,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cihb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #bj1 #bjbd,mr4 ,reed 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,ms4 ,butler1 ,mr4 ,whitehouse1 ,mr4 ,king1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,ms4 ,smith1 ,mrs4 ,shaheen1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,mr4 ,fetterman1 and ,mr4 ,welch7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,agricultural ,marketing ,act of #aidf to establish the ,expanding ,access to ,local ,foods ,program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,expanding ,access ,to ,local ,foods ,act of #bjbd or the ,,eat ,local ,foods ,act of #bjbd4 #b4 ,expanding ,access ,to ,local ,foods ,program ,subtitle ,a of the ,agricultural ,marketing ,act of #aidf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #afba et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #baj;,b4 ,expanding ,access ,to ,local ,foods ,program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,collaborator ,the term collaborator1 with respect to a project carried out using funding provided under this section1 means an individual or entity 7including private1 for-profit1 and nonprofit entities7 that-- 7,a7 is unaffiliated with the eligible unit of government carrying out the project2 7,b7 cooperates with respect to-- 7i7 the application relating to the project under subsection 7d72 and 7ii7 the conduct of the project2 and 7,c7 is not immediately connected to the management of the project4 7#b7 ,eligible unit of government ,the term eligible unit of government means-- 7,a7 a ,state agency1 commission1 or department that is responsible for agriculture1 procurement1 food distribution1 emergency response1 or other similar activities within the ,state2 7,b7 the ,district of ,columbia2 7,c7 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico2 7,d7 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands2 7,e7 ,guam2 and 7,f7 a ,tribal government4 7#c7 ,partnership ,the term partnership means a relationship involving close cooperation between or among individuals and entities 7including private1 for-profit1 and nonprofit entities7 with specified1 joint rights and responsibilities in the management of a project carried out using funding provided under this section4 7#d7 ,program ,the term ,program means the ,expanding ,access ,to ,local ,foods ,program established under subsection 7b74 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7b7 ,establishment ,to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency and expand economic opportunities for small and underserved producers while promoting food security1 the ,secretary shall establish a program1 to be known as the ,expanding ,access ,to ,local ,foods ,program1 under which the ,secretary shall enter into cooperative agreements with eligible units of government for the purposes of-- 7#a7 purchasing food1 including seafood1 meat1 and poultry1 from local1 regional1 and underserved producers2 and 7#b7 distributing that food within the geographic boundaries of the eligible unit of government4 7c7 ,noncompetitive allocation ,the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 enter into cooperative agreements with1 and provide funding to1 eligible units of government under the ,program on a noncompetitive basis2 7#b7 of the amounts appropriated to carry out the ,program for each fiscal year-- 7,a7 allocate #aj percent to ,tribal governments1 to be allocated using a funding formula determined by the ,secretary2 7,b7 of the amounts remaining after making the allocation under subparagraph 7,a71 allocate #a percent to each ,state2 and 7,c7 after making the allocations under subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b71 allocate the remaining amounts to each eligible unit of government 7excluding ,tribal governments7 by applying the formula described in section #bad of ,public ,law #ih-h 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #geae72 and 7#c7 in the case of an eligible unit of government that has not submitted to the ,secretary1 by the date that is #a year after the date on which amounts are allocated to the eligible unit of government under paragraph 7#b71 an application under subsection 7d7 for spending those amounts1 redistribute those amounts to #a or more other eligible units of government with the capacity to spend those amounts4 7d7 ,applications 7#a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to receive funding under this section1 an eligible unit of government shall submit to the ,secretary an application1 at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary shall require1 by regulation1 including-- 7,a7 a plan that-- 7i7 identifies-- 7,i7 the lead agency responsible for carrying out the plan2 and 7,,ii7 community partners that will contribute to the implementation of the plan2 7ii7 describes the means by which the funds will be used-- 7,i7 to grow a local food system2 and 7,,ii7 to promote food security2 and 7iii7 meets the requirements of subsection 7e72 and 7,b7 an assurance that-- 7i7 the eligible unit of government will comply with the requirements of the plan2 and 7ii7 the funds will supplement1 not supplant1 funds provided by the eligible unit of government in support of local food or hunger relief systems4 7#b7 ,review ,the ,secretary-- 7,a7 shall review each application submitted under paragraph 7#a7 to ensure that the plan included in the application will carry