S.Amdt. 3147

This amendment, submitted by Ms. Blunt Rochester, aims to add a new section to bill S. 2296 to create a Military Family Food Security Task Force.

The purpose of this Task Force is to handle food insecurity for members of the Armed Forces and their families who live both off and on military installations.

Goals and Actions

The Task Force is designed to achieve the following:

• Improve access to nutritious food and develop initiatives for sustainable food security.
• Identify gaps in current food assistance programs and propose solutions that can be scaled.
• Assess barriers to food access, such as eligibility, location, and deployment schedules.
• Evaluate food options on or near installations, including commissaries.
• Research ways to improve access to healthy meals, lean proteins, and fresh produce through discounts or vouchers.
• Explore partnerships with community-based programs, food suppliers, and local farmers.

Implementation and Oversight

To get this done, the amendment outlines these requirements:

• Membership: The group will include the Department of Defense (which will provide the chairperson), experts in public health, nutrition, and social services, and nonprofits focused on veterans' services and food insecurity.
• Recommendations: The Task Force will suggest solutions like mobile food pantries in housing areas, public-private partnerships for subsidized healthy food, and stronger ties with local food banks.
• Data: They must collect data on food insecurity to prioritize needs and track if solutions are working.
• Reports: The Task Force must send a report to congressional defense committees within one year, followed by annual reports starting two years after the Act is enacted.