[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 148 (Thursday, September 21, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S14087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEAHY (for himself and Mr. Harkin):
  S. 1265. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make 
temporary assistance available to support community food security 
projects designed to meet the food needs of low-income people, increase 
the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs, 
and promote comprehensive, inclusive, and future-oriented solutions to 
local food, farm, and nutrition problems, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


                the community food security act of 1995

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today I am introducing a bill with Senator 
Harkin which is designed to help communities alleviate hunger at the 
local level. The Community Food Security Act of 1995 will provide one-
time grants to local organizations which are working to both meet the 
immediate food needs of low-income people while seeking future-oriented 
solutions to local food, farm and nutrition problems.
  This is a good bill. It enjoyed strong bipartisan support in the 
House.
  The Community Food Security Act will provide Federal support to local 
projects such as farmers market nutrition programs, food policy 
councils, community gardens and urban farms all of which promote good 
nutrition while helping family farms. At a time when many people are 
advocating that we give more power to the States--this bill goes one 
step further. The Community Food Security Act will give money directly 
to the private organizations who know where it is most needed.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

       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 ``Community Food Security Act 
     of 1995''.

     SEC. 2. ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY PROJECTS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Community food security project.--The term ``community 
     food security project'' means a community-based project 
     that--
       (A) is designed to--
       (i) meet the food needs of low-income people;
       (ii) increase the self-reliance of communities in providing 
     for their own food needs; and
       (iii) promote comprehensive, inclusive, and future-oriented 
     solutions to local food, farm, and nutrition problems; and
       (B) requires a one-time infusion of Federal assistance to 
     become self-sustaining.
       (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an 
     entity that has experience in the area of--
       (A) community food work, including the development of new 
     markets in low-income communities for agricultural producers, 
     particularly small- and medium-sized farms; or
       (B) job training and business development activities for 
     food-related businesses in low-income communities.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Agriculture.
       (b) Authorization.--The Secretary may make grants to assist 
     eligible entities in establishing and carrying out community 
     food security projects.
       (c) Applications.--An eligible entity may submit to the 
     Secretary an application, in such form and containing such 
     information as the Secretary may require, that--
       (1) demonstrates competency in implementing a community 
     food security project;
       (2) demonstrates fiscal accountability;
       (3) contains an agreement that the entity will collect data 
     and prepare reports and other documentation, as required by 
     the Secretary; and
       (4) demonstrates that the entity is willing to participate 
     in a continuing assessment of regional food security and to 
     share information with researchers, practitioners, and other 
     interested parties.
       (d) Preference for Certain Projects.--In selecting 
     community food security projects to be supported by grants 
     under subsection (b), the Secretary shall give preference to 
     projects designed--
       (1) to develop linkages between 2 or more sectors of the 
     food system;
       (2) to support the development of entrepreneurial solutions 
     to local food problems;
       (3) to develop innovative linkages between the for-profit 
     and nonprofit food sectors; or
       (4) to encourage long-term planning activities and 
     multisystem, interagency approaches.
       (e) Matching Funds.--
       (1) Requirements.--The Federal share of the cost of 
     establishing or carrying out a community food security 
     project that receives assistance under subsection (b) may not 
     exceed 50 percent of the cost during the term of the grant.
       (2) Calculation.--The non-Federal share of the cost of 
     carrying out a community food security project may be 
     provided through a payment in cash or in kind, fairly 
     evaluated, including facilities, equipment, or services from 
     private, State, or local sources.
       (f) Single Grant.--A community food security project may be 
     supported by only a single grant under subsection (b), for a 
     term of not to exceed 3 years.
       (g) Technical Assistance and Related Information.--The 
     Secretary shall--
       (1) provide technical assistance regarding community food 
     security projects, processes, and development to entities 
     seeking such assistance;
       (2) provide for the sharing of information about community 
     food security projects and issues among and between 
     government agencies, private for-profit and nonprofit groups, 
     and the public through publications, conferences, and other 
     appropriate form; and
       (3) participate in assessments of regional food security 
     and share information with researchers, practitioners, and 
     other interested parties.
       (h) Evaluation and Report.--The Secretary shall--
       (1) provide for the evaluation of community food security 
     projects supported using funds under this section; and
       (2) not later than January 30, 2000, submit to Congress a 
     report on the results of the evaluation.
       (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $4,000,000 for 
     each of fiscal years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000.

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