out the purposes of the ,program described in subsection 7b72 and 7,b7 may accept or reject each application1 as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7e7 ,requirements 7#a7 ,in general ,under a cooperative agreement entered into under the ,program1 an eligible unit of government shall-- 7,a7 only purchase food-- 7i7 from fishermen1 farmers1 producers1 and processors that are-- 7,i7 within the geographic boundaries of the eligible unit of government in which the food will be delivered2 or 7,,ii7 not more than #djj miles from the delivery destination of the food2 or 7ii7 through a subawardee described in subsection 7f77#a7 that purchases food to fulfill the subaward only from fishermen1 farmers1 producers1 and processors that are-- 7,i7 within the geographic boundaries of the eligible unit of government in which the food will be delivered2 or 7,,ii7 not more than #djj miles from the delivery destination of the food2 7,b7 ensure that not less than #ea percent of the total annual value of products purchased by the eligible unit of government and any subawardees comprises purchases from small1 beginning1 or underserved farmers1 ranchers1 and fishers1 as defined by the ,secretary2 7,c7 give priority to distributing food to underserved communities1 as determined by the ,secretary2 7,d7 expend funding not later than #c years after the date on which the funding is provided to the eligible unit of government2 and 7,e7 subject to paragraph 7#b71 use not more than #be percent of the amount allocated to the eligible unit of government for ,program administration and technical assistance1 which may include support for-- 7i7 participating producers2 7ii7 efforts to grow the local agricultural value chain2 and 7iii7 small1 beginning1 veteran1 and underserved farmers1 as determined by the ,secretary1 in obtaining food safety training and certifications4 7#b7 ,administration and technical assistance ,of the amount used for ,program administration and technical assistance under paragraph 7#a77;,e71 an eligible unit of government shall allocate not less than #ej percent for technical assistance4 7f7 ,subcontracts and subawards ,to effectuate the purposes of the ,program1 as described in subsection 7b71 an eligible unit of government-- 7#a7 may enter into subcontracts and provide subawards to support partnerships and collaborators1 subject to subsection 7e77#a77;,e72 and 7#b7 on entering into a subcontract or subaward pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 shall-- 7,a7 structure the subcontract or subaward to be inclusive of all costs associated with implementing the ,program purposes1 including the costs of-- 7i7 food products2 7ii7 aggregation and distribution2 7iii7 equipment or infrastructure upgrades to support food safety compliance2 and 7iv7 personnel2 and 7,b7 require members of a partnership and collaborators to demonstrate evidence of existing community or industry engagement4 7g7 ,availability of funds ,to effectuate the purposes of the ,program and ensure that the producers described in subsection 7e77#a77;,b7 can meaningfully participate in the ,program1 the ,secretary shall provide-- 7#a7 not less than #ej percent of the funding awarded to an eligible unit of government in advance of the distribution of food under the agreement entered into under the ,program2 and 7#b7 the remaining funding awarded to the eligible unit of government not later than the midpoint of the period of performance established in that agreement4 7h7 ,food safety training and certification 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may require food purchased under a cooperative agreement entered into under the ,program to be purchased from a farm that has undergone food safety training1 or received a relevant food safety certification1 with respect to production1 packaging1 handling1 and storage to minimize risks of food safety hazards4 7#b7 ,training1 plans1 and certifications ,if the ,secretary imposes the requirement described in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 7i7 compliance with the requirement may be demonstrated by-- 7,i7 a receipt of food safety training1 including ,good ,agricultural ,practices training1 or an equivalent food safety curriculum2 or 7,,ii7 a relevant food safety certification2 but 7ii7 the ,secretary shall not require such compliance to be demonstrated by a ,federal certification2 and 7,b7 each eligible unit of government shall provide technical assistance in obtaining the required food safety training or certification1 in accordance with subsection 7e77#a77;,e74 7i7 ,reports ,an eligible unit of government that enters into a cooperative agreement under the ,program shall submit to the ,secretary1 at such times as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate1 reports that shall include data relating to the procurement and distribution of food under the cooperative agreement4 7j7 ,funding 7#a7 ,mandatory funding ,of the funds of the ,commodity ,credit ,corporation1 the ,secretary shall use to carry out this section #bjj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbd and each fiscal year thereafter4 7#b7 ,authorization of appropriations ,in addition to other funds and authorities available to the ,secretary1 in order to carry out activities under this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated #bjj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbh1 to remain available until expended by the ,secretary4 4