Sponsor
Tom Barrett
Representative · R-MI
Representative · R-MI
The bill aims to improve military families' access to healthier foods and create local market opportunities by coordinating nutrition guidance and procurement, but it may raise costs and administrative burdens and is temporary unless reauthorized.
Military families and commissary shoppers will have increased access to healthier foods and nutrition resources through improved availability, visibility, affordability, promotion, and commissary‑specific nutrition guidance published online.
Local farmers and farmers markets could gain new sales opportunities by being identified and incorporated into commissary supply chains and outreach efforts.
DoD, HHS, and USDA coordination and data‑sharing may improve evidence‑based procurement and program design for healthier commissary offerings, strengthening program effectiveness over time.
Taxpayers, commissary shoppers, or the Defense Commissary Agency may face higher procurement or operational costs as availability and affordability initiatives are implemented.
Commissary managers and the Defense Commissary Agency will face added administrative burden to implement new procedures, outreach, reporting, and timelines.
Local producers identified for participation may be unable to meet scale, quality, or regulatory requirements, limiting their ability to benefit from new procurement opportunities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires DeCA to implement a program to boost availability, promotion, affordability, and visibility of foods meeting the Dietary Guidelines at U.S. commissaries, with interagency planning and a report, through Dec 31, 2030.
Official title: To provide healthy food options in military commissaries, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 27, 2026 by Tom Barrett · Last progress July 27, 2026
Requires the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) to run a time-limited program to increase the availability, visibility, affordability, and promotion of foods that meet the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans at U.S. military commissaries. The bill directs the Secretary of Defense (in consultation with HHS and USDA) to submit a plan and create coordinated procedures, directs DeCA to appoint a Director of Healthy Foods and perform local outreach, requires publication of commissary-specific healthy food resources, and mandates a one-year implementation report. All requirements end on December 31, 2030. The law focuses on planning, coordination, outreach, and promotion rather than new benefit payments or large appropriations; it sets specific deadlines for plan submission, interagency procedures, website resources, briefings, and an implementation report.