizen of the ,united ,states to receive a covered microloan4 7v7 ,acceptable credit history requirement ,notwithstanding any other provision of this title1 a borrower shall not be ineligible to receive a covered microloan because the borrower has a lack of an acceptable credit history4 7,c7 ,extension of terms2 interest assistance 7i7 ,extension of terms ,the ,secretary shall extend the term of a covered microloan for a period of #aj years at an interest rate of-- 7,i7 #a percent or less2 or 7,,ii7 in the case of guaranteed covered microloan under clause 7ii71 zero percent4 7ii7 ,interest assistance for guaranteed microloans 7,i7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall enter into contracts under section #cea to reduce the interest rate paid by a borrower on a guaranteed covered microloan to zero percent for the remaining term of the guaranteed covered microloan4 7,,ii7 ,exemption of requirement to be unable to obtain credit elsewhere ,notwithstanding section #cea7;b77#a77;,a71 a borrower shall not be required to demonstrate an inability to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to be eligible for an interest rate reduction described in subclause 7,i74 7,d7 ,direct appropriation ,there is appropriated for the ,department of ,agriculture1 out of amounts in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 #cej1jjj1jjj for each fiscal year during the covered period to make and guarantee microloans under this subsection4 7#f7 ,priority ,in making and guaranteeing microloans under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall give priority to-- 7,a7 beginning farmers or ranchers2 7,b7 socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers 7as defined in section #cee7;e772 and 7,c7 owners or operators of niche or nontraditional farm operations1 as defined by the ,secretary4 4