US SB3471

Requires USDA to purchase foods supporting equity (from beginning/veteran/socially disadvantaged farmers, small farms), worker well-being (unionized vendors, worker justice certified), diversified supply chains (organic, animal welfare certified), and climate mitigation (reduced greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation-free sourcing)

Mandates a baseline report within 1 year and annual reports thereafter tracking USDA food spending by category, supplier information, and greenhouse gas emissions, with targets to increase values-aligned purchasing and reduce emissions by 2032

Establishes a 5-year best value procurement pilot program requiring at least 20% of annual USDA food spending to use tradeoff evaluation criteria rather than lowest-price bidding

Sets aside minimum $2,000,000 annually from FY2026-2031 for competitive procurement contracts with covered producers (beginning, veteran, socially disadvantaged farmers, and small/medium farms) and covered entities

Authorizes $25,000,000 for FY2026-2031 for competitive grants up to $100,000 per applicant to help covered producers obtain food safety certifications, audits, and liability insurance needed to become USDA vendors