H.R. 2883

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2883 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2883

To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to 
reduce food loss and waste, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 10, 2025

Ms. Pingree (for herself and Mr. Lawler) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to 
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to 
reduce food loss and waste, and for other purposes.

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 ``New Opportunities for Technological 
Innovation, Mitigation, and Education To Overcome Waste Act,'' or the 
``NO TIME TO Waste Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Commissioner.--The term ``Commissioner'' means the 
Commissioner of Food and Drugs.
(3) Food.--The term ``food'' means any raw, cooked, 
processed, or prepared substance, ice, beverage, or ingredient 
used or intended for use in whole or in part for human 
consumption.
(4) Food loss.--The term ``food loss'' means, with respect 
to food, that the food does not reach a consumer as a result of 
an issue in the production, storage, processing, or 
distribution phase.
(5) Food recovery.--The term ``food recovery'' means the 
collection of wholesome food that would otherwise go to waste 
and the redistribution of that food to feed people.
(6) Food spoilage.--The term ``food spoilage'' means a 
process or change that renders a food product undesirable or 
unacceptable for human consumption.
(7) Food waste.--The term ``food waste'' means, with 
respect to food, that the food is intended for human 
consumption but is unconsumed by humans for any reason at the 
retail or consumption phase.
(8) Liaison.--The term ``Liaison'' means the Food Loss and 
Waste Reduction Liaison established under section 224 of the 
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
6924).
(9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of Agriculture.
(10) Upcycled food product.--The term ``upcycled food 
product'' means a product that--
(A) is created from surplus food, unmarketable 
food, or edible or inedible food byproducts; and
(B) is made with ingredients that--
(i) otherwise would not have gone to human 
consumption;
(ii) are sourced and produced using supply 
chains for which upstream data can be verified 
and validated for accuracy; and
(iii) have a positive impact on the 
environment.

SEC. 3. OFFICE OF FOOD LOSS AND WASTE.

(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish in the Department 
of Agriculture an Office of Food Loss and Waste (referred to in this 
section as the ``Office'').
(b) Responsibilities.--The Office shall be responsible for--
(1) supporting the role and responsibilities of the 
Liaison;
(2) comprehensive research on methods to quantify on-farm 
food loss and supply chain food loss;
(3) research on new technologies to reduce food loss and 
food waste;
(4) quantifying the impact of food waste reduction policies 
on greenhouse gas emissions reductions;
(5) submitting to Congress and making publicly available 
reports describing the progress of the United States in 
advancing toward or achieving the goal of reducing food loss 
and food waste by 50 percent, compared to 2016 levels, by 2030;
(6) publishing reports to Congress and to the public for 
the purpose of engaging with educational campaigns relating to 
food loss and food waste;
(7) carrying out the grant program under subsection (d);
(8) contributing to an assessment relating to how food loss 
and food waste affects climate change, food and nutrition 
security, and public health;
(9) creating and distributing tools, resources, and 
publications--
(A) to support efforts and measures to reduce and 
prevent food loss and food waste; and
(B) to contribute to increased education relating 
to food loss and food waste for private entities, 
nonprofit and community-based organizations, and 
individuals;
(10) tracking and assessing programs across Federal 
agencies to advance research relating to food loss and food 
waste;
(11) analyzing food loss and food waste policy data and 
establishing and disseminating model policies for municipal, 
local, State, territorial, and Tribal governments that are 
proven to reduce food loss or food waste;
(12) recommending new regulations, investments, or policies 
to the Liaison and the Secretary to address new identified gaps 
on preventing and reducing food loss and food waste; and
(13) carrying out such other activities as the Secretary or 
the Liaison determine to be appropriate.
(c) Partnerships.--In carrying out the responsibilities described 
in subsection (b), the Secretary, in consultation with other Federal 
agencies, the Liaison, and the Office, shall establish partnerships 
with regional partner institutions to plan, conduct, and arrange for 
public research, data, education, and recommendations relating to food 
loss and food waste prevention and reduction and food recovery issues 
locally, regionally, and nationally.
(d) Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--The Office shall establish a grant program 
to support collecting data on existing State and local food 
loss and food waste policies.
(2) Eligibility.--An entity eligible to receive a grant 
under paragraph (1) is--
(A) a municipal, local, State, or Tribal 
government;
(B) a partnership of 1 or more governments 
described in subparagraph (A) and 1 or more nonprofit 
organizations; or
(C) a partnership of 2 or more--
(i) governments described in subparagraph 
(A); or
(ii) nonprofit organizations.
(3) Collaboration.--An entity that receives a grant under 
paragraph (1) may collaborate with 1 or more nonprofit, 
private, or other organizations in carrying out activities 
using the grant funds.
(4) Project requirements.--A data collection project 
carried out using a grant under paragraph (1) shall--
(A) be carried out for not longer than 3 years; and
(B) include the provision of data collected under 
the project to the Office.
(5) Data requirements.--Data collected under a project 
carried out using a grant under paragraph (1) shall provide 
rigorous evidence of the impact of food loss and food waste 
policies, which may include--
(A) estimates of the quantity of the reduction of 
food loss and food waste after the implementation of a 
policy;
(B) where relevant, estimates of the quantity of 
food loss and food waste in a similar community that is 
not subject to the policy; and
(C) the economic benefits and impacts realized from 
food that is recovered, upcycled, reused, or recycled.
(6) Matching requirement.--An entity that receives a grant 
under paragraph (1) shall provide funds, in-kind contributions, 
or a combination of both from sources other than funds provided 
through the grant in an amount equal to not less than 10 
percent of the amount of the grant, which may include private 
funding or other sources of revenue, as determined by the 
Secretary.
(7) Model policies.--After the Office receives the data 
collected under the grant program under this paragraph, the 
Office shall analyze the data and establish model policies for 
municipal, local, State, and Tribal governments that are proven 
to reduce food waste.
(e) Authorizations of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
the Office $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 
2030.
(2) Grant program.--
(A) In general.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the grant program under 
subsection (d) $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 
through 2030.
(B) Administrative costs.--Of the amount 
appropriated under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may 
retain not more than 4 percent to pay administrative 
costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out 
subsection (d).

