# American Food Supply Chain Resiliency Act of 2023

This bill creates a network of regional support centers across the country designed to help small and medium-sized farms and food businesses strengthen their supply chains and grow their operations. The government would establish at least 12 of these Regional Food and Supply Chain Resource Centers, each serving a specific geographic area. These centers would be run by organizations like universities, nonprofits, farmer associations, or state governments that win competitive grants to operate them.

The centers would provide practical help to smaller agricultural producers and food businesses that often struggle to compete with large operations. This includes offering technical advice on how to organize supply chains more efficiently, helping businesses expand or start new operations through grants and financial assistance, and connecting local producers with each other and with government resources. One center would specifically focus on helping Native American tribes address their unique food and supply chain challenges. The centers would also work together across regions when it makes sense, so a farmer in one state could potentially benefit from knowledge and connections in neighboring states.

The bill requires these centers to pay special attention to underserved communities that have historically had fewer resources and opportunities in agriculture. Every two years, the government would report to Congress on how well these centers are working, what activities they're conducting, and whether they're actually helping small and medium-sized producers solve their supply chain problems. Additionally, the bill expands an existing Agriculture Innovation Centers Program to include work on strengthening agricultural supply chains, giving these centers more tools to support American farming and food production.