On Capitol Hill, GCCA and Cold Chain Leaders Deliver Policy Priorities

Cold Storage Operators; Transportation and Logistics Professionals Urge Congress to Keep U.S. Agricultural Competitive, Remove Compliance Burdens for Distributors and 3PLs, and Tackle Food Waste 

July 15, 2026  | Washington, D.C. – Cold chain professionals from 13 states are on Capitol Hill today delivering five major industry priorities to members of Congress: support the inclusion of the FRIDGE Act in the Farm Bill; advance guidance and legislation that distinguishes non-owning logistics providers from audit and certification requirements they are unable to legally provide, and support H.R. 4987 (Food Date Labelling Act) and H.R. 5840 (Feed the Community Act)  in order to make food donation programs work at scale.  

This legislative support, plus two additional priorities for consideration by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); provide cold chain operators stability and modernization to ensure a safe, secure, and efficient movement of goods needed for communities in the U.S. and around the world to thrive.    

“The cold chain is the backbone that keeps this country’s food supply safe, affordable, and moving. Today, our members are showing up on Capitol Hill to make sure policymakers understand what that takes,” said Sara Stickler, GCCA President and CEO.  “By working together on essential cold chain modernization, we can build a regulatory environment and make practical investments that keep pace with global change. None of this happens without strong relationships — with members of Congress, with regulators, and with each other.” 

The 2026 fly-in began Tuesday with a program featuring panels on trade policy, updates from Capitol Hill staff, and traceability and FSMA 204. The afternoon included presentations from FSIS and FDA, and insights into the 2026 U.S. midterm elections from Torrey Advisors. Today, advocates are delivering a united message directly to lawmakers on Capitol Hill: the cold chain is critical infrastructure.  

Issues Background 

• FRIDGE Act | H.R. 2322/S.1119 – The Fortifying Refrigeration Infrastructure and Developing Global Exports (FRIDGE) Act directs USDA’s Foreign Ag Service to fund needs assessments, training, and technical assistance to build cold chain and port infrastructure in developing export markets.  

• Food Traceability | FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Section 204 – FDA’s Food Traceability Rule requires enhanced recordkeeping through Key Data Elements tied to Critical Tracking Events. 

• California Proposition 12 – Businesses seeking to supply covered food products, including pork and eggs, into California must be certified to ensure they are not supplying goods that do not meet defined animal welfare standards. This presents significant traceability and compliance challenges for third party distributors.  

• Trusted Partner Status and Digital Certification | USDA FSIS – FSIS Trusted Partner Status (TPS) is designed to modernize export re-inspection for meat, poultry, and siluriform products handled by 3PL providers.  

• Food Waste & Cold Chain Capacity | EPA – Cold chain capacity is a limiting factor in scaling voluntary food donation programs, like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s “Feed It Onward” initiative, not a lack of willing donors. 

About GCCA  

The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) advances the global temperature-controlled supply chain by championing safety, building trust, and driving sustainability, resiliency, and operational excellence across every link of the cold chain. Learn more at  www.gcca.org