To authorize the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to assess the efficacy of providing junior enlisted members of the Armed Forces a monthly coupon for use in procuring food at commissaries.
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a pilot to test providing monthly commissary food coupons to junior enlisted service members to see if they improve access to affordable, healthy food, especially for those living in unaccompanied government housing.
Show full summary
- Junior enlisted members: Eligible junior enlisted members would receive a monthly coupon that can only be used at military commissaries to buy food. Coupons may not buy alcohol or tobacco and must supplement, not replace, existing subsistence allowances or in-kind meals.
- Unaccompanied housing residents: The pilot focuses on installations with many unaccompanied members, functioning kitchens in housing, low dining facility attendance, and nearby commissaries to measure real-world access to nutritious options.
- Commissaries and DoD reporting: The pilot may run at up to two installations and would examine commissary offerings of ready-made and easy-to-make foods. The Department of Defense would report coupon use, recipient satisfaction, dining facility impacts, and effects on food insecurity to congressional defense committees within 90 days after the one-year pilot ends.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Monthly commissary coupons for junior enlisted
If enacted, the Secretary of Defense would be able to run a one-year pilot giving monthly commissary food coupons to junior enlisted members. The Secretary would pick up to two military installations for the pilot. Coupons would be usable only for food at commissaries and the Secretary would set the coupon amount. Coupons could not be used to buy alcohol or tobacco and could not replace your basic allowance for subsistence or any in-kind meal program you are eligible for. The Secretary would report to the congressional defense committees within 90 days after the pilot ends on usage, satisfaction, dining-facility impacts, and effects on food insecurity and commissary nutrition options.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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