[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3064 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3064
To authorize a White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, Hunger, and
Health, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 26, 2021
Mr. Booker (for himself and Mr. Braun) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize a White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, Hunger, and
Health, and for other purposes.
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 ``White House Conference on Food,
Nutrition, Hunger, and Health Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) hunger and food and nutrition insecurity are conditions
that can be solved;
(2) access to healthy food and good nutrition should be a
fundamental priority of each individual who lives in a State;
(3) more than 50 years have passed since the United States
convened a White House conference to comprehensively address
the issues of food, hunger, health, and nutrition in the United
States;
(4) more than 38,000,000 individuals live in households
that face food insecurity, 12,600,000 of whom are children and
5,000,000 of whom are seniors and persons with disabilities or
critical illnesses;
(5)(A) because of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than
42,000,000 individuals, including 13,000,000 children, are
projected to experience food insecurity; and
(B) diet-related diseases greatly worsen outcomes from
COVID-19, contributing to nearly \2/3\ of all COVID-19
hospitalizations in the United States;
(6)(A) the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global and local
food supply chains, identifying the fragility and importance of
the food system as a national security issue and making clear
that a diverse local and regional food system is essential to
the resilience of the United States; and
(B) that issue has become entangled with the issues of
hunger and food and nutrition insecurity;
(7)(A) the burdens of food insecurity are not distributed
equally, as the burdens remain higher among racial and ethnic
minority groups, in rural areas, and in the south and
southeast;
(B) households headed by Blacks and Hispanics face higher
rates of food insecurity, at a rate of 21.2 percent and 16.2
percent, respectively, while the national average is 11.1
percent; and
(C) the geographic distributions of food insecurity remain
a serious concern, as rural communities represent 87 percent of
the counties in the United States with the highest rates of
overall food insecurity;
(8)(A) nutrition insecurity and diet-related chronic
diseases disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority
groups and low-income, rural, and other underserved populations
in the United States; and
(B) in just over 10 years, type 2 diabetes rates have
doubled for African-American children and increased 50 percent
for Native-American children and Hispanic children between 10
and 19 years old;
(9) conservative cost estimates show that the true cost of
hunger and illness related to hunger and food and nutrition
insecurity in the United States is at least $160,000,000,000
per year with respect to direct medical costs, most of which is
paid by Medicare and Medicaid, an amount that exceeds the
annual budget of the Department of Agriculture;
(10) hyper-consolidation in the food industry has led to a
dramatic decline in the farmer's share of the food dollar,
fewer choices for consumers, and economic insecurity for rural
communities, many of which are now considered food deserts;
(11)(A) better food and nutrition can save the United
States billions of dollars in health care costs by preventing
or delaying the progression to late-stage disease for tens of
millions of individuals who live in a State and have chronic
diseases;
(B) the adverse social, physical, and psychological
outcomes associated with food and nutrition insecurity are well
documented, particularly in households with children, including
higher rates of diabetes and hypertension, self-reported fair
or poor health, maternal depression, behavioral problems and
developmental delays in early life, and poor academic
achievement;
(C) those outcomes are not only detrimental to the health
and well-being of individual children and families, but also
negatively impact broader society; and
(D) based on a combination of lower worker productivity,
higher costs of public education, greater health care costs,
and the cost associated with emergency food distribution, the
economic burden associated with food insecurity has been
estimated to be over $178,930,000,000 annually; and
(12) a national discussion of the root causes and social
determinants of hunger and food and nutrition insecurity, as
well as identification of solutions to those epidemics, can
lead to action to implement those solutions and to end hunger
in the United States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Co-chairs.--The term ``Co-chairs'' means--
(A) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture; and
(C) the Secretary of the Treasury.
(2) Conference.--The term ``Conference'' means the White
House Conference on Food, Nutrition, Hunger, and Health
convened under section 4(a).
(3) Policy committee.--The term ``Policy Committee'' means
the Policy Committee established under section 5(a).
(4) Presidential designee.--The term ``Presidential
Designee'' means the Presidential Designee selected by the
President under section 4(b).
(5) State.--The term ``State'' means--
(A) any of the several States;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(D) Guam;
(E) American Samoa;
(F) the United States Virgin Islands; and
(G) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE.
