Bill > HR9950

This bill, titled the "Healthy Commissaries, Healthy Families Act," aims to improve the availability, visibility, affordability, and promotion of healthy food options at military commissaries, which are grocery stores on military bases. It mandates the Director of the Defense Commissary Agency to establish a program for this purpose and to appoint a Director of Healthy Foods. Within 180 days of the bill's enactment, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Agriculture, must submit a plan to Congress detailing strategies and timelines for increasing healthy food availability, incorporating local farmers and farmers markets, and outlining necessary resources. This plan will also include recommendations for administrative or legislative changes. Furthermore, these Secretaries will jointly establish procedures for interagency cooperation on nutrition research, procurement best practices, community outreach to local agricultural producers, nutrition education for military families, and data sharing. The Director of Healthy Foods will actively engage with local farmers and markets to facilitate their participation. Within 180 days of the plan's submission, the Defense Commissary Agency will make public resources about healthy food options and local resources specific to each commissary. Finally, within one year of the plan's submission, the Secretary of Defense will report to Congress on the implementation of these initiatives, including sales trends, costs, challenges, and family satisfaction, along with any further recommendations. The term "healthy food" is defined as food consistent with the latest dietary guidelines, and the bill specifies which congressional committees are considered "appropriate congressional committees" for receiving reports and briefings. These requirements are set to terminate on December 31, 2030.