I 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2129 

To strengthen the Food Stamp Act of 1977. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 3, 2007 

Mr. MCGOVERN (for himself and Mrs. EMERSON) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to 

the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To strengthen the Food Stamp Act of 1977. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Feeding America’s 

5 Families Act of 2007’’. 


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1 TITLE I—IMPROVING BENEFIT 

2 ADEQUACY 

3 SEC. 101. ADJUSTING BENEFITS TO RESPOND TO FOOD IN4 FLATION. 

5 Section 3(o) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

6 U.S.C. 2012(o)) is amended— 

7 (1) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 

8 end; and 

9 (2) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the 

10 following: 

11 ‘‘(4) on October 1, 2007, adjust the cost of the 

12 diet to reflect 101.5 percent of the cost of the diet 

13 in the preceding June, and round the result to the 

14 nearest lower dollar increment for each household 

15 size, except that the Secretary may not reduce the 

16 cost of the diet in effect on September 30, 2007; 

17 ‘‘(5) on October 1, 2008 and October 1, 2009, 

18 adjust the cost of the diet to reflect 102 percent of 

19 the cost of the diet in the preceding June, and round 

20 the result to the nearest lower dollar increment for 

21 each household size, except that the Secretary may 

22 not reduce the cost of the diet in effect during the 

23 immediately preceding fiscal year; 

24 ‘‘(6) on October 1, 2010, adjust the cost of the 

25 diet to reflect 102.5 percent of the cost of the diet 


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1 in the preceding June, and round the result to the 

2 nearest lower dollar increment for each household 

3 size, except that the Secretary may not reduce the 

4 cost of the diet in effect on September 30, 2010; and 

5 ‘‘(7) on October 1, 2011, and each October 1 

6 thereafter, adjust the cost of the diet to reflect 103 

7 percent of the cost of the diet in the preceding June, 

8 and round the result to the nearest lower dollar in9 crement for each household size, except that the Sec10 retary may not reduce the cost of the diet in effect 

11 during the immediately preceding fiscal year.’’. 

12 SEC. 102. STRENGTHENING THE FOOD PURCHASING 

13 POWER OF LOW-INCOME AMERICANS. 

14 Section 5(e)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

15 U.S.C. 2014(e)(1)) is amended— 

16 (1) in subparagraph (A)(ii) by striking ‘‘not 

17 less than $134’’ and all that follows to the end of 

18 the clause and inserting the following: ‘‘not less 

19 than— 

20 ‘‘(I) for fiscal year 2008, $150, 

21 $256, $212, and $132, respectively; 

22 ‘‘(II) for fiscal year 2009, $170, 

23 $291, $240, and $150, respectively; 

24 ‘‘(III) for fiscal year 2010, $180, 

25 $308, $254, and $159, respectively; 


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1 ‘‘(IV) for fiscal year 2011, $201, 

2 $344, $284, and $177, respectively; 

3 and 

4 ‘‘(V) for each fiscal year there5 after, an amount that is equal to the 

6 amount from the previous fiscal year 

7 adjusted to the nearest lower dollar 

8 increment to reflect changes in the 

9 Consumer Price Index for all urban 

10 consumers published by the Bureau of 

11 Labor Statistics, for items other than 

12 food, for the twelve months ending the 

13 preceding June 30.’’; and 

14 (2) in subparagraph (B)(ii) by striking ‘‘not 

15 less than $269.’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘not 

16 less than— 

17 ‘‘(I) for fiscal year 2008, $301; 

18 ‘‘(II) for fiscal year 2009, $341; 

19 ‘‘(III) for fiscal year 2010, $361; 

20 ‘‘(IV) for fiscal year 2011, $404; 

21 and 

22 ‘‘(V) for each fiscal year there23 after, an amount that is equal to the 

24 amount from the previous fiscal year 

25 adjusted to the nearest lower dollar 


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1 increment to reflect changes in the 

2 Consumer Price Index for all urban 

3 consumers published by the Bureau of 

4 Labor Statistics, for items other than 

5 food, for the twelve months ending the 

6 preceding June 30.’’. 

7 SEC. 103. SUPPORTING WORKING FAMILIES WITH CHILD 

8 CARE EXPENSES. 

9 Section 5(e)(3)(A) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 

10 (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(3)(A)) is amended by striking ‘‘, the 

11 maximum allowable level of which shall be $200 per month 

12 for each dependent child under 2 years of age and $175 

13 per month for each other dependent,’’. 

14 SEC. 104. EXCLUSION OF COMBAT-RELATED MILITARY PAY 

15 FROM COUNTABLE INCOME. 

16 Section 5(d) of the Food Stamp Act of 2007 (7 

17 U.S.C. 2014(d)) is amended— 

18 (1) by striking ‘‘and (18)’’ and inserting 

19 ‘‘(18)’’; and 

20 (2) by inserting before the period at the end the 

21 following: 

22 ‘‘, and (19) any additional payment received under 

23 chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code, by a mem24 ber of the United States Armed Forces deployed to 

25 a designated combat zone for the duration of the 


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1 member’s deployment if the additional pay is the re2 sult of deployment to or while serving in a combat 

3 zone, and it was not received immediately prior to 

4 serving in the combat zone’’. 