(a) Authority To Call Conference.--The President shall call the
White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, Hunger, and Health, to be
convened by the Co-chairs not later than 18 months after the selection
of the members of the Policy Committee in accordance with section
5(a)--
(1) to make fundamental policy recommendations with respect
to ending hunger, improving nutrition, making the food system
more resilient, and creating sustainable markets for farmers
and ranchers in the United States; and
(2) to implement the purposes described in subsection (d)
and improve Federal food and nutrition assistance programs.
(b) Selection of a Presidential Designee.--The President shall
select a senior executive branch official to serve as Presidential
Designee.
(c) Planning and Direction.--The Co-chairs, in consultation with
the Presidential Designee, shall plan, conduct, and convene the
Conference.
(d) Purposes.--The purposes of the Conference are--
(1) to identify the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the
state of food and nutrition insecurity;
(2) to identify areas of weakness within the food system of
the United States;
(3) to explore the impact of racial, urban, rural, and
geographic disparities on hunger and food and nutrition
insecurity;
(4) to identify viable solutions for--
(A) ending hunger in the United States by 2030;
(B) reducing by \1/2\ the level of nutrition
insecurity by 2025; and
(C) reducing by \1/2\ the level of diet-related
illnesses by 2030;
(5) to identify any changes and trends with respect to food
and nutrition-related security, health, and healthcare spending
for the 30 years prior to the date of enactment of this Act;
(6) to review the structure, scope, and effectiveness of
existing laws, regulations, or programs--
(A) at the Federal, State, and local levels that
provide for the nutritional needs of food-insecure
individuals who live in a State; and
(B) across all Federal departments and agencies
that carry out activities related to food and
nutrition;
(7) to identify possible duplication among Federal food and
nutrition programs and to recommend streamlining opportunities
in order to improve nutritional and food security outcomes in
the United States;
(8) to determine the extent to which current Federal,
State, and local programs can help improve the nutritional
health of individuals who live in a State to better use
available resources and ensure greater coordination among those
programs;
(9) to identify the ways in which healthcare systems can
best integrate and incorporate food and nutrition interventions
to improve health, end hunger, and reduce by \1/2\ the levels
of nutrition insecurity and diet-related illnesses in the
United States;
(10) to identify ways to provide opportunities for
independent family farmers and ranchers to meet the nutritional
needs of every individual who lives in a State;
(11) to highlight emerging and innovative programs from the
public and private sectors, including community-based and
faith-based organizations that effectively address the
nutrition needs of vulnerable individuals who live in a State;
(12) to identify opportunities for effective partnerships
between the government, private industry, labor, healthcare,
independent family farmers, and nonprofit sectors to fight
hunger in the United States;
(13) to bring public attention to the more than 38,000,000
individuals who live in a State that face a constant struggle
against hunger, food insecurity, and nutrition insecurity;
(14) to review--
(A) the medical, developmental, and educational
impact of hunger, food insecurity, and nutrition
insecurity;
(B) the potential savings to the United States
health care system, educational system, and other
sectors when appropriate food is available to the
critically and chronically ill; and
(C) the economic opportunities for independent
farmers and ranchers to provide healthy food to their
communities; and
(15) to build understanding among individuals who live in a
State--
(A) of the cost of hunger and nutrition insecurity
in the United States, including lost wages, diminished
stamina, and reduced capacity to learn; and
(B) that hunger, malnutrition, and food and
nutrition insecurity, in addition to an increasingly
consolidated and foreign-owned food and farm supply
system, is a matter of national security.
SEC. 5. POLICY COMMITTEE AND RELATED COMMITTEES.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than June 30, 2022, the Co-chairs
shall establish a Policy Committee composed of 25 members to be
appointed as follows:
(1) Presidential appointees.--Thirteen members shall be
appointed by the President and shall include--
(A) the Presidential Designee;
(B) 2 members who are officers or employees of the
United States;
(C) 2 members who are representatives of the
healthcare system;
(D) 2 members who are farmers or ranchers; and
(E) 6 members with experience in addressing the
needs of food-insecure and nutrition-insecure
individuals who live in a State.
(2) Senate appointees.--
(A) Three members shall be appointed by the
majority leader of the Senate, in consultation with--
(i) the chairperson and ranking member of
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate;
(ii) the chairperson and ranking member of
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate; and
(iii) the chairperson and ranking member of
the Committee on Finance of the Senate.
