[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 30, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S4924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3147. Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by her to the bill S. 2296, to authorize appropriations for 
fiscal year 2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, 
for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department 
of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal 
year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the end of part II of subtitle F of title V, add the 
     following:

     SEC. 562. MILITARY FAMILY FOOD SECURITY TASK FORCE.

       (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Defense shall 
     establish a Military Family Food Security Task Force (in this 
     section referred to as the ``Task Force'') to address food 
     insecurity among members of the Armed Forces and their 
     families, living both on and off military installations.
       (b) Goals.--The goals of the Task Force shall be--
       (1) to improve access to nutritious food for members of the 
     Armed Forces and their families;
       (2) to identify gaps in existing food assistance programs 
     affecting military families and propose scalable solutions; 
     and
       (3) to develop initiatives to ensure sustainable food 
     security for military families.
       (c) Membership.--
       (1) In general.--The Task Force shall be made up of 
     representatives of the following:
       (A) The Department of Defense.
       (B) Nonprofit organizations specializing in food insecurity 
     and veterans' services.
       (C) Experts in nutrition, public health, and social 
     services.
       (2) Chairperson.--An appropriate official of the Department 
     of Defense shall be the chairperson of the Task Force.
       (d) Assessments.--The Task Force shall assess--
       (1) existing programs designed to combat food insecurity 
     for military families, including the supplemental nutrition 
     assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition 
     Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), food banks, and military 
     family assistance programs;
       (2) barriers to access to those programs for military 
     families, such as location, eligibility issues, or the 
     deployment schedules of members of the Armed Forces;
       (3) the availability of nutritious food options on or near 
     military installations, including options available through 
     commissaries;
       (4) ways to improve access for military families to fresh 
     produce, lean proteins, and healthy meals, including through 
     food voucher programs or discounts for military families; and
       (5) options for partnerships with local farmers, food 
     suppliers, and community-based programs to create accessible 
     food distribution channels for military families.
       (e) Recommendations.--The Task Force shall develop 
     recommendations for innovative solutions to combat food 
     insecurity among military families, including by--
       (1) introducing mobile food pantries on military 
     installations and in military housing areas;
       (2) creating food voucher programs or discounts for 
     military families to access fresh food;
       (3) strengthening partnerships with local food banks to 
     improve food distribution; and
       (4) implantation of public-private partnerships with 
     corporate food services with the goal of providing healthy 
     food alternatives at a subsidized price level.
       (f) Data Collection and Use.--The Task Force shall--
       (1) collect data on food insecurity among military 
     families; and
       (2) establish a data-driven framework for evaluating food 
     access issues, which shall be used to prioritize areas of 
     need and track the impact of implemented solutions.
       (g) Reports Required.--
       (1) First report.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall submit to 
     the congressional defense committees a report that includes--
       (A) the results of the assessments conducted under 
     subsection (d); and
       (B) the recommendations developed under subsection (e).
       (2) Subsequent reports.--Not later than two years after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
     the Task Force shall submit to the congressional defense 
     committees a report that includes--
       (A) a description of actions taken pursuant to the 
     recommendations developed under subsection (e);
       (B) an assessment of progress made toward reducing food 
     insecurity among military families; and
       (C) any recommendations for improving the Task Force, 
     including any need for additional funds or other resources.
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