[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 124 (Thursday, July 9, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





    INTRODUCTION OF THE AMERICAN FARMS, FOOD BANKS, AND FAMILIES ACT

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                           HON. DAN NEWHOUSE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 9, 2020

  Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, today, I am introducing the American 
Farms, Food Banks, and Families Act, which authorizes a new position 
within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) tasked with 
ensuring the nation's food supply chain remains a national priority.
  This legislation authorizes the establishment of an ``Agriculture 
Supply Chain Administrator,'' either designated or appointed by the 
Secretary of Agriculture within the USDA. The Administrator is charged 
with developing efficiencies and addressing key challenges within the 
domestic agriculture food supply chain.
  Key points to address by the Administrator include: identifying 
barriers, either regulatory or statutory, which prevent or inhibit 
domestic growers from offering their product to the domestic market 
through food distribution entities; promoting the domestic supply 
chain; and connecting growers with surplus products with appropriate 
food distribution organizations.
  The Administrator is also tasked with convening a Federal Advisory 
Committee with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), other 
appropriate federal agencies, and industry stakeholders to collaborate 
and advise the Administrator on addressing inefficiencies.
  Finally, the American Farms, Food Banks, and Families Act will 
establish--in coordination with AMS and industry stakeholders--a 
national database to record and report excess agricultural products and 
food distribution organizations in need of the available products

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