Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110
§4004 Food Bank Special Nutrition Projects
Title 7 › CHAPTER 71 — AGRICULTURAL TRADE SUSPENSION ADJUSTMENT › § 4004
Summary
The Secretary of Agriculture must run special projects that send agricultural commodities and other unused foods to community food banks. The food banks use the items to make emergency food boxes for people and families in need. The Secretary can use existing school and child nutrition distribution systems to move the food. Food banks are picked with the Director of the Community Services Administration so that emergency food programs cover at least two but no more than seven Department of Agriculture regions. Food banks must apply and be approved to join. Participating banks must keep records and follow internal procedures. The Secretary will set standards, decide what foods and how much to give, and make rules about who may get help. The Secretary must report progress to Congress by July 1, 1983, and a final report by January 1, 1984, with evaluations and recommendations. Selling the provided food is banned; violators face up to $1,000 fine or up to six months in jail, or both. Paperwork must be minimized, and money as needed may be provided to run the program.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §4004
Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Distribution of agricultural commodities to community food banks for emergency distribution; availability of agricultural commodities; use of currently used distributorship systems; selection of food banks
The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out special nutrition projects to provide agricultural commodities and other foods that might not otherwise be used, or might be more effectively used by organizations assisted under this section, to community food banks for emergency food box distribution to needy individuals and families. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the Secretary shall make available for purposes of such special nutrition projects, agricultural commodities and other foods available to the Secretary under section 1431 of this title, section 1446a–1 of this title, and section 612c of this title. For purposes of distributing agricultural commodities and other foods to community food banks under this section, the Secretary may, in consultation with State agencies, use food distribution systems currently used to distribute agricultural commodities and other foods under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act [42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.] and Child Nutrition Act of 1966 [42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.]. The Secretary shall select food banks, in consultation with the Director of the Community Services Administration, for participation in the special nutrition projects under this section. Food banks shall be selected for participation so as to ensure adequate geographic distribution of emergency food box programs in at least two but not more than seven Department of Agriculture regions.
(b)Application by food bank; recordkeeping and internal procedures
(1)No food bank may participate in the special nutrition projects conducted under this section unless an application therefor is submitted to and approved by the Secretary. Such application shall be submitted in such form and manner and shall contain such information as the Secretary shall prescribe.
(2)Each food bank participating in the special nutrition projects under this section shall establish a recordkeeping system and internal procedures to monitor the use of agricultural commodities and other foods provided under this section. The Secretary shall develop standards by which the feasibility and effectiveness of the projects shall be measured, and shall conduct an ongoing review of the effectiveness of the projects.
(c)Quantities and types of agricultural commodities; regulations for designation of eligible participants
The Secretary shall determine the quantities and types of agricultural commodities and other foods to be made available under this section. The Secretary may prescribe regulations regarding the designation of eligible participants in the projects and any other regulations necessary to carry out this section.
(d)Report to Congress; contents; recommendations
The Secretary shall submit to Congress a progress report on July 1, 1983, and a final report on January 1, 1984, regarding the special nutrition projects carried out under this section. Such report shall include an analysis and evaluation of Federal participation in food bank emergency food programs, the effectiveness of such participation, and the feasibility of continuing such participation. The Secretary shall also include in such report any recommendations regarding improvements in Federal assistance to community food banks, including assistance for administrative expenses and transportation.
(e)Sale of food prohibited; fines and penalties
The sale of food provided under this section shall be prohibited and any person who receives any remuneration in exchange for food provided under this section shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
(f)Paperwork minimization and encouragement of participation
The Secretary shall minimize paperwork requirements placed on food banks which participate in the special nutrition projects established under this section and shall otherwise encourage food banks to participate in such projects.
(g)Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is act June 4, 1946, ch. 281, 60 Stat. 230, which is classified generally to chapter 13 (§ 1751 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1751 of Title 42 and Tables. The Child Nutrition Act of 1966, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 89–642, Oct. 11, 1966, 80 Stat. 885, which is classified generally to chapter 13A (§ 1771 et seq.) of Title 42. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1771 of Title 42 and Tables.
Amendments
1999—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–78 substituted “Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act” for “National School Lunch Act”. 1981—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 97–98, § 1114(b)(1), substituted “special nutrition projects” for “demonstration projects” wherever appearing. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–98, § 1114(b)(2), (3), substituted “to Congress a progress report on
July 1, 1983, and a final report on
January 1, 1984” for “a report to Congress on
October 1, 1982” and “special nutrition projects” for “demonstration projects”. Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 97–98, § 1114(b)(4), (5), added subsec. (f), redesignated former subsec. (f) as (g), and substituted “such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section” for “to carry out this section $356,000”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1981 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–98 effective Dec. 22, 1981, see section 1801 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 4301 of this title.
Effective Date
Section effective Dec. 3, 1980, see section 213 of Pub. L. 96–494, set out as a note under section 4001 of this title. Community Services Administration Community Services Administration, which was established by section 601 of Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2941), terminated when Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, Pub. L. 88–452, Aug. 20, 1964, 78 Stat. 508, as amended, was repealed, except for titles VIII and X, effective Oct. 1, 1981, by section 683(a) of Pub. L. 97–35, title VI, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 519, which is classified to 42 U.S.C. 9912(a). An Office of Community Services, headed by a Director, was established in the Department of Health and Human Services by section 676 of Pub. L. 97–35, which is classified to 42 U.S.C. 9905.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 4004
Title 7, Agriculture
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110