Farmers to Families Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
- Committees
- Agriculture Committee (primary)
- Last action
- May 20, 2026
Bottom line
The bill aims to enhance WIC participants' access to fresh, local foods and support local agricultural economies by modernizing benefit redemption and providing administrative assistance to farmers and markets.
What it actually does
This bill amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to expand the use of WIC cash-value benefits and coupons, allowing participants to purchase fresh, local, unprepared foods from a broader range of agricultural entities, including farmers' markets, food hubs, and individual farmers. It mandates a single Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) device for these funds, streamlines the authorization process for farmers, and establishes a Technical Assistance Center to support farmers and market operators.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue this bill will significantly improve nutrition for WIC participants, especially in underserved communities, by making it easier to purchase healthy, local produce directly from farmers. They also contend it will strengthen local food systems by creating new markets and reducing administrative burdens for small farmers and agricultural entities.
Opponents contend
Opponents might raise concerns about the potential administrative burden and costs for state agencies to implement new EBT system requirements for a diverse array of agricultural entities. They may also question the efficiency of establishing a new Technical Assistance Center rather than leveraging existing resources, and the potential for increased program complexity or fraud.
The bill is relatively short and clearly structured, allowing an informed reader to understand its provisions within a reasonable timeframe.
Section 2, inserting new Section 18 into the Child Nutrition Act of 1966
Expanding WIC Benefits for Local Food Purchases
This section mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture allow WIC cash-value benefits and coupons to be used for fresh, local, nutritious, unprepared foods, including pre-order boxes, from 'covered agricultural entities' (food hubs, farmers' markets, community supported agriculture programs, or individual farmers). It also requires State agencies to provide these funds through a single EBT system and device, and for the Secretary to establish a list of qualified payment devices that can process both types of funds.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this provision directly addresses food insecurity by making healthy, local food more accessible to vulnerable populations, while simultaneously bolstering local food systems and supporting small farmers by expanding their customer base.
Critics contend
Critics might express concerns about the technical challenges and costs for states and small agricultural entities to implement new EBT systems and payment devices, potentially leading to delays or limited adoption, especially for vendors with limited technological infrastructure.
Tradeoffs
This provision balances the goal of increasing access to nutritious food for WIC participants with the administrative and technological challenges of integrating new payment systems for a diverse group of agricultural vendors, many of whom are small businesses.
Section 3, amending Section 17(m) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966
Expanding FMNP Eligibility and Streamlining Farmer Authorization
This section expands the types of entities where Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) benefits can be used to include 'covered agricultural entities' (food hubs, CSAs, individual farmers) in addition to the existing farmers' markets and roadside stands. It also mandates that individual farmers already authorized under the FMNP are automatically authorized as 'covered agricultural entities' for the new local food benefits established in Section 2 of this Act, reducing redundant paperwork.
Section 4
USDA Public Website for WIC Administrative Support
This section requires the Secretary of Agriculture, within 90 days of enactment, to establish a publicly available website on the Department of Agriculture's platform. This website must feature a single application portal for producers seeking authorization as farmers for FMNP and as covered agricultural entities for the new local food benefits. It also requires the website to provide guidance for State WIC offices, farmers, and farmers' markets, along with best practices for agencies administering these programs.
Section 5
Establishing a Technical Assistance Center for Farmers and Markets
This section mandates the establishment of a Technical Assistance Center within 18 months to help farmers and farmers' market operators understand and comply with eligibility, application, and authorization requirements for various federal nutrition programs, including SNAP, FMNP, SFMNP, and WIC cash-value benefits. The Center will provide training on accepting EBT payments, create and distribute resources, share implementation information with stakeholders, and collect data on program outcomes. It also outlines a competitive process for selecting an eligible entity (e.g., nonprofit, institution of higher education) to administer the Center, prioritizing those with experience in federal nutrition programs and serving small farms and underserved communities.
This provision requires the Secretary of Agriculture to issue regulations establishing a list of 'qualified payment devices' that can accept and process both cash-value benefit funds and coupon funds from a single EBT access device without requiring an additional device. The Secretary must review and update these regulations regularly.
Section 2, inserting new Section 18(b)(2)(B) into the Child Nutrition Act of 1966
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice for delegating the development of specific technical implementation details to the relevant agency through rulemaking, rather than codifying them directly in the statute.
Case for: Supporters argue this ensures interoperability and ease of use for agricultural entities, making it practical for them to accept WIC benefits without needing multiple, complex payment systems. It aims to reduce technological barriers to participation.
Case against: Critics might worry that the specific criteria for 'qualified payment devices' could inadvertently exclude certain low-cost or innovative solutions, or that the rulemaking process could be slow and bureaucratic, delaying the full implementation of the bill's objectives.
Estimated impact: This provision has a significant practical impact on the operational feasibility for potentially thousands of farmers and markets to accept WIC benefits, directly influencing vendor participation rates and the overall success of the expanded program.