De La Cruz, Sykes, Bynum Introduce Bipartisan Food Farmacy Act

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) and Emilia Sykes (OH-13), co-chairs of the Bipartisan Women's Caucus, along with Bipartisan Women's Caucus Vice Chair Janelle Bynum (OR-05), introduced the bipartisan Food Farmacy Act to expand access to nutritious foods and provide nutritional guidance through food farmacies.

"For many in South Texas, access to healthy food and nutritional education is a major challenge. Food farmacies offer a solution by not only providing nutritious options but also educating on healthy diet habits. This bipartisan bill will unlock federal funding, ensuring more operations can reach low-income and rural communities and lead to better health for more Americans." - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz

"I know food farmacies work because, as a state legislator, I created a program to fund the establishment of food farmacies in Ohio and have seen the positive impact they can have on patients battling chronic illness. I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to create a national program to expand food farmacies and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure every American can access healthy food." - Congresswoman Emilia Sykes

"Too many Oregonians - and Americans - live in food deserts without access to nutritious food options that don't break the bank. Food pharmacies help close the gap in these communities by providing access to these options and information about making healthy choices. I'm proud to be leading this bipartisan legislation to support these initiatives and keep our families healthy and thriving." - Congresswoman Janelle Bynum

Background:
The Food Farmacy Act will:
Authorize $10 million for each fiscal year from 2026 to 2030 for grants to support food farmacies;
Provide funding to eligible entities to construct, convert, or renovate space for a food farmacy;
Provide funding for equipment, staffing, and food for the food farmacy;
Make non-profit health care providers, State and local governments, and Tribal organizations eligible for this funding ;
Require eligible entities to include a plan for long-term sustainability beyond the expiration of their grant to ensure the food farmacy can operate for years to come;
Require a report to Congress on the effectiveness of this program.
Food farmacies and similar programs operate out of hospitals or health care facilities. The programs allow patients to access nutrition education while receiving treatment and care.

This week, De La Cruz, Sykes, and Bynum sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy to inform him of the introduction of this legislation and its connection to the priorities he has stated in the Make America Healthy Agenda. Read the full letter here.

In July 2025, Congresswoman De La Cruz visited Akron Children's Hospital with Congresswoman Sykes to see their food farmacy firsthand and hear from hospital employees about the impact it has made on their patients' health and well-being.