SEC. 4. IMPROVING COORDINATION TO PREVENT AND REDUCE FOOD LOSS AND 
WASTE.

(a) Regional Coordinators.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish in the 
Department of Agriculture regional coordinators.
(2) Responsibilities.--The regional coordinators 
established under paragraph (1) shall be responsible for--
(A) partnering with food producers, food 
processors, distributors, and food recovery 
organizations and acting as regional points of contact 
to facilitate real-time food recovery;
(B) understanding and developing the capacity 
needed for ongoing food recovery;
(C) providing technical support to food recovery 
organizations to improve the ability of the food 
recovery organizations to pick up surplus food, process 
that food, and deliver that food to populations or 
communities; and
(D) engaging with Department of Agriculture 
regional food business centers to identify 
opportunities for synergy and alignment with those 
centers.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this 
subsection $1,000,000.
(b) Food Recovery and Distribution Infrastructure Support and 
Coordination Block Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the 
Office of Food Loss and Waste established under section 3, 
shall establish as part of the program under section 203D(d) of 
the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7507(d)) a 
program to award annual block grants to States and Indian 
Tribes to carry out projects to develop and support food 
recovery infrastructure and innovative food distribution 
models.
(2) Distribution.--A State shall distribute a block grant 
received under paragraph (1) to applicable food recovery 
organizations and local governments to address any gaps in food 
recovery infrastructure, including--
(A) storage and capacity of processing 
infrastructure equipment and facilities;
(B) temperature-controlled food distribution 
infrastructure;
(C) technological solutions supporting food 
recovery, such as real-time updates to connect 
organizations that have surplus food with organizations 
that distribute surplus food; and
(D) support of salaries, wages, and benefits for 
food recovery organizations.
(3) Coordination.--In establishing the program under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall coordinate with other 
Department of Agriculture agencies and programs, including--
(A) the Agricultural Marketing Service;
(B) the Emergency Food Assistance Program Reach and 
Resiliency Grants; and
(C) such other agencies and programs as the 
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $2,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

SEC. 5. STRENGTHENING GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO FOOD LOSS AND WASTE.

