Bresnahan’s Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act Advances in House Farm Bill

WASHINGTON, DC: Today, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) and the House Committee on Agriculture passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, this year's Farm Bill, by a bipartisan vote of 34-17. The package included Rep. Bresnahan's legislation, the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act, which will help build stronger connections between local producers, and community food programs, expanding markets and improving access to healthy food for those in need.

"Congress has a responsibility to ensure farm policy works for those who grow, raise, and produce our nation's food," said Rep. Bresnahan. "I'm especially proud the Farm Bill includes my bipartisan bill, which will help those in need in our communities access healthy, fresh food produced by their neighbors. This Farm Bill will strengthen agriculture in Northeastern Pennsylvania and across the country by ensuring federal policy keeps pace with the challenges our farmers face and delivering bipartisan solutions that support them and our rural communities."

The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act will allow states, through USDA, to establish cooperative agreements connecting local farmers and producers with local food distribution organizations. Through these agreements, funds will be used to purchase local, fresh, and minimally processed foods like seafood, meat, milk, cheese, eggs, fruit, and poultry. The bill also sets aside a portion of these funds to purchase food specifically from small, mid-size, beginning, and veteran farmers.

"We are grateful for Congressman Bresnahan's leadership on the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act in the Farm Bill," said Feeding Pennsylvania Chief Executive Officer Julie Bancroft. "Congressman Bresnahan recognizes the deep connection between those who grow our food and the people that food nourishes. The Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act LFFC will strengthen local farm economies and ensure all Pennsylvanians can put healthy, local food on their table."

"Pennsylvania Farm Bureau applauds the House Agriculture Committee for their bipartisan progress on the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026," said Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President Chris Hoffman. "The bill undoubtedly meets the moment for the modern-day realities our farmers are facing. We are especially grateful for the leadership of Chairman GT Thompson and the steadfast support of Representative Rob Bresnahan in championing Pennsylvania's interests throughout this process. For our Commonwealth's farm families and the consumers they serve, this bill acts as a vital safeguard against the triple threat of soaring production costs, market volatility, and rising food prices. We now call upon House leadership to act without delay and bring this bill to the floor for a vote, ensuring the stability of Pennsylvania's agriculture industry and the security of our food supply."

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 also:

• Creates a standing lock grant authority for future disaster payments.
• Emphasized science, technology, and innovation, including within the conservation practice standards establishment and review processes.
• Prioritizes innovation and improves access to nutrition programs that support our farmers and neighbors in need.
• Creates a stronger, more sustainable connection between health and federal nutrition programs.
• Provides new resources to new, young, beginning, and veteran farmers in their transition to farming and ranching.
• Strengthens broadband connectivity to rural communities.
• Protects access to healthcare in rural America.
• Enhances efforts to meet the childcare demands of rural areas.
• Addresses existing workforce challenges within rural communities to effectively meet their needs.
• Invests in and strengthens rural water infrastructure.
• Supports research and development for the specialty crop industry.
• Allows for critical cost and energy savings by increasing access to the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
• Supports specialty crop producers by directing Specialty Crop Block Grant program administrators to consult with producers when setting priorities for the program.
• Maintains funding for the Local Agriculture Market Program and improves program delivery through simplified applications.
• Continues support for organic production through the National Organic Program, Organic Production and Market Data Initiative, and National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program.
• Enhances protections for dogs covered under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
• Directing the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a national campaign to increase public knowledge on the dangers of the invasive species known as spotted lanternflies.

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