5 SEC. 105. INCREASING THE MINIMUM BENEFIT. 

6 Section 8(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

7 U.S.C. 2017(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘$10 per month.’’ 

8 and inserting ‘‘20 percent of the thrifty food plan for a 

9 household containing one member, as determined by the 

10 Secretary under section 3(o).’’. 

11 TITLE II—IMPROVING FOOD SE12 CURITY AND SIMPLIFYING 

13 PROGRAM OPERATIONS 

14 SEC. 201. ALLOWABLE COUNTABLE RESOURCES. 

15 Section 5(g) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

16 U.S.C. 2014(g)) is amended — 

17 (1) by striking ‘‘(g)(1) The Secretary’’ and in18 serting the following: 

19 ‘‘(g) ALLOWABLE FINANCIAL RESOURCES.— 

20 ‘‘(1) TOTAL AMOUNT.— 

21 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; 

22 (2) in subsection (g)(1)(A) (as designated by 

23 paragraph (1)— 


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1 (A) by striking ‘‘$2,000’’ and inserting 

2 ‘‘$3,700 (as adjusted in accordance with sub3 paragraph (B))’’; and 

4 (B) by striking ‘‘$3,000’’ and inserting 

5 ‘‘$5,500 (as adjusted in accordance with sub6 paragraph (B)),’’; and 

7 (3) in subsection (g)(1) by adding at the end 

8 the following: 

9 ‘‘(B) ADJUSTMENT FOR INFLATION.— 

10 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on Oc11 tober 1, 2008, and each October 1 there12 after, the amounts in subparagraph (A) 

13 shall be adjusted to the nearest $100 in14 crement to reflect changes for the 12- 

15 month period ending the preceding June in 

16 the Consumer Price Index for All Urban 

17 Consumers published by the Bureau of 

18 Labor Statistics of the Department of 

19 Labor. 

20 ‘‘(ii) REQUIREMENT.—Each adjust21 ment under clause (i) shall be based on the 

22 unrounded amount for the prior 12-month 

23 period.’’. 


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1 SEC. 202. EXCLUSION OF RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS FROM 

2 COUNTABLE FINANCIAL RESOURCES. 

3 (a) Section 5(g)(2)(B)(v) of the Food Stamp Act of 

4 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2014(g)(2)(B)(v)) is amended by striking 

5 ‘‘or retirement account (including an individual account)’’ 

6 and inserting ‘‘account’’. 

7 (b) MANDATORY AND DISCRETIONARY EXCLU8 SIONS.—Section 5(g) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

9 U.S.C. 2014(g)) is amended by adding at the end the fol10 lowing: 

11 ‘‘(7) EXCLUSION OF RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS

12 FROM COUNTABLE FINANCIAL RESOURCES.— 

13 ‘‘(A) MANDATORY EXCLUSIONS.—The Sec14 retary shall exclude from financial resources 

15 under this subsection the value of any funds in 

16 a plan, contract, or account, described in sec17 tions 401(a), 403(a), 403(b), 408, 408A, 

18 457(b), and 501(c)(18) of the Internal Revenue 

19 Code of 1986 and the value of funds in a Fed20 eral Thrift Savings Plan account as provided in 

21 section 8439 of title 5, United States Code. 

22 ‘‘(B) DISCRETIONARY EXCLUSIONS.—The 

23 Secretary may exclude from financial resources 

24 under this subsection the value of any other re25 tirement plans, contracts, or accounts (as deter26 mined by the Secretary through regulation).’’. 


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1 SEC. 203. EXCLUSION OF EDUCATION ACCOUNTS FROM 

2 COUNTABLE FINANCIAL RESOURCES. 

3 Section 5(g) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

4 U.S.C. 2014(g) (as amended by section 202) is amended 

5 by adding at the end the following: 

6 ‘‘(8) EXCLUSION OF EDUCATION ACCOUNTS

7 FROM COUNTABLE FINANCIAL RESOURCES.— 

8 ‘‘(A) MANDATORY EXCLUSIONS.—The Sec9 retary shall exclude from financial resources 

10 under this subsection the value of any funds in 

11 a qualified tuition program described in section 

12 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or 

13 in a Coverdell education savings account under 

14 section 530 of that Code. 

15 ‘‘(B) DISCRETIONAL EXCLUSIONS.—The 

16 Secretary may exclude from financial resources 

17 under this subsection the value of any other 

18 education programs, contracts, or accounts (as 

19 determined by the Secretary through regula20 tion).’’. 