(a) Interagency Collaboration on Food Loss and Waste.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the 
Administrator and the Commissioner, shall collaborate to carry 
out the agreement relative to cooperation and coordination on 
food loss and waste signed by those officials on December 17, 
2020.
(2) Reports.--Every year, the Secretary, acting through the 
Liaison and the Office of Food Loss and Waste established under 
section 3, in consultation with the Administrator and the 
Commissioner, shall submit to Congress and make publicly 
available a report describing the progress of the Secretary in 
carrying out the agreement described in paragraph (1).
(3) Interagency engagement.--Pursuant to paragraph (1), the 
Secretary, the Administrator, and the Commissioner shall engage 
with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies, 
including the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Education, 
the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, the Administrator of General Services, and such other 
Federal departments and agencies as the Secretary, the 
Administrator, and the Commissioner determine to be 
appropriate, to expand work on food loss and food waste.
(4) Consultation.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall consult with, 
and receive advice from, representatives described in 
subparagraph (B) relating to--
(i) programming and policy issues relating 
to understanding existing and future challenges 
relating to food loss and food waste;
(ii) acquiring the latest data relating to 
food loss and food waste;
(iii) the latest innovative solutions 
relating to food loss and food waste from 
leading experts; and
(iv) sharing and developing procurement 
best practices that will assist the heads of 
Federal departments and agencies described in 
paragraph (3) in--
(I) preventing food loss and waste;
(II) reducing food loss and food 
waste;
(III) leading by example in 
addressing issues relating to food loss 
and food waste; and
(IV) engaging contractors in 
reducing food loss and food waste in 
the operations of the contractors.
(B) Representatives.--The representatives referred 
to in subparagraph (A) are representatives of--
(i) the private sector;
(ii) agricultural producers;
(iii) food industry members, such as food 
safety trainers, food aggregators and 
processors, food safety professionals, 
retailers, and food service entities;
(iv) nonprofit organizations;
(v) food recovery organizations of varying 
sizes; and
(vi) any other sector, as determined by the 
Secretary.
(C) Representation of smaller producers and food 
insecure communities.--In consulting and receiving 
advice under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall 
ensure participation by smaller producers and 
organizations from communities most impacted by food 
and nutrition insecurity and food loss and food waste 
issues.
(D) Forms of consultation.--The Secretary may 
consult and receive advice under subparagraph (A) 
through--
(i) a meeting through which input is 
sought, such as a workshop, town hall meeting, 
or listening session;
(ii) a meeting described in clause (i) with 
an existing group formed by representatives 
described in subparagraph (B); and
(iii) such other means as the Secretary 
determines to be appropriate.
(E) Interagency meetings.--The Secretary shall host 
quarterly meetings with the Administrator, the 
Commissioner, and the heads of other Federal agencies 
for the purpose of sharing communications relating to 
consultation and advice received under subparagraph (A) 
with those officials regularly.
(F) FACA exemption.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United 
States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Federal 
Advisory Committee Act''), shall not apply to any group 
formed for purposes of consultation or providing advice 
under this paragraph.
(5) Continuation of effect.--Nothing in the subsection 
shall be affected by the expiration of the agreement described 
in paragraph (1).
(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this 
subsection $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 
2030.
(b) Federal Contractors.--Section 4 of the Federal Food Donation 
Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 1792) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ``180 days'' and all that follows through 
``the Federal'' and inserting ``180 days after the date 
of enactment of the New Opportunities for Technological 
Innovation, Mitigation, and Education To Overcome Waste 
Act, the Federal'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``encourages'' and 
inserting ``requires''; and
(ii) by striking ``and'' after the 
semicolon;
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) requires the contractor to submit to the applicable 
executive agency a report describing--
``(A) efforts and actions to prevent and reduce 
food loss and food waste (as those terms are defined in 
section 2 of the New Opportunities for Technological 
Innovation, Mitigation, and Education To Overcome Waste 
Act);
``(B) food waste (as so defined) through activities 
carried out under the contract; and
``(C) food donated as described in paragraph 
(1).''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Reports to Congress.--Every 2 years, each executive agency 
shall submit to Congress reports describing the matters reported to the 
executive agency under subsection (a)(3).''.
(c) Strengthening Food Loss and Waste Research at the Department of 
Agriculture.--
(1) Critical agriculture research and extension.--In 
awarding grants under the critical agriculture research and 
extension crosscutting program area priority established by the 
Secretary under subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and 
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)), the Secretary 
shall give priority to grants to address food loss and food 
waste.
(2) Inter-disciplinary engagement in animal systems.--In 
awarding grants under the inter-disciplinary engagement in 
animal systems crosscutting program area priority established 
by the Secretary under subsection (b) of the Competitive, 
Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)), 
the Secretary shall give priority to grants to address food 
loss and food waste.
(3) Animal nutrition, growth, and lactation.--In awarding 
grants under the animal nutrition, growth, and lactation 
emphasis area program established by the Secretary under 
subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities 
Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)), the Secretary shall give 
priority to grants--
(A) to reduce losses due to production 
inefficiencies, including on-farm milk loss; and
(B) to use wholesome uneaten food and food 
processing byproducts from the human food system as 
feed ingredients.

