Introduction of Supermarket Tax Credit for Underserved Areas Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Supermarket Tax Credit for Underserved Areas Act, which I introduced earlier today. If enacted, this bill would provide tax incentives for the establishment of supermarkets in urban and rural areas without access to fresh food.

It is hard to believe, but more than 23 million Americans, including many residents in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, live in communities that lack access to fresh food. I believe that is simply unacceptable in a nation as great as ours.

No American should have to live in a so-called, ``food desert.'' According to the Department of Agriculture, a ``food desert'' is a low income neighborhood that lacks grocery stores within a 1 mile proximity for urban residents and 10 miles for rural residents. Many families in these neighborhoods face transportation challenges and rely on corner convenience stores that often stock processed snack products (potato chips, soft drinks, and candy) rather than fresh meat and produce. Studies have shown that access to healthy food choices can help prevent many diet-related illnesses, including diabetes, obesity, hypertension, heart disease and digestive diseases.

That is why I introduced Supermarket Tax Credit for Underserved Areas Act. This legislation seeks to reduce food deserts, create jobs and boost local economies by increasing the rehabilitation tax credit for supermarkets that open stores in food desert communities. The bill would also increase the work employment tax credit for supermarkets that hire disadvantaged youth, community residents, veterans and ex-felons. Finally, Supermarket Tax Credit for Underserved Areas Act would provide a tax credit for supermarkets that purchase their fresh fruits and vegetables from local growers.

I urge my colleagues to support this much needed legislation.

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