(B) Three members shall be appointed by the
minority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the
members of the committees described in clauses (i),
(ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A).
(3) House of representatives appointees.--
(A) Three members shall be appointed by the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, in consultation with--
(i) the chairperson and ranking member of
the Committee on Education and Labor of the
House of Representatives;
(ii) the chairperson and ranking member of
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives; and
(iii) the chairperson and ranking member of
the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives.
(B) Three members shall be appointed by the
minority leader of the House of Representatives, in
consultation with the members of the committees
described in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of
subparagraph (A).
(b) Operation of Committee.--
(1) Chairperson.--
(A) In general.--The Presidential Designee shall
serve as the chairperson of the Policy Committee.
(B) Voting privilege.--The chairperson may vote
only to break a tie vote of the other members of the
Policy Committee.
(2) Voting.--
(A) In general.--The Policy Committee shall act by
the vote of a majority of the members present.
(B) Quorum.--A quorum of members shall not be
required to conduct Policy Committee business.
(c) Duties of the Committee.--
(1) Meetings.--
(A) Initial meeting.--The Co-chairs of the
Conference shall hold the first meeting of the Policy
Committee not later than 30 days after the last member
is appointed to the Committee in accordance with
subsection (a).
(B) Regular meetings.--Subsequent meetings of the
Policy Committee shall be held at the call of the Co-
chairs of the Conference.
(2) Duties.--Through meetings, hearings, and working
sessions, the Policy Committee shall--
(A) make recommendations to the Co-chairs to
facilitate the timely convening of the Conference;
(B) not later than 90 days after the first meeting
of the Policy Committee, prepare and submit to the Co-
chairs a proposed agenda for the Conference that
reflects, to the greatest extent practicable--
(i) the major issues facing the field of
food and nutrition; and
(ii) the purposes of the Conference
described in section 4(d);
(C) make recommendations with respect to the
selection of the delegates to the Conference;
(D) establish the number of delegates to be
selected under section 6; and
(E) establish an executive committee that--
(i) consists of 3 members of the Policy
Committee, selected in consultation with the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Rules of the
House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the
Senate; and
(ii) collaborates with the delegates to the
Conference.
SEC. 6. CONFERENCE DELEGATES.
To carry out the purposes of the Conference described in section
4(d), the Co-chairs shall appoint delegates who are representative of
the spectrum of thought in the field of food and nutrition, without
regard to political affiliation or past partisan activity, who shall
include--
(1) representatives of Federal, State, and local
governments;
(2) individuals working in the field of food, health,
nutrition, farming, and economic security; and
(3) members of the general public who are affected by
hunger and nutrition insecurity in the United States.
SEC. 7. CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Administration.--In administering this Act, the Co-chairs
shall--
(1) not later than 48 hours before the start of a meeting,
hearing, or working session, provide written notice to all
members of the Policy Committee of that meeting, hearing, or
working session;
(2) request the cooperation and assistance of the heads of
Federal departments and agencies as may be appropriate,
including the detailing of personnel from those departments and
agencies;
(3) make available for public comment the proposed agenda
submitted by the Policy Committee under section 5(c)(2)(B);
(4) not later than 30 days after the date on which the
proposed agenda is submitted for public comment under paragraph
(3), approve that agenda; and
(5) prepare and make available to delegates background
materials determined by the Co-chairs to be necessary.
(b) No Compensation.--All members appointed under this Act shall
serve in the roles for which they are appointed without compensation.
(c) Duties.--The Co-chairs shall ensure that--
(1) the proposed agenda prepared under section 5(c)(2)(B)
is published in the Federal Register not later than 30 days
after that agenda is approved under subsection (a)(4);
(2) any employed personnel are fairly balanced with respect
to points of views represented and are appointed without regard
to political affiliation or previous partisan activities;
(3) the recommendations of the Conference--
(A) are not inappropriately influenced by any
special interest; and
(B) are the result of the independent and
collective judgment of the delegates to the Conference;
and
(4) not later than 30 days before the Conference is
convened, the delegates to the Conference have access to
information provided by relevant Federal agencies that
includes--
(A) updated statistical data (including decennial
census data) and other information on food and
nutrition in the United States; and
(B) information necessary to evaluate Federal
programs and policies relating to food and nutrition.