SEC. 6. COMPOSTING AND FOOD WASTE REDUCTION PROGRAM.

Section 222(d)(2) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization 
Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6923(d)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``local or municipal 
governments'' and inserting ``State, local, municipal, or 
Tribal governments'';
(2) in subparagraph (C), by adding at the end the 
following:
``(iv) Guidance.--The Secretary shall 
publish guidance for applying for pilot 
projects under this paragraph for applicants 
that lack resources to obtain technical 
assistance in preparing an application to 
assist those applicants in preparing an 
application, particularly to carry out a pilot 
project for the reduction of food loss and food 
waste (as those terms are defined in section 2 
of the New Opportunities for Technological 
Innovation, Mitigation, and Education To 
Overcome Waste Act) through means other than 
composting.
``(v) Period for submission of 
applications.--The Secretary shall accept 
submissions of applications for pilot projects 
under this paragraph for a duration sufficient 
to ensure that smaller and rural communities 
are able to submit applications, as determined 
by the Secretary.''; and
(3) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``(which may include 
private funding or other sources of revenue, as determined by 
the Secretary)'' after ``funds provided through the grant''.

SEC. 7. PROMOTING THE FORMATION OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ON FOOD 
LOSS AND WASTE.

(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Office of Food 
Loss and Waste established under section 3, in collaboration with the 
Administrator, shall establish a program to award grants to eligible 
governments described in subsection (b) to incentivize the 
establishment of public-private partnerships that commit to reducing 
food loss and food waste in accordance with the goal of the Secretary 
and the Administrator to reduce food loss and food waste by 50 percent 
by 2030.
(b) Eligible Governments.--A entity eligible to receive a grant 
under subsection (a) is a State, municipal, local, or Tribal 
government.
(c) Partnerships.--An eligible government described in subsection 
(b) that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall use the grant to 
establish a partnership with the following entities:
(1) 1 or more nonprofit organizations.
(2) 1 or more private entities from any of the following 
sectors:
(A) Grocery and specialty food.
(B) Hospitality.
(C) Restaurants.
(D) Supercenters.
(E) Hospitals.
(F) Nursing homes.
(G) Adult care facilities.
(H) Any other sector that the Secretary determines 
to be appropriate.
(d) Requirements.--A partnership established under subsection (c) 
shall--
(1) commit to reducing food loss and food waste in 
accordance with the goal described in subsection (a);
(2) provide--
(A) a framework for cooperative action relating to 
food loss and food waste;
(B) a forum for leadership and the sharing of 
information on best practices relating to food loss and 
food waste; and
(C) a list of the highest priorities on issues 
relating to food loss and food waste;
(3) establish a methodology for measurement of reductions 
in food loss and food waste, with the support of a technical 
team of individuals from 1 or more organizations in the 
partnership;
(4) collect data and prepare reports for the purposes of--
(A) establishing a baseline of food loss and food 
waste appropriate for the scope of the collaboration 
for which the grant was awarded;
(B) monitoring progress in reducing food loss and 
food waste;
(C) identifying particular areas relating to food 
loss and food waste that need attention; and
(D) highlighting successes in reducing food loss 
and food waste that can be replicated;
(5) establish 1 or more working groups to facilitate 
dialogue and dissemination of insights and best practices 
relating to food loss and food waste; and
(6) make publicly available an annual report describing the 
activities of the partnership.
(e) Matching Requirement.--An eligible government described in 
subsection (b) that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall provide 
funds, in-kind contributions, or a combination of both from sources 
other than funds provided through the grant in an amount equal to not 
less than 50 percent of the amount of the grant, which may include 
private funding or other sources of revenue, as determined by the 
Secretary.
(f) Coordination.--A partnership established under subsection (c) 
shall coordinate with regional coordinators established under section 
4(a), as the partnership determines to be appropriate.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2030.

