H.R. 10680: Food Access in Community Health Centers Act of 2026 (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill would create a new federal grant program, run by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to help community health centers improve access to food for their patients.

What the program would do

Within one year of enactment, HHS would have to set up a competitive grant program. Grants could be awarded to eligible partnerships, which are made up of:

a community health center, and
an emergency feeding operation, such as a food bank, food pantry, soup kitchen, or similar nonprofit.

The grants could be used for projects that:

create a physical space in or next to a community health center where food can be made available;
provide a vehicle that brings food to the health center on a set schedule; or
help pay the costs of operating those services, including buying, transporting, storing, or distributing food.

How much funding could be awarded

Each grant would be capped at $500,000.

Reporting requirements

HHS would have to publicly release a report within two years after the law takes effect, and then every year after that. The report would need to include:

an evaluation of how well the program is working;
an analysis of how the program affects food insecurity among patients at community health centers; and
recommendations for improving the program.

Definitions used in the bill

The bill defines community health center by referring to federally qualified health centers under the Social Security Act. It defines emergency feeding operation broadly to include nonprofit organizations that provide food assistance, such as food banks and food pantries.