(d) Gifts.--
(1) In general.--The Co-chairs may accept, on behalf of the
United States, gifts (in cash or in kind, including voluntary
and uncompensated services), which shall be available to carry
out this Act.
(2) Additional amount.--Gifts of cash shall be available in
addition to amounts appropriated to carry out this Act.
(e) Records.--
(1) In general.--The Co-chairs shall maintain records
regarding--
(A) the sources, amounts, and uses of gifts
accepted under subsection (d); and
(B) the identity of each individual assisting in
carrying out this Act, and the amount of compensation,
if any, received by each such individual.
(2) Public availability.--For each gift accepted under
subsection (d), the records described in paragraph (1) shall be
made public not later than 30 days after the date on which the
gift is received.
SEC. 8. CONFERENCE REPORT.
(a) Preliminary Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 100 days after the date on
which the Conference adjourns, the Policy Committee shall
prepare a preliminary report on the Conference, which shall
be--
(A) published in the Federal Register; and
(B) submitted to the chief executive officers of
each of the States.
(2) Views and findings.--The Policy Committee shall request
that, not later than 45 days after the submission of the report
by the Policy Committee under paragraph (1)(B), the chief
executive officers of each of the States shall submit to the
Policy Committee views and findings with respect to that
report.
(b) Final Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which
the Conference adjourns, the Policy Committee shall--
(1) prepare a final report on the Conference, which shall
include--
(A) a compilation of the views and findings of the
chief executive officers of each of the States
submitted under subsection (a)(2); and
(B) recommendations for administrative action and
legislation with respect to those views and findings;
and
(2) publish in the Federal Register, and transmit to the
President and to Congress, the recommendations described in
paragraph (1)(B).
SEC. 9. STATUS REPORTS.
(a) Initial Status Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date
on which the Conference adjourns, the Presidential Designee shall--
(1) prepare a status report documenting the implementation
of the recommendations contained in the final report described
in section 8(b)(1)(B); and
(2) publish in the Federal Register, and transmit to the
President and to Congress, that status report.
(b) Subsequent Status Reports.--Not later than 5 years after the
date on which the Conference adjourns, and every 2 years thereafter for
not longer than 10 years, the Presidential Designee shall--
(1) prepare a status report documenting the implementation
of the recommendations contained in that final report; and
(2) publish in the Federal Register, and transmit to the
President and to Congress, that status report.
SEC. 10. COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
(a) Hearings on Reports.--The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry of the Senate, the Committee on Agriculture of the House
of Representatives, and the Committee on Rules of the House of
Representatives shall each hold hearings on the recommendations and
status reports transmitted to Congress under sections 8(b)(2), 9(a)(2),
and 9(b)(2).
(b) Hearings on Status of Hunger, Nutrition Security, and Food
Systems.--The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the
Senate, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives,
and the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives shall each
hold annual hearings on the status of hunger, food and nutrition
insecurity, and resilient food systems in the United States.
(c) Exercise of Rulemaking Authority.--Subsections (a) and (b) are
enacted--
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate
and the House of Representatives, and, as such, shall be
considered as part of the rules of the Senate or the House of
Representatives (as the case may be), and such rules shall
supersede any other rule of the Senate or the House of
Representatives only to the extent that any such rule is
inconsistent therewith; and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of
either House to change such rules (so far as relating to the
procedure in such House) at any time, in the same manner, and
to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of the
Senate or the House of Representatives.
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Authorization.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated
$2,500,000 to carry out this Act for each of--
(A) the fiscal year in which the Policy Committee
plans the Conference and for the following fiscal year;
and
(B) the fiscal year in which the Conference is
held.
(2) Limitation.--Any new spending authority or new
authority to enter into contracts under this Act, and under
which the United States is obligated to make outlays, shall be
effective only to the extent, and in such amounts, as are
provided in advance in appropriation Acts.
(b) Availability of Funds.--
(1) In general.--Funds appropriated to carry out this Act
and funds received as gifts under section 7(d) shall remain
available for obligation or expenditure for 1 year after the
date on which the Conference adjourns.
(2) Unobligated funds.--Any funds described in paragraph
(1) that are not expended or obligated before the expiration of
the 1-year period described in that paragraph shall be returned
to the United States Treasury.
<all>