HR 9581
Fresh Bucks for Fresh Produce Act
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 9581
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To establish a pilot program in the Department of Agriculture providing certain households with a monthly payment to purchase produce, to study the effect of such payments, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Fresh Bucks for Fresh Produce Act
.
In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that a grant is awarded to at least 1 State in each of the following regions:
The Pacific Northwest region.
The Northeast region.
The Western region.
The Midwest region.
The Southern region.
A State receiving a grant under this section may only use the grant to establish and implement a program (in this section referred to as a State program
) to make the monthly payments described in subsection (f), including—
associated administrative costs, such as—
hiring staff;
coordinating with community-based organizations;
contracting with electronic benefits transfer card providers;
acquiring and using necessary technology systems (such as card processors); and
marketing and participant materials that are culturally relevant, plain-language, and offered in multiple languages;
providing technical and implementation assistance (including in the form of financial assistance) to eligible retailers; and
collecting and reporting to the Secretary the data described in subsection (h)(2).
In administering a State program, a State, in consultation with the Secretary, shall develop and implement the following:
only 1 such application may be submitted per household; and
a household is eligible to submit such an application only if the household makes 80 percent or less of the area median income (as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development).
Households receiving benefits under the SNAP program shall be deemed to meet the income requirement described in paragraph (1)(C). A State shall—
incorporate an opt-in or auto-enrollment mechanism with respect to such households; and
minimize the amount of additional paperwork required for such households.
An application for the receipt from the State of the monthly payments described in subsection (f) that is short, low-barrier, and mobile-friendly.
The avoidance of duplicative verification where States already have income data (such as through the SNAP program, Medicaid, or child care subsidies programs).
Strong guardrails to reduce churn, including establishing clear timelines, simple renewal, grace periods, and strong customer support.
The use of electronic benefits transfer card technology for the disbursement of the monthly payments described in subsection (f).
The provision of technical assistance to eligible retailers.
In administering a State program, a State shall make payments to eligible households, on a recurring monthly basis, to purchase qualifying food from eligible retailers.
A payment under this subsection shall be $60 and may only be used during a 30-day period.
A payment under this subsection shall supplement, not supplant, other benefits received by eligible households.
In administering a grant under this section, a State shall work in consultation with local community-based organizations and health clinics to reach households most impacted by food insecurity.
In conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall collect from States receiving grants under this section the following data with respect to eligible households receiving payments:
Average household size, income, and other demographics.
Average amount of payments used per month.
Household food security before and after participation.
Daily fruit and vegetable consumption.
Where households spent payments.
distance to eligible retailers;
transportation constraints;
eligible retailer density and hours; and
the availability and price of qualifying foods.
Number of eligible households on a waitlist to receive payments.
Such other data as the Secretary determines appropriate.
In this section:
a farmers market;
an independent grocer;
a farm stand;
a supermarket; and
such other retailers as the Secretary determines appropriate.
For the purposes of this paragraph, an individual who has not attained the age of 18 and who is attending an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) shall be deemed to be part of the household of the individual’s parents or caregivers.
The term qualifying food means—
any fresh, frozen, or dried fruit or vegetable with no added fat, sugar, or salt;
a plant start that grows a food described in subparagraph (A).
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United States.