A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to provide grants to hospitals and other nonprofit inpatient healthcare institutions, Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, and other social service programs for the acquisition of local nutritious agricultural products.

Summary: Healthy Food for Healthy Lives Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide demonstration grants to eligible entities to purchase eligible local or regional products from participating vendors to improve the availability of nutritious meals for: (1) patients and employees of, and visitors to, eligible hospitals, including Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical and nursing facilities; and (2) clients of eligible social service organizations that provide nutrition services.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Healthy Food for Healthy Lives Act 
of 2008''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) an eligible hospital; or
                    (B) an eligible organization.
            (2) Eligible hospital.--The term ``eligible hospital'' 
        means--
                    (A) a medical center or nursing home operated by 
                the Department of Veterans Affairs; or
                    (B) any other nonprofit hospital or other nonprofit 
                inpatient healthcare institution.
            (3) Eligible organization.--The term ``eligible 
        organization'' means a social service organization providing 
        nutrition services, including Meals on Wheels.
            (4) Eligible product.--The term ``eligible product'' means 
        an agricultural product that--
                    (A) is offered by a participating vendor;
                    (B) is fresh, dried, frozen, or packaged in a 
                manner that maximizes retention of nutrient density;
                    (C) is grown, stored, or transported in a manner 
                that maximizes retention of nutrient density; and
                    (D) is a locally or regionally produced 
                agricultural food product that is stored and processed 
                locally, and, to the maximum extent practicable, 
                reflects local preferences.
            (5) Locally or regionally produced agricultural food 
        product.--The term ``locally or regionally produced 
        agricultural food product'' means any agricultural food product 
        that is raised, produced, and distributed in--
                    (A) the locality or region in which the final 
                product is marketed, so that the total distance that 
                the product is transported is less than 400 miles from 
                the origin of the product; or
                    (B) the State in which the product is produced.
            (6) Participating vendor.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``participating vendor'' 
                means a local or regional distributor of eligible 
                products that is approved under section 3(d)(1).
                    (B) Inclusion.--The term ``participating vendor'' 
                includes an agricultural producer.
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.

SEC. 3. DEMONSTRATION GRANTS FOR HOSPITALS, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTERS, AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a program under 
which the Secretary shall provide demonstration grants to eligible 
entities to purchase eligible products from participating vendors to 
improve the availability of nutritious meals from local sources for--
            (1) patients of, employees of, and visitors to eligible 
        hospitals; and
            (2) clients of eligible organizations.
    (b) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the provision of 
demonstration grants under subsection (a) with--
            (1) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, for purposes of 
        grants to an eligible entity described in section 2(2)(A); and
            (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, for 
        purposes of grants to any other eligible entity.
    (c) Agreements.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through any regional 
        procurement offices of the Department of Agriculture that the 
        Secretary determines to be appropriate, shall carry out a 
        program under which the Secretary shall enter into agreements 
        with participating vendors to supply eligible products to 
        eligible entities.
            (2) Funds.--Eligible products supplied under an agreement 
        entered into under paragraph (1) shall be purchased by eligible 
        entities using funds that are provided through demonstration 
        grants under this section.
    (d) Approval of Participating Vendors.--
            (1) In general.--A local or regional distributor of 
        eligible products that seeks to supply eligible products to 
        eligible entities under this section shall apply to the 
        Secretary for approval as a participating vendor.
            (2) Conditions for approval.--The Secretary shall approve 
        an application submitted under paragraph (1) if the local or 
        regional distributor of eligible products--
                    (A) demonstrates the ability to supply eligible 
                products;
                    (B) complies with Federal food safety laws 
                (including regulations);
                    (C) consistently provides products that meet 
                standards of grade, size, freshness, and quality as 
                required by the Secretary or local procurement officer; 
                and
                    (D) demonstrates the ability to supply and purchase 
                eligible products at a fair price from local growers 
                and processors.
    (e) Grant Applications.--
            (1) Application process.--
                    (A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
                to purchase eligible products from participating 
                vendors under this section, an eligible entity shall 
                submit to the Secretary an application at such time and 
                containing such information as the Secretary may 
                require.
                    (B) Priority.--In providing grants under this 
                section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible 
                entities with demonstrated commitment to developing 
                organizational food and nutrition policies that 
                incorporate locally or regionally produced agricultural 
                food products.
            (2) Additional requirements for eligible organizations.--In 
        addition to the information required under paragraph (1), an 
        eligible organization shall include in a grant application 
        under that paragraph--
                    (A) certification of the nonprofit status of the 
                eligible organization; and
                    (B) evidence of the demonstrated ability of the 
                eligible organization to provide nutrition services.
    (f) Monitoring.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop and implement 
        a system for monitoring--
                    (A) participating vendors; and
                    (B) grants provided under this section.
            (2) Certification.--A monitoring system developed under 
        this subsection may include a requirement for a participating 
        vendor to obtain certification in accordance with a program--
                    (A) that is designed by the Secretary; and
                    (B) under which the Secretary may require payments 
                from participating vendors for the certification 
                process.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013--
            (1) $10,000,000 to provide grants to eligible hospitals 
        described in section 2(2)(A);
            (2) $10,000,000 to provide grants to eligible hospitals 
        described in section 2(2)(B); and
            (3) $5,000,000 to provide grants to eligible organizations.

SEC. 4. REPORT ON FRESH FOODS IN FEDERALLY FUNDED HEALTH AND SOCIAL 
              SERVICE PROGRAMS.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services and the heads of other applicable Federal agencies, shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that provides 
recommendations for ways in which--
            (1) health care institutions and social service 
        organizations could increase the use of nutritious, local 
        agricultural products in nutrition and food service programs; 
        and
            (2) the Federal Government could provide technical 
        assistance for and support the activities recommended under 
        paragraph (1).