Bill Summary
The proposed legislation aims to authorize the Secretary of Defense to initiate a pilot program that provides monthly food coupons to junior enlisted members of the Armed Forces. The goal is to assess the effectiveness of such a program in improving access to affordable and nutritious food options, particularly for junior enlisted personnel who live in government quarters and may face challenges in obtaining food.
Key provisions of the legislation include:
1. **Sense of Congress**: It recognizes the importance of ensuring that military members and their families have access to healthy food, particularly for unaccompanied junior enlisted members.
2. **Pilot Program**: The Secretary of Defense would select two military installations to implement the program, focusing on areas with a high concentration of junior enlisted members, accessible commissaries, and functioning kitchens.
3. **Coupons**: The coupons can only be used for food purchases at commissaries and cannot be used for alcohol, tobacco, or certain fees. They are designed to supplement existing food assistance rather than replace it.
4. **Duration and Reporting**: The pilot program would last for one year, after which the Secretary must report to Congress on its results, including usage rates, member satisfaction, and impacts on food insecurity and nutrition.
Overall, the legislation seeks to explore solutions for food accessibility among junior enlisted members, aiming to enhance their quality of life and well-being.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the proposed legislation could affect people:
1. **Enhanced Food Access for Junior Enlisted Members**: The legislation would provide junior enlisted members of the Armed Forces with monthly coupons that can be used to purchase food at commissaries. This would directly address food insecurity among these members, especially those living in unaccompanied housing. By receiving this support, they would have better access to healthy and affordable food options, which can improve their overall well-being and morale.
2. **Increased Use of Commissaries**: The pilot program may lead to an increase in the utilization of commissaries among junior enlisted members. As these members gain access to coupons, they are more likely to shop at commissaries rather than relying on dining facilities, which may not meet their needs or preferences. This increased patronage can lead to improved satisfaction with food options available at commissaries and potentially drive operational changes based on customer feedback.
3. **Feedback and Improvement in Dining Facilities**: The pilot program includes a requirement for the Secretary of Defense to report on the impact of the coupons, including member satisfaction and usage rates of dining facilities. The findings could highlight deficiencies in current dining options, prompting necessary improvements or adjustments in how dining facilities operate. This could lead to better meal options, service, and overall dining experiences for all service members, not just those who receive the coupons.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6586 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6586
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 10, 2025
Mr. Panetta introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) members of the Armed Forces and their families deserve
access to affordable and healthy food options, including during
their duty day;
(2) there has been increased awareness about the challenges
members and their families face in accessing affordable and
healthy food options;
(3) those challenges have been especially acute for
unaccompanied junior enlisted members who live in government-
provided quarters on military installations; and
(4) the Department of Defense should explore a variety of
proposals for expanding the accessibility of healthy and
affordable food options to members, especially members who live
in unaccompanied housing on military installations.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE COUPONS TO JUNIOR ENLISTED MEMBERS TO
PURCHASE FOOD AT COMMISSARIES.
(a) Pilot Program.--The Secretary of Defense may conduct 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.
(b) Selection of Installations.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may conduct the pilot
program authorized by subsection (a) at 2 military
installations.
(2) Considerations.--In selecting installations for the
pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary shall
consider installations with--
(A) large numbers of enlisted members who live in
unaccompanied housing;
(B) the largest ratios of enlisted members to
commissioned officers;
(C) unaccompanied housing that provides access to
functioning kitchens that residents may use to prepare
meals;
(D) commissaries that are experimenting with or
expanding their selection of nutritious and minimally
processed ready-made and easy-to-make food options;
(E) low rates of attendance at dining facilities;
(F) low customer satisfaction ratings for dining
facilities, including installations with complaints
about dining facilities submitted through the
Interactive Customer Evaluation system of the
Department of Defense; and
(G) commissaries located within easily accessible
distances from unaccompanied housing.
(c) Coupons.--
(1) Amount.--The Secretary may determine the amount of the
coupons to be provided under the pilot program authorized by
subsection (a).
(2) Use for food at commissaries required.--A coupon
provided under the pilot program authorized by subsection (a)
may be used only to purchase food at commissaries.
(3) Prohibited uses.--A coupon provided under the pilot
program authorized by subsection (a) may not be used to--
(A) purchase alcoholic beverages or tobacco; or
(B) pay any deposit fee in excess of the amount of
the State fee reimbursement (if any) required to
purchase any food or food product contained in a
returnable bottle or can, without regard to whether the
fee is included in the shelf price posted for the food
or food product.
(4) Supplement to other food assistance.--A coupon provided
to a member under the pilot program authorized by subsection
(a) shall supplement and not supplant--
(A) the basic allowance for subsistence under
section 402 of title 37, United States Code; and
(B) any program to provide meals or rations in kind
for which the member is eligible.
(d) Duration of Pilot Program.--The pilot program authorized by
subsection (a) shall terminate not later than one year after the date
on which the pilot program commences.
(e) Report Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the
termination under subsection (d) of the pilot program
authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a report
detailing the results of the pilot program.
(2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include an assessment of the following:
(A) The use of coupons by members who received
coupons under the pilot program.
(B) The satisfaction of and feedback from such
members relating to the coupons.
(C) The impact of providing the coupons on--
(i) the rates at which such members used
commissaries; and
(ii) the rates at which such members used
dining facilities on their installations.
(D) Historical rates of use of dining facilities on
installations and historical customer satisfaction
metrics for such facilities, including the number of
complaints with respect to such facilities submitted
through the Interactive Customer Evaluation system of
the Department of Defense.
(E) The efficacy of the pilot program in--
(i) reducing food insecurity rates among
junior enlisted members;
(ii) increasing the availability of
nutritious food options for such members at
commissaries; and
(iii) increasing the availability of
nutritious food options for such members
generally, including such members living in
unaccompanied housing.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Congressional defense committees.--The term
``congressional defense committees'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.
(2) Coupon.--The term ``coupon'' means a voucher or
monetary benefit for a member of the Armed Forces that may be
used only at a commissary for the purchase of food.
(3) Food.--The term ``food'' means any food or food product
intended for home consumption, including a ready-made food
item.
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