Agriculture Committee, Education and Workforce Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
This bill aims to significantly enhance access to fresh, local, and nutritious foods for participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). It amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to allow WIC cash-value benefits and coupons to be used for purchases of unprepared foods, including pre-order boxes, from a wider array of covered agricultural entities such as farmers, community supported agriculture programs, food hubs, and farmers' markets. To facilitate these transactions, the legislation mandates that State agencies provide cash-value benefit and coupon funds through a single electronic benefits transfer (EBT) access device . The Secretary of Agriculture is also required to establish a list of qualified payment devices for these agricultural entities to accept EBT payments seamlessly. Furthermore, the bill expands the existing Farmers' Market Nutrition Program for WIC participants to explicitly include these covered agricultural entities, automatically authorizing farmers for participation. The bill also focuses on administrative support and technical assistance. It directs the Secretary to create a publicly available website featuring a single application portal for producers seeking authorization to sell to WIC participants, along with guidance and best practices for State WIC offices, farmers, and farmers' markets. Additionally, a Technical Assistance Center will be established to help farmers and market operators understand eligibility, application, and authorization requirements for various federal nutrition programs, and provide training on accepting EBT payments.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Agriculture and Food
Farmers to Families Act
USA119th CongressHR-6776| House
| Updated: 12/17/2025
This bill aims to significantly enhance access to fresh, local, and nutritious foods for participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). It amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to allow WIC cash-value benefits and coupons to be used for purchases of unprepared foods, including pre-order boxes, from a wider array of covered agricultural entities such as farmers, community supported agriculture programs, food hubs, and farmers' markets. To facilitate these transactions, the legislation mandates that State agencies provide cash-value benefit and coupon funds through a single electronic benefits transfer (EBT) access device . The Secretary of Agriculture is also required to establish a list of qualified payment devices for these agricultural entities to accept EBT payments seamlessly. Furthermore, the bill expands the existing Farmers' Market Nutrition Program for WIC participants to explicitly include these covered agricultural entities, automatically authorizing farmers for participation. The bill also focuses on administrative support and technical assistance. It directs the Secretary to create a publicly available website featuring a single application portal for producers seeking authorization to sell to WIC participants, along with guidance and best practices for State WIC offices, farmers, and farmers' markets. Additionally, a Technical Assistance Center will be established to help farmers and market operators understand eligibility, application, and authorization requirements for various federal nutrition programs, and provide training on accepting EBT payments.
Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better
Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.