Senate Republicans have introduced the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools Act (HEALS). The bill is the fourth COVID-19 response package, and its one whole paragraph is dedicated to farm and food systems.

The bill provides for nearly $20 billion to continue USDA responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been learnt that Perdue would utilize the funds to replenish the coffers of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) which Perdue has used to pay for both direct aid to farmers and to create the Farmers to Families Food Box Programs, the two parts of USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).