H.R. 7906

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7906 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7906

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and administer a 
pilot program to provide grants to support Food is Medicine programs, 
and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 12, 2026

Ms. Kelly of Illinois (for herself, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Ms. 
Norton, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Figures, and Ms. Bynum) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 
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 direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and administer a 
pilot program to provide grants to support Food is Medicine programs, 
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 ``Fueling Optimal Outcomes through 
Diet for Health Act'' or the ``FOOD for Health Act''.

SEC. 2. FOOD IS MEDICINE PILOT GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and administer a pilot 
program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities 
described in subsection (b) to support Food is Medicine programs.
(b) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, an 
entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
determines is appropriate.
(c) Use of Funds.--A grant awarded under this section may only be 
used to support the activities of a Food is Medicine program, 
including--
(1) operating an on-site emergency feeding operation;
(2) medically tailored packaging or delivery of groceries;
(3) medically tailored meals and produce prescriptions;
(4) providing individual or group-based evidence-based 
cooking skills (including through the use of digital 
technologies);
(5) promoting dietary intervention strategies or other 
health-related strategies; and
(6) transportation of program participants to and from the 
communities served by the program.
(d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to eligible entities described in subsection (b)--
(1) that will incorporate local and regional foods, as 
determined by the Secretary, into activities funded by the 
grant; or
(2) that will include registered dieticians or nutrition 
professionals in the activities funded by the grant.
(e) Regional Balance; Advancing Health Outcomes.--In awarding 
grants under this section, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
practicable--
(1) ensure geographic diversity;
(2) ensure the equitable treatment of--
(A) urban, rural, and tribal communities; and
(B) communities in territories of the United 
States; and
(3) advance health outcomes.
(f) Reports.--
(1) In general.--
(A) Initial report.--Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the establishment of the pilot program 
referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report that--
(i) analyzes the efficiency of such pilot 
program; and
(ii) assesses the effect of such pilot 
program on patient outcomes and system costs.
(B) Final report.--Not later than 6 years after the 
date of the establishment of the pilot program referred 
to in subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress an updated version of the report referred to 
in subparagraph (A).
(2) Elements.--The reports described in paragraph (1) shall 
each contain descriptions of--
(A) the details and implementation of the pilot 
program referred to in subsection (a);
(B) the participant selection criteria used by Food 
is Medicine programs supported by grants awarded under 
this section;
(C) the diseases and other medical issues being 
addressed by grants awarded under this section;
(D) the strategies of such Food is Medicine 
programs in providing healthy, affordable food to 
program participants;
(E) the use and impact of medical nutrition therapy 
in coordination with the provision of food on the 
outcomes of participants treated by such Food is 
Medicine programs; and
(F) the impact of grants awarded under this section 
on the health (including behavioral health) of 
participants in such Food is Medicine programs.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for the period of 
fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``diet-related disease'' means--
(A) diabetes and prediabetes;
(B) a renal disease;
(C) obesity (as defined by the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention or as otherwise defined by the 
Secretary);
(D) hypertension;
(E) dyslipidemia;
(F) malnutrition;
(G) an eating disorder;
(H) cancer;
(I) a gastrointestinal disease, including celiac 
disease;
(J) HIV/AIDS;
(K) cardiovascular disease;
(L) mental illness, including depression and 
anxiety; and
(M) any other disease as determined appropriate by 
the Secretary.
(2) The term ``Food is Medicine program'' means a program 
developed or operated by a community-based organization (such 
as an emergency feeding operation), in partnership with a 
health care provider (such as a community health clinic), to 
deploy the provision of food or medical nutrition therapy 
services to benefit participants experiencing, at risk of, or 
recovering from a diet-related disease.
(3) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
Agriculture, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services.
<all>