Food Sharing Act of 2017
This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to: (1) reduce from $9 million to $8.5 million the annual limitation on the total amount of grants that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) may provide under the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program, and (2) authorize USDA to establish a separate program to provide up to $500,000 annually for grants to establish and carry out gleaning projects.
In a gleaning project, an eligible entity: (1) collects edible, surplus food that would be thrown away and distributes the food to agencies or nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry; or (2) harvests for free distribution to the needy, or for donation to agencies or nonprofit organizations for ultimate distribution to the needy, an agricultural crop that has been donated by the owner of the crop.
The eligible entities include public food program service providers, tribal organizations, and private nonprofit entities that meet certain requirements for experience, demonstrated competency, cost-sharing, and a willingness to share information regarding the project.
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3815 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3815
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to authorize the Secretary
of Agriculture to make grants to carry out gleaning projects.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 21, 2017
Mr. Lawson of Florida (for himself, Mr. Deutch, and Ms. Wasserman
Schultz) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to authorize the Secretary
of Agriculture to make grants to carry out gleaning projects.
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 ``Food Sharing Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS.
(a) Assistance for Community Food Projects.--Section 25 of the Food
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2034) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``and'' at the
end; and
(B) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the
following:
``(C) $9,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2015
through 2017; and
``(D) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2018 and each
fiscal year thereafter.''.
(b) Assistance for Gleaning Projects.--The Food and Nutrition Act
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 30. ASSISTANCE FOR GLEANING PROJECTS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Gleaning project.--The term `gleaning project' means
a project in which an entity--
``(A) collects edible, surplus food that would be
thrown away and distributes the food to agencies or
nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry; or
``(B) harvests for free distribution to the needy,
or for donation to agencies or nonprofit organizations
for ultimate distribution to the needy, an agricultural
crop that has been donated by the owner of the crop.
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a
public food program service provider, a tribal organization, or
a private nonprofit entity that--
``(A) has experience in the area of--
``(i) providing food to individuals in low-
income communities; or
``(ii) engaging in efforts to reduce food
insecurity in low-income communities, including
food distribution, improving access to
services, or coordinating services and
programs;
``(B) demonstrates competency to implement a
gleaning project, to provide fiscal accountability, to
collect data, and to prepare reports and other
necessary documentation relating to such project;
``(C) demonstrates a willingness to share
information relating to such project with researchers,
practitioners, and other persons; and
``(D) submits to the Secretary an application that
contains such terms and conditions as the Secretary may
require by rule, including an agreement to provide the
non-Federal cost of such project.
``(b) Authority To Provide Assistance.--
``(1) Funds.--From amounts made available to carry out this
Act, the Secretary may make grants to assist eligible entities
to establish and carry out gleaning projects.
``(2) Limitation on grants.--The aggregate amount of funds
provided as grants made under this section may not exceed
$500,000 for fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter.
``(c) Preference for Certain Gleaning Projects.--In selecting
gleaning projects to receive grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give preference to projects designed to develop new resources and
strategies to help reduce food insecurity and prevent food insecurity
in low-income communities that are the subject of such projects by--
``(1) developing creative food resources; or
``(2) coordinating food services with park and recreation
programs, and other community-based activities, to reduce
barriers to access to food.
``(d) Cost-Sharing Requirements.--
``(1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of
carrying out a gleaning project for which a grant is made under
this section shall be paid with such grant by the Secretary in
such amount as the Secretary determines but may not exceed 50
percent of the cost of such project.
``(2) Non-federal share.--The recipient of a grant under
this section shall provide in cash or in kind, fairly
evaluated, including facilities, equipment, or services, from
non-Federal sources for the cost of such project that is not
paid under paragraph (1).
``(e) Term of Grant.--
``(1) Single grant.--Only 1 grant may be made under this
section for a particular gleaning project.
``(2) Term.--The period during which the grant made under
this section may be expended may not exceed 5 years.
``(f) Technical Assistance and Related Information.--
``(1) Technical assistance.--In carrying out this section,
the Secretary may provide assistance to an eligible entity
regarding gleaning projects, processes, and development.
``(2) Sharing information.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may share
information concerning gleaning projects and issues
with the public through publications, conferences, and
other appropriate forums.
``(B) Other interested persons.--The Secretary may
share information concerning gleaning projects with
researchers, practitioners, and other interested
persons.
``(g) Reports to Congress.--Not later than September 30, 2018, and
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a
report that describes with respect to each grant made under this
section information that includes--
``(1) a description of each activity funded with such
grant; and
``(2) the degree of success in improving the long-term
capacity of the low-income community served by the gleaning
project involved to address food and agriculture problems
related to hunger or access to healthy food in such
community.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.
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