Food Assurance and Security Act
Sponsored By: Representative Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a coordinated federal food security measurement program led by the Secretary of Agriculture. It would add a standardized food security supplement to the Current Population Survey and require annual public reports to Congress and online.
Show full summary
- Families would get clearer, consistent national data on household hunger that makes trends easier to spot and discuss.
- Households with children ages 0 to 17 would answer extra questions about relying on low-cost foods, cutting or skipping children’s meals, children being hungry, and how often those things happened.
- Researchers and policymakers would receive annual, publicly posted reports and data to track food insecurity trends and to inform program design.
- The Department of Agriculture would coordinate with the Census Bureau, and the bill directs appropriations so the Secretary must allocate funds to cover the Census Bureau's costs for the supplement.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
National food insecurity data program
If enacted, USDA would work with the Census Bureau to run a yearly program to measure food insecurity and hunger. The Current Population Survey would include a food security supplement in 2026, 2027, and 2028, and continue after that. The questions would match the 2023 survey, with any changes only after testing, public review, and Office of Management and Budget approval. Adults would be asked about worrying food would run out, cutting or skipping meals, going hungry, and similar issues. For homes with children ages 0 to 17, extra questions would cover kids’ meals and hunger. USDA would publish an annual report with these findings on its website and send it to Congress.
Funding for annual food survey
If enacted, the bill would provide "such sums as may be necessary" to USDA to carry out this program. USDA would cover the Census Bureau’s costs to run the annual food security supplement. No specific dollar amount is named, and funding would start upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Cosponsors
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 11/21/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov