,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fggf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #ag1 #bjbe,ms4 ,underwood 7for herself and ,mr4 ,van ,drew7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,workforce1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 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 amend the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff with respect to the use of cash-value benefits and coupons for purchases of fresh1 nutritious1 unprepared foods from community supported agricultural entities1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,farmers to ,families ,act4 #b4 ,use of cash-value benefits and coupons for certain local foods ,the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff is amended by inserting after section #ag 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf7 the following3 #ah4 ,use of cash-value benefits and coupons for certain local foods 7a7 ,purchases of certain local foods ,not later than #ah months after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall allow cash-value benefit funds and coupon funds to be used by participants and recipients to purchase fresh1 local1 nutritious1 unprepared foods1 including pre-order boxes of such foods1 from a covered agricultural entity4 7b7 ,single ,,ebt access device for cash-,value benefits and coupon funds 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ah months after the date of the enactment of this section1 a ,state agency-- 7,a7 shall provide cash-value benefit funds and coupon funds through the electronic benefits transfer system of such ,state established pursuant to section #ag7;h77#ab72 7,b7 shall ensure such coupon funds can be accessed through the electronic benefits transfer access device provided to participants pursuant to section #ag7;h77#ab72 and 7,c7 may provide different payment mechanisms on such access device that separate the funds stored on such access device based on if the funds are cash-value benefit funds or coupon funds4 7#b7 ,processing of payments 7,a7 ,in general ,a ,state agency shall require a community supported agricultural entity to use a qualified payment device from the list established pursuant to subparagraph 7,b77i7 to accept payments from an electronic benefits transfer access device described in paragraph 7#a77;,a74 7,b7 ,qualified payment device 7i7 ,rulemaking ,not later than #ah months after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall issue regulations establishing a list of payment devices that the ,secretary determines to be qualified payment devices for the purposes of subparagraph 7,a74 7ii7 ,criteria ,in issuing regulations under clause 7i71 the ,secretary shall ensure that each payment device included on the list established pursuant to clause 7i7 is a singular device that can accept and process1 without requiring an additional device1 payments from an electronic benefits transfer access device described in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 including payments from cash-value benefit funds and coupon funds stored on such card4 7iii7 ,updates ,the ,secretary shall review and update on a regular basis the regulations issued under clause 7i74 7c7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,cash-value benefit ,the term cash-value benefit has the meaning given the term cash-value voucher in section #bdf4b of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations74 7#b7 ,covered agricultural entity ,the term covered agricultural entity means-- 7,a7 any food hub1 farmers' market1 or other distributor that markets local food from farmers to consumers2 7,b7 a community supported agriculture program 7as such term is defined in section #bdi4b of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations772 or 7,c7 a farmer 7as such term is defined in section #bdi4b of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations774 7#c7 ,coupon ,the term coupon has the meaning given the term in section #ag7m77#aj74 7#d7 ,participant ,the term participant means a participant in the supplemental nutrition program for women1 infants1 and children under section #ag4 7#e7 ,recipient ,the term recipient has the meaning given the term in section #ag7m77#aj74 7#f7 ,state agency ,the term ,state agency means a ,state agency 7as defined in subsection 7b7 of section #ag7 that administers a program pursuant to a grant under subsection 7m7 of such section4 4 #c4 ,farmers' market nutrition program for ,,wic participants 7a7 ,inclusion of covered agricultural entities ,section #ag7m77#a7 of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf7m77#a77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking foods at farmers' markets and 7at the option of a ,state7 roadside stands1 as defined in the ,state plans submitted under this subsection and inserting foods1 at--2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7,a7 farmers' markets1 as defined in the ,state plans submitted under this subsection2 7,b7 roadside stands1 as defined in the ,state plans submitted under this subsection2 and 7,c7 in accordance with section #ah7;a71 covered agricultural entities 7as such term is defined in section #ah7;c774 4 7b7 ,automatic streamline of benefits ,section #ag7m77#e7 of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf7m77#e77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,h7 ,that each farmer 7as such term is defined in section #bdi4b of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations77 is automatically authorized as a covered agricultural entity 7as such term is defined in section #ah7;c77 for purposes of this subsection4 4 #d4 ,,wic administrative support ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall include on a publicly available website of the ,department of ,agriculture-- 7#a7 a single application portal for producers to be-- 7,a7 authorized as a farmer for purposes of section #ag7m7 of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf7m77 to sell fresh1 local1 nutritious1 unprepared foods to an individual described in paragraph 7#e77;,a7 of such section #ag7m72 and 7,b7 in accordance with section #ag7m77#e77;,h7 of such ,act1 authorized as a covered agricultural entity under section #ah of such ,act1 as added by this ,act1 to sell fresh1 local1 nutritious1 unprepared foods to an individual described in paragraph 7#e77;,a7 of such section #ag7m72 7#b7 guidance for-- 7,a7 ,state ,,wic offices administering ,,wic2 7,b7 farmers2 and 7,c7 farmers' markets2 