SEC. 8. FOOD LOSS AND WASTE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.

(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Administrator, shall initiate a national food waste education and 
public awareness campaign (referred to in this section as the 
``campaign'') through--
(1) the Liaison; and
(2) the Office of Food Loss and Waste established under 
section 3.
(b) Requirements.--The campaign shall, at a minimum--
(1) illustrate how much food goes to waste in the United 
States and households across the United States;
(2) highlight methods for preserving and storing foods;
(3) provide consumers tips to identify whether food is 
still safe and edible, regardless of any ``BEST If Used By'' or 
the ``USE By'' date on the label or food packaging indicating 
quality and freshness;
(4) teach consumers the differences between food freshness 
and food safety;
(5) teach consumers how to compost food scraps;
(6) develop educational materials usable by several 
different channels, including for specific industry sectors 
(including retail, food service, and consumer packaged goods), 
local governments, schools, community and faith-based 
organizations, and other appropriate channels;
(7) educate consumers on food products made with food 
waste, including upcycled food products, or that use innovative 
technology to prevent food loss and food waste;
(8) include interactive elements; and
(9) inform about intersectional issues of food loss and 
food waste, including public health, food insecurity, and 
climate change.
(c) Priorities.--In carrying out the campaign, the Secretary shall 
prioritize--
(1) initial research to determine a means to segment 
populations to target;
(2) identify, using the means determined under paragraph 
(1), population segments to target;
(3) understanding how to best target those identified 
population segments; and
(4) determining which strategies are most effective in 
changing consumer behaviors.
(d) Dual Framework Campaign.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the campaign 
through--
(A) community engagement, which allows information 
to be delivered through locally trusted sources, with 
locally tailored solutions and partners (such as for 
donation or compost options); and
(B) national messaging appropriate for raising 
awareness of--
(i) nationally applicable issues (such as 
the meaning of ``best by'' date labels, tips 
for meal planning, or businesses that 
manufacture products using ingredients that 
would otherwise go to waste, including upcycled 
food products); and
(ii) such other issues as the Secretary 
determines to be appropriate.
(2) Pilot projects.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall--
(i) for the purpose of testing methods and 
materials for carrying out the campaign through 
community engagement under paragraph (1)(A), 
carry out pilot projects in communities 
selected by the Secretary; and
(ii) assess the results of those pilot 
projects, including through waste audits or 
other quantitative measurements.
(B) Requirements.--In carrying out pilot projects 
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall--
(i) ensure equity and diversity of 
representation;
(ii) incorporate elements of behavioral 
science to inform which aspects of the campaign 
will be effective; and
(iii) in coordination with State, local, or 
municipal governments, inform consumers in a 
community of solutions, food products, or 
initiatives that are available to help prevent 
or reduce food waste.
(e) Waste Audits.--The Secretary shall conduct audits to gather 
data relating to the impact of the campaign in communities targeted by 
the campaign for the purpose of informing future efforts under the 
campaign, including by comparing outcomes in communities targeted by 
the campaign to outcomes in communities not targeted by the campaign.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2030.
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