Legislative Proposal Disclaimer


The policies and legislative proposals presented on this website reflect the goals, priorities, and policy positions of Oxford C.F. Nordberg as a candidate for public office.
All proposals are conceptual working drafts intended to communicate policy direction and legislative intent. They are subject to revision through the legislative process, including legal review, constitutional constraints, public input, committee consideration, amendment, and approval by the appropriate legislative bodies.
Nothing on this website should be interpreted as enacted law, legal advice, or a guarantee of legislative outcome.
Any references to budgets, timelines, performance targets, enforcement mechanisms, or anticipated outcomes are illustrative only and are provided to explain policy objectives—not to represent final statutory language or binding commitments.

Legislative Proposal Disclaimer


The policies and legislative proposals presented on this website reflect the goals, priorities, and policy positions of Oxford C.F. Nordberg as a candidate for public office.
All proposals are conceptual working drafts intended to communicate policy direction and legislative intent. They are subject to revision through the legislative process, including legal review, constitutional constraints, public input, committee consideration, amendment, and approval by the appropriate legislative bodies.
Nothing on this website should be interpreted as enacted law, legal advice, or a guarantee of legislative outcome.
Any references to budgets, timelines, performance targets, enforcement mechanisms, or anticipated outcomes are illustrative only and are provided to explain policy objectives—not to represent final statutory language or binding commitments.

Fresh Food Access and Neighborhood Markets Act of 2027

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Fresh Food Access and Neighborhood Markets Act of 2027.”

SECTION 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
1. Access to affordable, nutritious food is essential to public health, economic stability, and community well-being.
2. Millions of Americans live in communities with limited access to fresh and healthy food options, including rural areas, Tribal communities, and low-income urban neighborhoods.
3. Limited access to fresh food is associated with higher rates of food insecurity and diet-related chronic disease, including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
4. Small and independent grocery stores, neighborhood markets, mobile markets, cooperatives, and community-based food enterprises can improve food access when appropriately supported.
5. Existing Federal programs, including the Healthy Food Financing Initiative and nutrition incentive programs under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, provide important tools to address food access gaps but are insufficiently targeted or scaled in many high-need communities.
6. Strategic public-private investment, paired with accountability and local flexibility, can expand fresh food access while supporting local economies and small businesses.

SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.
JEligible Entity.—The term “eligible entity” means—
(A) a nonprofit organization;
(B) a community development financial institution;
(C) a cooperative;
(D) a Tribal government or Tribal organization;
(E) a unit of State or local government; or
(F) a partnership of entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E).
Food Desert.—The term “food desert” has the meaning given the term by the Secretary under section 7527 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, using the most recent USDA Economic Research Service low-income/low-access methodology or a successor methodology.
High-Need Area.—The term “high-need area” means a geographic area that meets at least two of the following criteria, based on publicly available Federal data:(A) elevated rates of food insecurity;
(B) elevated poverty rates; or
(C) elevated prevalence of diet-related chronic disease.
Qualified Food Retail Project.—The term “qualified food retail project” means a project that develops, expands, modernizes, or preserves a food retail outlet that—
(A) offers a meaningful selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and other staple foods;
(B) is located in a food desert or high-need area; and
(C) accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

SECTION 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

(a) In General.—The Secretary shall establish a competitive grant and financing assistance program to support qualified food retail projects in food deserts and high-need areas.
(b) Supplement Not Supplant.—Funds made available under this Act shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, or local funds used for similar purposes.

SECTION 5. USES OF FUNDS.

An eligible entity receiving assistance under this Act may use such funds for—
1. the construction, renovation, expansion, or equipment of qualified food retail projects;
2. working capital, startup costs, or technical assistance for eligible food retailers;
3. mobile markets, delivery models, cooperatives, or shared-use food infrastructure;
4. refrigeration, storage, or supply chain improvements necessary to maintain fresh food availability;
5. participation in fruit and vegetable incentive or discount programs administered through, or consistent with, evidence-based Federal nutrition incentive models, including programs authorized under section 4141 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (commonly known as the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program), or successor programs; and
6. other activities determined appropriate by the Secretary to advance the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. COORDINATION WITH EXISTING PROGRAMS.

(a) Healthy Food Financing Initiative.—In carrying out this Act, the Secretary shall coordinate with the Healthy Food Financing Initiative authorized under section 243 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (7 U.S.C. § 6953).
(b) New Markets Tax Credit Priority.—The Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, shall, to the extent practicable, prioritize or set aside allocation authority under section 45D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for investments in qualified food retail projects located in food deserts or high-need areas.

SECTION 7. ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT.

(a) Reporting Requirements.—Each recipient of assistance under this Act shall submit annual reports to the Secretary describing—
1. the use of funds;
2. progress toward project completion;
3. measures of food access improvement, including distance or travel time to fresh food retailers; and
4. participation levels among low-income households.
(b) Administrative Cost Limitation.—Not more than 5 percent of assistance provided under this Act may be used for administrative expenses, including indirect costs.
(c) Independent Evaluation.—The Secretary shall contract with an independent evaluator to assess program effectiveness using common outcome measures, including food access, affordability, store sustainability, and community impact.
(d) GAO Review.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review of the program not later than 2 years after enactment of this Act and periodically thereafter.

SECTION 8. DATA PRIVACY AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

(a) Privacy Protections.—Recipients shall minimize the collection of personal data, use such data solely for program administration, and comply with applicable Federal privacy and information security requirements.
(b) Civil Rights Compliance.—All activities funded under this Act shall comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require ideological alignment or participation beyond voluntary program requirements.

SECTION 9. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit State, local, Tribal, or private-sector authority, or to require participation by any individual or entity. In the event of a conflict with existing law, this Act shall control to the extent of the conflict.

SECTION 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act for fiscal years 2028 through 2032.