NGA Applauds Passage of Funding Bill Addressing Major Affordability Issues and Competition

• February 3, 2026

Washington, D.C. - The National Grocers Association applauds the passage of the FY 2026 appropriations minibus, which advances critical reforms addressing major challenges facing independent community grocers and the customers they serve. The package includes long-sought pharmacy benefit manager reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and fairness in the prescription drug marketplace, reflecting years of advocacy by NGA and its partners to rein in practices that have driven up patient costs, strained community pharmacies, and obscured how prescription drug dollars flow through the system.

The legislation also reinforces the importance of competition across the grocery, pharmacy, and retail sectors. Through the accompanying committee report to H.R. 7006, lawmakers clearly urge the Federal Trade Commission to fully utilize its existing statutory authorities to promote fair competition, particularly in rural and underserved communities where limited competition can lead to higher prices and reduced access to essential goods.

"Congress is sending a clear signal that competition matters for affordability," said Chris Jones, Chief Government Relations Officer of the National Grocers Association. "The FTC already has the tools it needs to lower prices and restore balance in food, pharmacy, and retail markets. The Robinson-Patman Act was designed for exactly these circumstances, and this is the moment to use it to ensure independent grocers and community pharmacies can compete on a level playing field."

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About the National Grocers Association

NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 percent of the nation's overall economy and is responsible for generating more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers' associations, manufacturers and service suppliers.