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Food Deserts Act

USA119th CongressHR-484| House 
| Updated: 2/14/2025
André Carson

André Carson

Democratic Representative

Indiana

Cosponsors (65)
April McClain Delaney (Democratic)John Garamendi (Democratic)Jonathan L. Jackson (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Ritchie Torres (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Greg Landsman (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)James R. Walkinshaw (Democratic)Troy A. Carter (Democratic)Steven Horsford (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Haley M. Stevens (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Frank J. Mrvan (Democratic)Danny K. Davis (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)George Latimer (Democratic)Jasmine Crockett (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democratic)Al Green (Democratic)Nikki Budzinski (Democratic)John B. Larson (Democratic)Stephen F. Lynch (Democratic)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Jill N. Tokuda (Democratic)Hillary J. Scholten (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)LaMonica McIver (Democratic)Brittany Pettersen (Democratic)Mark Takano (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Wesley Bell (Democratic)Lateefah Simon (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Adam Smith (Democratic)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)William R. Keating (Democratic)Cleo Fields (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Bennie G. Thompson (Democratic)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Kevin Mullin (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Kweisi Mfume (Democratic)Veronica Escobar (Democratic)Lloyd Doggett (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)

Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee, Agriculture Committee, Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Food Deserts Act" establishes a program under the Secretary of Agriculture to combat food deserts by increasing access to grocery stores in underserved communities. This program provides capitalization grants to States, which are then required to establish and administer revolving funds. These funds are specifically designed to offer loans for the purpose of establishing and operating grocery stores in areas identified as underserved, though new construction is not an eligible use of funds. States will use these revolving funds to make loans to eligible grocery stores that emphasize unprocessed, healthful foods , provide a variety of fruits, vegetables, and staple foods, and charge affordable prices. Priority is given to stores that hire local residents, offer nutrition education, and source food from local farms. Loans are provided at or below market interest rates, potentially interest-free, for terms up to 30 years, with a maximum of 10 percent of the fund's annual availability per participant. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 to carry out these provisions.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-8531
Food Deserts Act of 2020

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-9281
Food Deserts Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-1230
Food Deserts Act
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 16, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Jan 16, 2025
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E41)
Feb 14, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
Feb 14, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-8531
    Food Deserts Act of 2020


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-9281
    Food Deserts Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-1230
    Food Deserts Act


  • January 16, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 16, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.


  • January 16, 2025
    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E41)


  • February 14, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.


  • February 14, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.

Agriculture and Food

Agricultural marketing and promotionDrug, alcohol, tobacco useEmployee hiringFood assistance and reliefFruit and vegetablesGovernment lending and loan guaranteesHealth promotion and preventive careInflation and pricesNutrition and dietPoverty and welfare assistanceRetail and wholesale tradesUrban and suburban affairs and development

Food Deserts Act

USA119th CongressHR-484| House 
| Updated: 2/14/2025
The "Food Deserts Act" establishes a program under the Secretary of Agriculture to combat food deserts by increasing access to grocery stores in underserved communities. This program provides capitalization grants to States, which are then required to establish and administer revolving funds. These funds are specifically designed to offer loans for the purpose of establishing and operating grocery stores in areas identified as underserved, though new construction is not an eligible use of funds. States will use these revolving funds to make loans to eligible grocery stores that emphasize unprocessed, healthful foods , provide a variety of fruits, vegetables, and staple foods, and charge affordable prices. Priority is given to stores that hire local residents, offer nutrition education, and source food from local farms. Loans are provided at or below market interest rates, potentially interest-free, for terms up to 30 years, with a maximum of 10 percent of the fund's annual availability per participant. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 to carry out these provisions.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-8531
Food Deserts Act of 2020

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-9281
Food Deserts Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-1230
Food Deserts Act
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 16, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Jan 16, 2025
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E41)
Feb 14, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
Feb 14, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-8531
    Food Deserts Act of 2020


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-9281
    Food Deserts Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-1230
    Food Deserts Act


  • January 16, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 16, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.


  • January 16, 2025
    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E41)


  • February 14, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.


  • February 14, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
André Carson

André Carson

Democratic Representative

Indiana

Cosponsors (65)
April McClain Delaney (Democratic)John Garamendi (Democratic)Jonathan L. Jackson (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Ritchie Torres (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Greg Landsman (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)James R. Walkinshaw (Democratic)Troy A. Carter (Democratic)Steven Horsford (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Haley M. Stevens (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Frank J. Mrvan (Democratic)Danny K. Davis (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)George Latimer (Democratic)Jasmine Crockett (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democratic)Al Green (Democratic)Nikki Budzinski (Democratic)John B. Larson (Democratic)Stephen F. Lynch (Democratic)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Jill N. Tokuda (Democratic)Hillary J. Scholten (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)LaMonica McIver (Democratic)Brittany Pettersen (Democratic)Mark Takano (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Wesley Bell (Democratic)Lateefah Simon (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Adam Smith (Democratic)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)William R. Keating (Democratic)Cleo Fields (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Bennie G. Thompson (Democratic)Deborah K. Ross (Democratic)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Kevin Mullin (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Kweisi Mfume (Democratic)Veronica Escobar (Democratic)Lloyd Doggett (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)

Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee, Agriculture Committee, Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee

Agriculture and Food

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Agricultural marketing and promotionDrug, alcohol, tobacco useEmployee hiringFood assistance and reliefFruit and vegetablesGovernment lending and loan guaranteesHealth promotion and preventive careInflation and pricesNutrition and dietPoverty and welfare assistanceRetail and wholesale tradesUrban and suburban affairs and development