and 7#c7 best practices for ,state agencies and local agencies carrying out-- 7,a7 a farmers' market nutrition program for ,,wic participants pursuant to a grant under section #ag7m7 of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf7m772 and 7,b7 the requirements under section #ah of such ,act1 as added by this ,act4 #e4 ,technical ,assistance ,center for farmers' market operators and farmers 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ah months after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall-- 7#a7 establish a ,technical ,assistance ,center for farmers' market operators and farmers 7in this section referred to as the ,center72 and 7#b7 to the extent practicable1 consult on the design and scope of the ,center with farmers1 farmers' market managers1 ,state agencies1 and community organizations with experience in implementation of ,federal nutrition benefits4 7b7 ,administration 7#a7 ,selection process ,to carry out the activities of the ,center under subsection 7c71 the ,secretary shall seek to enter into a cooperative agreement1 on a competitive basis1 with an eligible entity4 7#b7 ,application ,an eligible entity seeking to enter into a cooperative agreement shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#c7 ,panel review 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ah months after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a panel-- 7i7 to review applications submitted to the ,secretary under paragraph 7#b72 and 7ii7 to make recommendations to the ,secretary with respect to selecting an eligible entity under paragraph 7#a7 in accordance with subparagraph 7,c74 7,b7 ,members ,the panel established under subparagraph 7,a7 shall include at least-- 7i7 #a member with experience as a farmers' market manager2 and 7ii7 #a member with experience providing technical assistance to farmers regarding accepting ,federal nutrition benefits4 7,c7 ,selection criteria ,the panel established under subparagraph 7,a7 shall only recommend eligible entities to the ,secretary with respect to selecting an eligible entity under paragraph 7#a7 that the panel has determined to possess expertise in providing training and technical assistance to farmers' markets and farmers regarding ,federal nutrition programs4 7#d7 ,priority ,in selecting an eligible entity under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity that-- 7,a7 has experience engaging with ,federal nutrition programs administered by the ,department1 such as ,,fmnp1 ,,wic1 or other nutrition incentive programs2 and 7,b7 has a history of effectively serving small and mid-sized farms1 local agriculture1 and underserved communities4 7#e7 ,eligible entity defined ,for purposes of this subsection1 the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a nonprofit organization2 7,b7 an institution of higher education2 7,c7 a cooperative extension service2 7,d7 a regional food system network2 or 7,e7 any other entity with demonstrated capacity to carry out the activities described in subsection 7c71 as determined by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,activities ,the ,center shall provide services related to the programs under section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf7m77 and section #ah of such ,act1 as added by this ,act1 including-- 7#a7 assisting farmers and farmers' market operators with understanding and complying with eligibility1 application1 and authorization requirements-- 7,a7 under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq472 7,b7 under the ,,fmnp2 7,c7 under the ,,sfmnp2 and 7,d7 for accepting cash-value benefits2 7#b7 providing training to farmers' market managers and local farm vendors on how to accept electronic benefits transfer payments from recipients and participants of such programs1 including guidance on the use of qualified payment devices authorized by the ,secretary under section #ah7;b77#b77;,b7 of such ,act1 as added by this ,act2 7#c7 creating1 maintaining1 and distributing resources and best practices for the acceptance and administration of nutrition benefits in farmers' market settings2 7#d7 sharing implementation information with ,state agencies1 local agencies1 stakeholders and other technical assistance providers in a timely manner2 and 7#e7 collecting and analyzing information on related program outcomes4 7d7 ,annual report ,not later than #b years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,center shall submit to the ,secretary and relevant congressional committees a report that-- 7#a7 summarizes the activities of the ,center1 including the information collected pursuant to subsection 7c77#e72 and 7#b7 makes recommendations on how to encourage farmers and farmers' markets to engage with programs under section #ag7m7 of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf7m77 and section #ah of such ,act1 as added by this ,act4 #f4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,cash-value benefit ,the term cash-value benefit has the meaning given the term cash-value voucher in section #bdf4b of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations74 7#b7 ,cooperative extension service ,the term cooperative extension service has the meaning given such term in section #adjd of the ,food and ,agriculture ,act of #aigg 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #cajc74 7#c7 ,covered agricultural entity ,the term covered agricultural entity has the meaning given the term in section #ah of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff1 as added by this ,act4 7#d7 ,farmer ,the term farmer has the meaning given the term in section #bdi4b of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations74 7#e7 ,,fmnp ,the term ,,fmnp means the farmers' market nutrition program for ,,wic participants under section #ag7m7 of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf7m774 7#f7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#g7 ,,sfmnp ,the term ,,sfmnp means the senior farmers' market nutrition program under section #ddjb of the ,farm ,security and ,rural ,investment ,act of #bjjb 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #cjjg74 7#h7 ,,wic ,the term ,,wic means the special supplemental nutrition program for women1 infants1 and children under section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf74 7#i7 ,,wic terms ,the terms ,state agency and local agency have the meanings given the terms1 respectively1 in section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf74