Findings

Congress finds the following: (1) The retail grocery sector is a critical component of the food supply chain and economy of the United States. (2) Recent proposals in various municipalities have advocated for public grocery stores. (3) Such proposals raise questions about— (A) the competitive dynamics between public and private grocery stores with respect to pricing, market access, and consumer choice; (B) impacts on farmers and food banks; and (C) long-term sustainability. (4) The Federal Trade Commission has expertise in analyzing competitive practices with respect to retail markets and is well positioned to assess the effects of government entry into consumer markets.