Washington, D.C. – 7/23/25… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the Measuring Adverse Market Disruption And National Impact (MAMDANI) Act, legislation that directs the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a comprehensive study into the competitive, economic, and supply chain impacts of government-owned grocery stores.

As municipalities across the country, including some in New York, entertain proposals to open public grocery stores, this legislation calls on the FTC to investigate potential consequences of using taxpayer dollars to compete against local, private-sector grocers. 

The MAMDANI Act requires the FTC, in coordination with USDA agencies, to evaluate the downstream effects these government-run entities could have on food prices, consumer access, farmers, charitable food organizations, and the long-term health of the retail grocery market.

“Government-run grocery stores raise serious questions about market fairness and taxpayer accountability,” said Congressman Lawler. “The MAMDANI Act ensures we carefully assess the potential impacts of such proposals before public funds are committed, or they risk undermining local businesses and disrupting supply chains, ultimately leaving consumers worse off,” said Congressman Lawler. 

By mandating an analysis of how public grocery stores might affect prices received by producers, purchasing power in food supply chains, and whether these initiatives actually address food deserts or simply create a new layer of government-run inefficiency, the bill aims to ensure that policymakers fully understand the potential consequences before embracing such proposals.

The FTC’s findings will be submitted in a public report to Congress and updated annually with recommendations for legislative or regulatory action.

“Zohran Mamdani’s push for government-owned grocery stores is straight out of the Marxist playbook, and history shows exactly how this experiment ends. New Yorkers deserve solutions, not socialist fantasies that have failed spectacularly every time they've been tried,” concluded Congressman Lawler.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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Full text of the bill can be found HERE.