H.R. 5412

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to assist in the establishment and operation of healthy food pharmacies, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · September 16, 2025 · Sponsor: Mrs. Sykes · Committee: Committee on Energy and Commerce

Table of contents

• H.R. 5412
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Finding
  • SEC. 3. Grants for healthy food pharmacies

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Food Farmacy Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Finding

• Congress finds that the goal of healthy food pharmacies (also known as ) is to improve the health outcomes of their patrons by expanding access to nutritious foods and providing nutritional guidance. food farmacies

SEC. 3. Grants for healthy food pharmacies

• Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act () is amended by adding at the end the following: 42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.
  • (a) Authority To make grants
    • The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, may make grants to eligible entities to assist in the establishment and operation of healthy food pharmacies.
  • (b) Use of grants
    • A grant received by an eligible entity under this section shall be used for costs related to—
      • construction, conversion, or renovation of a healthy food pharmacy;
      • the acquisition of equipment for a healthy food pharmacy, including for a mobile food pharmacy;
      • staffing to operate a healthy food pharmacy and help connect patients to other programs that support health outcomes and combat food insecurity; and
      • the acquisition of food and materials necessary for food distribution by a healthy food pharmacy.
  • (c) Eligibility
    • (1) Eligible entities
      • The following entities shall be eligible to receive a grant under this section:
        • A non-profit qualified health care provider.
        • A State or local government entity.
        • A Tribal organization.
    • (2) Eligible healthy food pharmacies
      • The Secretary may make a grant under this section with respect to a healthy food pharmacy if the healthy food pharmacy—
        • offers a range of services to its patrons, including access to healthy foods and nutritional guidance from a qualified health care professional;
        • is operated in a manner that prioritizes the provision of services to communities that are low income, rural, or facing food insecurity (as such terms may be defined by the Secretary);
        • provides food and nutritional guidance free of charge to individuals receiving benefits under Medicaid or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; and
        • is operated in a manner that supports the initiative of the Department of Health and Human Services. Food is Medicine
  • (d) Application
    • (1) In general
      • To receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
    • (2) Plan for continuation of grant activities
      • As part of such an application, the Secretary shall require an eligible entity to submit a plan for continuing to carry out activities described in subsection (b) after the eligible entity is no longer receiving grant funds under this section, including a plan to retain staff hired using the grant funds.
  • (e) Partnerships
    • An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may carry out activities using the amounts of the grant in partnership with other organizations seeking to reduce food insecurity and improve health outcomes.
  • (f) Limitation on grant amounts
    • The Secretary may not award to an eligible entity more than $500,000 in grants under this section for a fiscal year.
  • (g) Authority To waive certain requirements
    • The Secretary may waive requirements of title XI of the Social Security Act as may be necessary solely for the purposes of carrying out a program under this section.
  • (h) Reporting requirements
    • (1) Reports to Secretary
      • The Secretary may make a grant to an eligible entity under this section with respect to a healthy food pharmacy only if the eligible entity agrees to submit to the Secretary, on an annual basis for such period as the Secretary may prescribe, a report on the effectiveness of the activities funded with the amounts of the grant, including a description of—
        • the number of patrons served by the healthy food pharmacy;
        • the health needs of such patrons;
        • the repeated use of the healthy food pharmacy by such patrons;
        • the reported health outcomes of such patrons;
        • the types of food acquired by such patrons from the healthy food pharmacy; and
        • the assistance provided by the healthy food pharmacy to connect such patrons with other programs that address food insecurity and improve health outcomes.
    • (2) Reports to Congress
      • Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, and biennially thereafter during the term of the grant program under this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that summarizes the reports received by the Secretary under paragraph (1).
  • (i) Definitions
    • In this Act:
      • The term means an entity described in subsection (c)(1). eligible entity
      • The term means an organization that provides to its patrons services that include— healthy food pharmacy
      • The term means— qualified health care professional
      • The term means— qualified health care provider
      • The term means the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Health.
  • (j) Authorization of appropriations
    • There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.