H.R. 9950: Healthy Commissaries, Healthy Families Act

This bill would direct the Defense Commissary Agency to run a program to increase the availability, visibility, affordability, and promotion of healthy foods at military commissaries in the United States.

What it would require

• The Defense Commissary Agency would have to designate an employee as a Director of Healthy Foods for commissaries.
• Within 180 days, the Secretary of Defense, working with the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Agriculture, would have to submit a plan to Congress explaining how it will improve healthy food options at commissaries.
• That plan would need to include:
  • a strategy and timeline for expanding healthy food availability;
  • steps to use local farmers and farmers markets;
  • the resources needed to carry out the bill’s requirements; and
  • any suggested administrative or legislative changes needed to help.
• After the plan is submitted, the same agencies would have to brief Congress on it within 30 days.
• Within 180 days after the plan is submitted, the agencies would have to set up procedures to:
  • coordinate nutrition research;
  • share best practices for buying healthy foods;
  • increase healthy food offerings at commissaries;
  • identify nearby farmers, farmers markets, and other community sources that could help supply commissaries;
  • promote nutrition education for military families; and
  • share relevant data across the Defense, Health and Human Services, and Agriculture departments.
• The bill would also require outreach to local agricultural producers and farmers markets near commissaries to find ways to increase participation in supplying healthy foods.
• The Defense Commissary Agency would have to post online location-specific resources about healthy foods near each commissary, including nearby farms and farmers markets.
• Within one year after the plan is submitted, the Secretary of Defense would have to report to Congress on how the program is working, including progress, outreach efforts, food availability, sales trends, costs, procurement challenges, and military family satisfaction.

Additional details

• The bill defines healthy food as food consistent with the most recent federal dietary guidelines.
• The requirements would end on December 31, 2030.

Relevant Companies

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