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New Yorkers deserve affordable groceries, not spin.

H.R. 4692 asks the FTC to study public grocery stores. Studying is fine. The way this bill is written leans against public options that can lower prices and fix food deserts.

Introduced July 23, 2025. 119th Congress. H. R. 4692.

Quick summary

Tells the FTC to study how public groceries affect prices, shoppers, farmers, and food banks.

The bill talks mostly about risks and skips clear benefits like cheaper staples and fewer food deserts.

FTC must report to Congress with findings and next steps.

What H.R. 4692 says

The bill orders a study of public grocery stores. It looks at competition, prices, farmers, and food banks. The FTC would use existing data and report back with recommendations.

Primary sections at a glance

Sec. 2 Findings

Frames public groceries as a problem and leaves out common benefits of public or co-op stores.

Sec. 3 Study scope

Focuses on business risks more than on shoppers in food deserts or fair treatment for small producers.

Sec. 3(b) Data

Uses old datasets. NYC pilots may not show up there. Add on-the-ground price checks and local surveys.

Sec. 3(c) Reports

Annual reports to Congress. Make the data public so New Yorkers can check the work.

Where the bill misses the mark

Starts with a presumption of harm
The bill starts by assuming harm. A fair study should weigh pros and cons the same way.
Competition is more than chain margins
Real competition means better prices for shoppers and on-time pay for local producers.
Food deserts need real options
Measure how long it takes to get groceries, what a basic basket costs, and whether healthy food is nearby.
Farmers need fair dealing
Check late payments, junk fees, and take-it-or-leave-it terms that hurt small farmers.
Data gaps
USDA and FTC data may miss city projects and co-ops. Do neighborhood price audits and short surveys.
One size does not fit all
City, county, tribal, and regional models differ. Test several approaches, not just one.

Receipts: what the right is pushing

Here is what right wing leaders keep doing when it comes to food and prices.

Cut food help
Push cuts and work rules that drop people from SNAP instead of lowering grocery prices.
Protect monopoly power
Side with big chains and distributors that add fees and squeeze small producers.
Block public options
Fight city or nonprofit price anchors that give shoppers a fair basics basket.
Culture war over solutions
Attack the idea of public groceries instead of fixing food deserts and long travel times.

What a balanced study looks like

We want a study that is fair, open, and focused on real life. Use this checklist to keep it honest.

  • Check the price of a simple basket of staples in every neighborhood.
  • Track how long people travel, how many stores are nearby, and if transit helps.
  • Include how fast small producers get paid and how often they get hit with fees.
  • Test different models: city-run, nonprofit, co-op, and public plus private.
  • Publish methods and anonymized data. Let experts check the work.
  • Measure price swings and how stores hold up during shortages.
Policy ideas that deserve study

Community price anchors

Public or nonprofit stores keep a low-margin basics basket that helps keep nearby prices honest.

Fair contract standards

Simple fair contracts for small producers. Clear delivery windows and payment in 15 days.

Open procurement

Transparent bids and local sourcing so more dollars stay in the neighborhood.

NYC basics basket

Use this simple list to price check in your neighborhood. We use common items you can find in most bodegas and supermarkets.

  • Dozen large eggs
  • Whole milk, 1 gallon
  • White bread, 1 loaf
  • Long grain rice, 2 lb
  • Dried beans, 1 lb
  • Chicken thighs, 2 lb
  • Apples, 3 lb bag
  • Onions, 3 lb bag
  • Cooking oil, 48 oz

Want to help? Send the total price and your cross streets. We will publish a city map of basket prices.

Act now

Stand up for fair groceries. Push back on right wing policies that cut food help and keep prices high.

Contact Congress

Call your Rep and Senators. Ask for a fair study that checks prices, access, and fair pay.

Share the toolkit

Share this page with friends and neighbors. Tell us what grocery prices look like near you.

Volunteer

Help collect price checks, map food deserts, and note payment terms for small producers.

Common questions

Does this force anyone to shop at a public store?
No. Public or nonprofit stores are just another option. You choose where to shop.
Is this a subsidy for government run retail?
Any support should be public. Private chains also take tax breaks. Use the same rules for all.
Will this hurt farmers?
Fair dealing can help farmers if they are paid on time and avoid junk fees. Measure it.
Why focus on food deserts?
Because many New Yorkers pay more in time and money to get basic food. That should change.
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Primary source

H. R. 4692. Introduced July 23, 2025. Text as introduced in House. 119th Congress.

We will add the official GPO or Congress.gov link when published.