[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8852 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8852
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on food insecurity, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 15, 2022
Ms. Jacobs of California (for herself, Ms. Brownley, Mr. Levin of
California, and Ms. Speier) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on food insecurity, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``End Veteran Hunger Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM ON FOOD
INSECURITY.
(a) Authority.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting through
the Director of the National Nutrition and Food Services Office, shall
carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall--
(1) make grants to eligible entities for the purpose of
supporting partnerships that address food insecurity among
veterans and family members of veterans, including veterans who
receive services through Vet Centers or other facilities of the
Department of Veterans Affairs as determined by the Secretary;
and
(2) make grants to eligible entities for the purpose of
supporting partnerships that address food insecurity among
veterans who have recently transitioned from serving as members
of the Armed Forces to civilian life, and the family members of
such members.
(b) Distribution and Duration of Grants.--
(1) General grants.--The Secretary shall award at least
five grants under subsection (a)(1) to eligible entities that
principally serve Native Americans.
(2) Transition grants.--The Secretary shall award at least
one grant under subsection (a)(2) in five different geographic
areas that the Secretary determines have a high rate of
individuals described in such paragraph.
(3) Grant period.--A grant awarded to an eligible entity
under this section shall be for a period of two years, but the
Secretary may renew the grant for additional periods, subject
to subsection (h).
(c) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--Each grant awarded under this section
shall be used to carry out either or both of the following
activities:
(A) Increasing access to, and enrollment in,
Federal assistance programs, including the supplemental
nutrition assistance program under the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the
special supplemental nutrition program for women,
infants, and children established by section 17 of the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), the low-
income home energy assistance program established under
the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42
U.S.C. 8621 et seq.), and any other assistance program
that the Secretary determines advisable.
(B) Increasing participation in nutrition
counseling programs and providing educational materials
and counseling to veterans, and family members of
veterans, to address food insecurity and healthy diets
among those individuals.
(2) Additional use.--In addition to being used to carry out
either or both of the activities specified in paragraph (1),
any grant awarded under this section may be used to provide
direct food assistance to covered individuals, or otherwise to
provide assistance to covered individuals in accessing food.
(d) Applications.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under this
section shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require.
(e) Selection of Recipients.--The Secretary shall select eligible
entities that submit applications under subsection (d) for the award of
grants using a competitive process that takes into account the
following:
(1) The capacity of the applicant entity to serve covered
individuals.
(2) The demonstrated need of the population the applicant
entity would serve.
(3) The demonstrated need of the applicant entity for
assistance from the grants.
(4) The capacity of the applicant entity to serve covered
individuals from underserved or disadvantaged populations.
(5) Such other criteria as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(f) Multiple Grants.--The Secretary may award grants to an eligible
entity under both paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a).
(g) Information.--
(1) Collection.--The Secretary shall collect such
information from eligible entities that receive a grant under
this section as the Secretary determines appropriate to monitor
and evaluate the use of grants, including--
(A) data regarding the results or outcomes of the
services provided to covered individuals under the
grant; and
(B) data regarding how activities or programs
carried out under the grant contribute to specific
goals, including eligibility screening, application
assistance, and food insecurity.
(2) Form and manner.--Information under paragraph (1) shall
be furnished in such form and manner as the Secretary may
specify.
(h) Duration of Program.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot
program under this section for a five-year period.
(i) Reports Required.--
(1) Reports.--
(A) Initial report.--Not later than three years
after the date on which the pilot program under this
section commences, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture,
shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of
the House of Representatives and the Senate an initial
report on veteran food insecurity.
(B) Final report.--Not later than the two years
after the date on which the pilot program under this
section concludes, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture,
shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of
the House of Representatives and the Senate a final
report on veteran food insecurity.
(2) Matters.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall include
the findings of a study on the effectiveness of the grants made
under such pilot program (including an analysis of the data
specified in subsection (g)(1)), disaggregated by grants
awarded under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a),
respectively. With respect to grants awarded under such
paragraph (2), such study shall--
(A) measure the need for food assistance by
individuals described in such paragraph (2); and
(B) include a description of how improving access
to food during the period in which an individual
transitions from service in the armed forces to
civilian life affects the outcomes of the individual
and the family of the individual.
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for fiscal years
2023 through 2027.
(k) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``covered individual'' means any veteran or
family member described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection
(a).
(2) The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a nonprofit organization;
(B) a veterans service organization;
(C) a Federal, State, or local government agency;
(D) an Indian Tribe or tribal organization;
(E) a community-based organization; or
(F) an institution of higher education.
(3) The terms ``Indian Tribe'' and ``tribal organization''
have the meanings given those terms in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304).
(4) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the
meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(5) The term ``Native American'' has the meaning given that
term in section 3765 of title 38, United States Code.
(6) The term ``State'' means each of the several States,
territories, and possessions of the United States, the District
of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(7) The term ``veterans service organization'' means any
organization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
for the representation of veterans under section 5902 of title
38, United States Code.
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