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Release: Congressional Members Reintroduce Legislation that Creates Fairer Competition, Advances Environmental Health, and Protects Workers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
press@sustainableagriculture.net
Tel. 347.563.6408

Release: Congressional Members Reintroduce Legislation that Creates Fairer Competition, Advances Environmental Health, and Protects Workers

Washington, DC, December 15, 2025 – Representatives Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jim McGovern (D-MA-2), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-7), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Cleo Fields (D-LA-4), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-2), André Carson (D-IN-7) and Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the Enabling Farmer, Foodworker, Environmental, and Climate Targets through Innovative, Values-aligned, and Equitable (EFFECTIVE) Food Procurement Act in the House. The bill offers an alternative approach to making food purchasing decisions, and a better way to spend public dollars on food.

“Every year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) spends billions on food purchases with a concentrated few

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Release: Farm Bill Extension, USDA Funding Bill Underwhelm

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net

Tel. 347.563.6408

Release: Farm Bill Extension, USDA Funding Bill Underwhelm

Washington, DC, November 10, 2025 – After weeks of uncertainty, Congress has unveiled a one-year extension of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 as well as the fiscal year (FY) 2026 agriculture appropriations bill, a package that, according to the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) could undermine conservation efforts and limit support for family farmers.

“After weeks of uncertainty, legislation unveiled over the weekend opts to needlessly restrict farmers’ ability to reduce input costs, invest in clean water, and build healthy soil. The FY2026 agriculture appropriations bill cuts nearly $ 100 million in support for conservation technical assistance, and the proposed farm bill extension fails to extend conservation program payment limits. Taken together, these bills make it harder

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Release: NSAC Welcomes the Reintroduction of the Bicameral Capital for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act

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Washington, DC, September 17, 2025 – This week, Representatives Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Alma Adams (D-NC-12), and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) reintroduced the Capital for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act in the House and the Senate.

The Capital for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act directs the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to develop a multi-year operating loan pilot for beginning farmers to finance initial assets and the development of production and management systems. These expenditures can include intangible business infrastructure for crop records, payroll, and regulatory compliance, investments to increase soil fertility, and more.

“The Capital for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act provides necessary support for the next generation of farmers and ranchers, who face high-start up costs and too often struggle to repay loans within their first year of operation. This practical and balanced pilot program would alleviate challenges with limited

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Release: Strong Farms, Strong Futures Act Introduced

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net1

Tel. 347.563.6408

Release: Strong Farms, Strong Futures Act Introduced

Washington, DC, July 18, 2025 – On Wednesday, Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL) and Zach Nunn (R-IA) introduced the Strong Farms, Strong Futures Act. This bill directs NRCS to establish region and production-specific climate change mitigation bundles within CSP. This expands options available to producers and increases financial support for practices that improve climate resilience and provide additional benefits like increased soil health and water quality. These incentives will help producers expand their climate stewardship and empower more producers to be leaders of America’s ongoing efforts to build innovative conservation systems.

“The Strong Farms, Strong Futures Act provides ever greater producer choice in the Conservation Stewardship Program. This bill strengthens CSPs ability to provide robust cost-share for producers building complex, innovative

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Release: Bipartisan House Bill Connects Local Farmers to Food Insecure Communities

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net

Tel. 347.563.6408

Release: Bipartisan House Bill Connects Local Farmers to Food Insecure Communities

Washington, DC, July 30, 2025 – On Tuesday, July 29, Representatives Robert Bresnahan (R-PA-8), David Valadao (R-CA-22), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1), Josh Riley (D-NY-19), Tony Wied (R-WI-8), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-4), Zachary Nunn (R-IA-3), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Eugene Vindman (D-VA-7), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), and Alma Adams (D-NC-12) introduced the Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act (LFFC) of 2025 (H.R. 4782). The LFFC Act would establish and expand relationships between local producers and food distribution networks that create new market opportunities for farmers and improve community food security. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds House champions for their practical approach to addressing local food insecurity. This bill would provide critical access to fresh, …

Release: Bipartisan Senate Bill Boosts Local Farmers and Expands Access to Healthy Food for Families

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Zaks

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

press@sustainableagriculture.net

Tel. 347.563.6408

Release: Bipartisan Senate Bill Boosts Local Farmers and Expands Access to Healthy Food for Families

Washington, DC, July 22, 2025 – On Friday, July 18, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Jim Justice (R-WV) introduced the Strengthening Local Food Security (SLFS) Act of 2025 (S. 2338). The SLFS Act would catalyze new market opportunities for local farmers and food businesses while providing nutritious foods to communities in need. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) applauds Senators Reed and Justice for offering a bipartisan solution that readies producers with reliable markets, allowing them to invest and expand their operations.

“The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases billions of dollars of food annually for federal nutrition programs, yet these purchases are mostly made from a small number of

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Release: Congress Sends Reconciliation Bill to President’s Desk, Cannibalizing American Food and Farm System

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mike Lavender

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

mlavender@sustainableagriculture.net

Tel. 734.417.8710

Release: Congress Sends Reconciliation Bill to President’s Desk, Cannibalizing American Food and Farm System

Washington, DC, July 3, 2025 –– The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) issued the following comment, attributable to Mike Lavender, NSAC Policy Director, following the House of Representatives’ 218-214 approval of the Senate’s budget reconciliation legislation. The House vote sends the legislation to the President’s desk, where it will be signed into law.

“We don’t need to wait for history to accurately judge this legislation. The bill’s vision for America is one where it’s ok to spite your neighbor if it puts you ahead. The passage of this bill is the moment when elected officials decided that taking food off the plate of hungry children, seniors, and veterans was an acceptable price …

Release: Seventh Class of Cynthia Hayes Scholarship Recipients Honor Her Legacy

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Washington, DC, June 26, 2025 – The Southeastern African American Farmers’ Organic Network (SAAFON) and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) announced that three students have been awarded the Cynthia Hayes Memorial Scholarship. The three student awardees: Vicki Mines, Alaina Parr, and Mikelanj Ajinaku were each presented with $ 5,000 to support their continued work in sustainable agriculture and bolster their commitments to promoting racial equity in food and farm systems.

The scholarship was created as a tribute to SAAFON’s former director, the late Cynthia Hayes. Cynthia filled a key need for connection when she co-founded SAAFON, the first network for African American organic farmers in the US, and dedicated her life to serving communities in California, the Caribbean, and, of course, the Southeast.

NSAC is one of many nonprofits that Cynthia enriched. She was a key inspiration for NSAC’s …