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HR 7455

To amend the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to allow certain States to directly purchase commodities, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced by Ed Case and 3 co-sponsors

The bill lets eligible states convert entitlement funds for Emergency Food Assistance into cash to buy commodities directly in the private market.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
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Bill Summary · HR 7455

Overview

HR 7455, introduced February 9, 2026, would amend the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to allow certain states to directly purchase commodities using cash rather than distributing food through traditional procurement channels. The bill aims to empower eligible states to obtain food commodities through the private commercial marketplace with entitlement funds.

Objective and Intent

  • Create a direct-purchase option for eligible states to acquire food commodities.
  • Provide flexibility for states to use private market transactions to obtain commodities funded by entitlement dollars.
  • Maintain alignment with existing definitions and programs under the Farm Bill and related nutrition statutes.

Key Provisions

  • Amendment to Section 202 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7502), inserting a new subsection (b) titled “Direct Purchase of Commodities.”
  • Definitions (subsection 202(b)(1)):
    • Eligible State: The term has the meaning given in section 4206(b) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 7518(b)).
    • Entitlement Funds: The funds used by the Secretary to purchase commodities under section 27 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036) for distribution to the eligible state in accordance with section 214.
  • Direct Purchase Mechanism (subsection 202(b)(2)):
    • The Secretary shall allow an eligible State to elect to receive all of its entitlement funds as cash.
    • The cash may be used by the eligible State to make direct purchases of commodities through the private commercial marketplace.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Eligible States that currently participate in the Emergency Food Assistance Act program and receive entitlement funds for commodity distribution.
  • State governments that would opt to convert their entitlement funds into cash for direct private-market purchases.
  • Beneficiary populations served by state-level emergency food assistance programs, depending on how states deploy the cash to obtain commodities.

Procedural/Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Introduced in the 119th Congress and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture (Feb 9, 2026). As of the latest action, referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture (Mar 20, 2026).
  • The bill would require rulemaking or guidance to implement the direct-purchase option, and states would need to elect to participate.
  • No explicit funding authorization or appropriation level is provided in the text provided; instead, entitlement funds would be converted to cash for private-market purchases.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Increased flexibility for states to source commodities, potentially enabling price competition, supplier diversification, or procurement efficiency through private markets.
  • Variability in prices and availability of commodities depending on market conditions, which could affect program cost efficiency and food reach for beneficiaries.
  • Administrative implications for states in managing cash-based direct purchases and ensuring compliance with federal nutrition and reporting requirements.
  • The policy shift may affect traditional, federally facilitated procurement channels used by the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and related feeding networks.

Additional Details

  • Sponsors include Ms. Tokuda, along with co-sponsors Ed Case, Jim Moylan, Andrea Salinas, and Jill Tokuda.
  • The bill specifically references eligibility criteria tied to the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and existing nutrition program statutes (Food and Nutrition Act of 2008), ensuring continuity with current statutory frameworks.

If you’d like, I can compare this proposal to current TEFAP procurement practices or outline potential budgeting implications for states under different market scenarios.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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