Last week, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) introduced two bipartisan bills in Washington aimed at improving Americans’ health and financial stability—one expanding access to nutritious foods through “food pharmacies,” and another helping individuals build credit through alternative payment history reporting.
The Food Farmacy Act, co-led by Reps. Emilia Sykes (D-OH) and Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), seeks to broaden access to nutritious food and provide essential nutritional education. Food pharmacies typically operate through hospitals or healthcare providers, giving patients access to healthy food options alongside treatment and education. Research indicates these programs can significantly improve diet-related health outcomes by increasing nutritional knowledge and eliminating barriers to healthy eating.
“Too many Oregonians—and Americans—live in food deserts without access to nutritious food options that don’t break the bank,” said Rep. Bynum. “Food pharmacies help close the gap in these communities by providing access to these options and information about making healthy choices. I’m proud to be leading this bipartisan legislation to support these initiatives and keep our families healthy and thriving.”
Rep. Sykes highlighted her previous experience implementing a food pharmacy program in Ohio.
“I know food farmacies work because, as a state legislator, I created a program to fund the establishment of food farmacies in Ohio and have seen the positive impact they can have on patients battling chronic illness,” said Bynum. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to create a national program to expand food farmacies.”
“For many in South Texas, access to healthy food and nutritional education is a major challenge,” said Rep. De La Cruz. “Food pharmacies offer a solution by not only providing nutritious options but also educating on healthy diet habits. This bipartisan bill will unlock federal funding, ensuring more operations can reach low-income and rural communities and lead to better health for more Americans.”
In a separate legislative effort, Bynum also introduced the Credit Access and Inclusion Act with Congresswoman Young Kim (R-CA), aiming to help millions of Americans with limited or no credit history build and strengthen their credit scores.
The bill targets approximately 26 million “credit invisible” Americans by allowing rent, utility, internet, phone, and other recurring payments to count toward credit histories—providing a new path for individuals who lack traditional credit lines.
“Every American should have the opportunity to participate in our economy—building credit plays a big role in making that happen,” said Rep. Bynum. “Everybody has to start somewhere, and making rent and utility payments on time should count. My bill makes it easier for people to build good credit when paying for their monthly expenses, and I’m proud of its bipartisan support.”
Rep. Kim echoed the importance of modernizing credit reporting.
“Having good credit opens new doors for Americans. Unfortunately, our credit system has not kept up with technology, keeping Americans from building their credit score despite consistently practicing healthy financial behavior,” said Kim. “The Credit Access and Inclusion Act brings credit reporting into the 21st century so hardworking Americans can grow their credit and get a leg up.”
The Credit Access and Inclusion Act would:
• Allow landlords, utilities, and telecom providers to report on-time payments to credit agencies.
• Enable consumers to opt out of these reporting categories.
• Prevent utility companies from reporting late payments when consumers are enrolled in repayment or debt forgiveness programs.
Require a federal study on the impact of expanded reporting, including how additional data such as cash flow and payroll deposit verification could improve credit scores responsibly.
