According to recent data from USDA, nearly 40 million Americans live in food deserts, areas defined to be without grocery stores within one or more miles in urban regions, and ten or more miles in rural regions.
In Virginia alone, there are more than 1 million individuals living in food deserts.
Studies have shown that Americans who live in communities with low-access to healthy food options are at higher risk for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), joined by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), has introduced the Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act, which aims to expand access to affordable and nutritious food in areas designated as “food deserts” by the USDA.
“Today, too many Americans lack access to fresh nutritious and healthy foods. Unfortunately, that reality has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis, which has made it even more difficult for working families to seek out and afford healthy foods,” Warner said. “That’s why I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill that will serve as an important tool to combat food insecurity in our communities.”
The bill would provide incentives to food providers to expand access to healthy foods in these underserved communities and reduce the number of food deserts nationwide.
The legislation defines a grocery market as a retail sales store with at least 35 percent of its selection (or forecasted selection) dedicated to selling fresh produce, poultry, dairy, and deli items – would spark investment in food deserts across the country that have a poverty rate of 20 percent or higher, or a median family income of less than 80 percent of the median for the state or metro area.
The bill would grant tax credits or grants to food providers who service low-access communities and attain a “Special Access Food Provider” certification through the Treasury Department.
Incentives would be awarded based on the following structure:
- New Store Construction: Companies that construct new grocery stores in a food desert will receive a onetime 15 percent tax credit after receiving certification.
- Retrofitting Existing Structures: Companies that make retrofits to an existing store’s healthy food sections can receive a onetime 10 percent tax credit after the repairs certify the store as an SAFP.
- Food Banks: Certified food banks that build new (permanent) structures in food deserts will be eligible to receive a onetime grant for 15 percent of their construction costs.
- Temporary Access Merchants: Certified temporary access merchants (i.e. mobile markets, farmers markets, and some food banks) that are 501(c)(3)s will receive grants for 10 percent of their annual operating costs.
The Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act boasts the support of numerous organizations, including Feeding America, the National Grocers Association, Share Our Strength, and Bread for the World.
“Feeding America commends Sen. Warner for confronting the unfortunate fact that the burdens faced by the 40 million Americans living with hunger are even worse for those who live in food deserts. Our network of 200 member food banks understands that areas without affordable, healthy food options have higher rates of food insecurity exacerbated by the lack access to adequate transportation to the nearest food pantry or grocery market. Feeding America supports the Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act and believes it is a critical step to give nonprofits and retailers support to increase food access in underserved areas,” said Kate Leone, chief government relations officer at Feeding America.
“The National Grocers Association embraces Senator Warner’s efforts to remove the obstacles faced by grocers looking to expand access to nutritious food for rural and urban communities without a supermarket,” said Molly Pfaffenroth, senior director of government relations at National Grocers Association. “Independent community grocers are the heartbeat of the areas they serve and historically are leaders in reaching out to those most in need of better food options. Communities are stronger both physically and economically when they have better access to healthy food, so we look forward to working with Congress on this important bipartisan legislation.”
“To end childhood hunger in America, we must ensure that low-income families, have equitable access to healthy, affordable food options no matter their zip code or circumstances. Ending food deserts will help more families put food on the table and help children get the nutrition they need to grow up healthy and strong. Share Our Strength supports The Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act and thanks Sens. Warner, Moran, Casey, and Capito for their leadership on this issue,” said Billy Shore, founder and executive chair of Share Our Strength.
“Bread for the World is once again excited to see a bipartisan effort to address food deserts and improve access to nutritious food in low-income areas across America. With 1 in 6 Americans and 1 in 4 children experiencing food insecurity during this pandemic, this legislation is desperately needed. Bread for the World thanks Senators Warner, Moran, Casey and Capito for introducing this bill to reduce hunger in communities and improve health across the country,” said Heather Valentine, director of government relations of Bread for the World.
Companion legislation will soon be introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.).
Bill text for the Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act can be found here. A summary of the bill can be found here.
Population of Virginians by city or county living in food deserts as defined in this bill:
- Accomack: 4401
- Albemarle: 3765
- Amherst: 10217
- Augusta: 11919
- Bath: 4731
- Bland: 3901
- Botetourt: 7792
- Brunswick: 8041
- Buckingham: 8400
- Campbell: 8756
- Caroline: 3278
- Carroll: 4767
- Charlotte: 12586
- Chesterfield: 38638
- Culpeper: 18511
- Cumberland: 10052
- Dinwiddie: 12196
- Essex: 8026
- Fairfax: 11213
- Floyd: 9102
- Franklin: 25439
- Grayson: 5277
- Halifax: 27851
- Hanover: 4243
- Henrico: 39618
- Henry: 22130
- Highland: 2321
- James City: 4014
- King and Queen: 3881
- Loudoun: 3869
- Mecklenburg: 17632
- Montgomery: 32249
- Nelson: 5696
- Nottoway: 9783
- Orange: 4934
- Patrick: 11262
- Pittsylvania: 23119
- Prince Edward: 10624
- Prince George: 8543
- Prince William: 55128
- Rappahannock: 7373
- Rockbridge: 15873
- Rockingham: 11530
- Scott: 7959
- Shenandoah: 9068
- Smyth: 3913
- Southampton: 7958
- Spotsylvania: 21803
- Stafford: 12818
- Sussex: 6377
- Tazewell: 12740
- Warren: 14335
- Wise: 9566
- Wythe: 6773
- Bristol: 13982
- Buena Vista: 6650
- Charlottesville: 6616
- Chesapeake: 33605
- Covington: 3098
- Danville: 15545
- Franklin City: 8582
- Fredericksburg: 8988
- Hampton: 38928
- Harrisonburg: 9016
- Hopewell: 12120
- Lexington: 7042
- Lynchburg: 29886
- Manassas: 7678
- Manassas Park: 6248
- Martinsville: 6166
- Newport News: 38292
- Norfolk: 62583
- Petersburg: 22639
- Portsmouth: 11862
- Radford: 12260
- Richmond City: 62381
- Roanoke City: 39950
- Salem: 10424
- Suffolk: 9752
- Virginia Beach: 27205
- Waynesboro: 5240
- Williamsburg: 4138
Total: 1,186,877
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