Other Ag News: Release: Congressional Members Reintroduce Legislation that Creates Fairer Competition, Advances Environmental Health, and Protects Workers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
press@sustainableagriculture.net
Tel. 347.563.6408

Washington, DC, December 15, 2025 – Representatives Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jim McGovern (D-MA-2), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-7), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Cleo Fields (D-LA-4), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-2), André Carson (D-IN-7) and Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the Enabling Farmer, Foodworker, Environmental, and Climate Targets through Innovative, Values-aligned, and Equitable (EFFECTIVE) Food Procurement Act in the House. The bill offers an alternative approach to making food purchasing decisions, and a better way to spend public dollars on food.

“Every year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) spends billions on food purchases with a concentrated few of the largest food companies in the nation. The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act would instead reroute taxpayer dollars to foster strong, reliable market opportunities for countless farmers, ranchers, and processors. This promotes the viability of family-owned small and mid-sized farms and invests in the communities – from rural to urban – that they call home,” commented Hannah Quigley, Policy Specialist with NSAC.

The EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act would require USDA to weigh the benefits of environmental sustainability, social and racial equity, worker well-being, and animal welfare when evaluating and awarding federal food contracts. It would also establish a pilot food purchasing program requiring that 20% of all USDA food purchases meet the new criteria. Finally, the bill provides technical and financial assistance to businesses to help them make necessary upgrades or obtain food safety related certifications required to become a USDA approved vendor. Taken together, these changes offer opportunities for USDA to be more responsive to the needs of school and community nutrition programs, while promoting the success of small businesses.

“The bill would allow USDA to further its mission to nourish communities, protect natural resources, and increase farm profitability by using their existing spending power. The proposed changes for USDA food procurement would provide additional market opportunities for small and mid-sized farms that simultaneously promote fairer competition and responsible land stewardship,” Quigley said.

Find more details about the EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act in the bill text.

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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more: https://sustainableagriculture.net/

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