21 SEC. 204. SIMPLIFYING WORK REQUIREMENT. 

22 (a) Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

23 U.S.C. 2015) is amended by striking subsection (o). 

24 (b) Section 16(h)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 

25 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)(1)) is amended— 

26 (1) in subparagraph (A)— 


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1 (A) in clause (vi)(II) by striking ‘‘and’’; 

2 (B) in clause (vii) by striking the period at 

3 the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

4 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(viii) for each of the fiscal years 

6 2008 through 2012, $110,000,000.’’; and 

7 (2) by striking subparagraph (E). 

8 SEC. 205. FAIRNESS FOR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. 

9 Notwithstanding sections 401(a), 402(a), and 403(a) 

10 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Rec11 onciliation At of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1611(a), 1612(a), 

12 1613(a)) and section 6(f) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 

13 (7 U.S.A. 2015(f)), persons who are lawfully residing in 

14 the United States shall be not be ineligible for food stamps 

15 on the basis of their immigration status or date of entry 

16 into the United States. 

17 SEC. 206. CLARIFYING ELIGIBILITY. 

18 Section 421 of the Personal Responsibility and Work 

19 Opportunity Reconciliation At of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 

20 1631(d)(3)) is amended— 

21 (1) by striking ‘‘to the extent that a qualified 

22 alien is eligible under section 1612(a)(2)(J) of this 

23 title.’’ and 

24 (2) inserting, ‘‘to the extent that a child is a 

25 member of the food stamp household.’’. 


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1 SEC. 207. ENSURING PROPER SCREENING. 

2 Section 11(e)(2)(B) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 

3 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(2)(B)) is amended— 

4 (1) by inserting after clause (v): 

5 ‘‘(vi) shall provide a method for imple6 menting 8 U.S.C. 1631 that does not re7 quire any unnecessary information from 

8 persons who may be exempt from that pro9 vision;’’; and 

10 (2) by redesignating clauses (vi) and (vii) as 

11 clauses (vii) and (viii). 

12 SEC. 208. CLARIFICATION OF SIMPLIFIED ADMINISTRATIVE 

13 REPORTING REQUIREMENT. 

14 Section 11(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

15 U.S.C. 2020(a)) is amended by adding the following at 

16 the end: ‘‘The administrative reporting requirement under 

17 8 U.S.C. 1631(e)(2) shall be satisfied by the submission 

18 of an aggregate report on the numbers of such exceptions 

19 granted each year.’’. 

20 SEC. 209. STATE OPTION TO PROVIDE FOOD ASSISTANCE 

21 TO FOSTER COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act 

23 of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2015) is amended by adding at the end 

24 the following: 

25 ‘‘(p) STATE OPTION TO PROVIDE FOOD ASSISTANCE

26 TO FOSTER COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 

2 115 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Oppor3 tunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (21 U.S.C. 862a), 

4 except as provided in paragraph (2), section 115 of 

5 that Act shall not apply in the case of benefits under 

6 the food stamp program or any State program car7 ried out under this Act. 

8 ‘‘(2) PROHIBITION ON RECEIVING FOOD STAMP

9 BENEFITS.—In the case of benefits under the food 

10 stamp program or any State program carried out 

11 under this Act: 

12 ‘‘(A) A State may, by specific reference in 

13 a law enacted on or after the enactment date of 

14 this subsection, elect to apply section 115 of 

15 that Act to any or all individuals domiciled in 

16 a State, effective beginning on the date of en17 actment of that law. Section 115 of that Act 

18 shall apply to any or all individuals domiciled in 

19 the State in accordance with that law. 

20 ‘‘(B) If, prior to enactment of this sub21 section, a State exempted any or all individuals 

22 domiciled in the State from the application of 

23 section 115(a) by specific reference in a law in 

24 accordance with section 115(d)(1) of that Act, 


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1 the State may continue to apply section 115 of 

2 that Act in accordance with that law.’’. 

3 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

4 subsection (a) takes effect on the date that is 180 days 

5 after the date of enactment of this Act. 

6 TITLE III—CONNECTING ELIGI7 BLE FAMILIES AND INDIVID8 UALS TO FOOD STAMPS 

9 SEC. 301. FACILITATING SIMPLIFIED REPORTING. 

10 Section 6(c) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

11 U.S.C. 2015(c)(1)(A)) is amended— 

12 (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by— 

13 (A) striking ‘‘reporting by’’ and inserting 

14 ‘‘reporting’’; 

15 (B) inserting ‘‘for periods shorter than 

16 four months by’’ after the clause designations 

17 in clauses (i) and (ii); and 

18 (C) inserting ‘‘by’’ after the clause des19 ignation in clause (iii); 

20 (2) in paragraph (3), by— 

21 (A) striking ‘‘Reports required to be filed 

22 monthly under paragraph (1)’’ and inserting 

23 ‘‘Except as provided in paragraph (1)(D)(ii), 

24 periodic reports filed under paragraph (1)’’; 


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1 (B) striking ‘‘required to be filed month2 ly’’; 

3 (C) striking ‘‘subject matter included in 

4 such reports’’ and inserting ‘‘such households’’; 

5 and 

6 (D) inserting after the third sentence: 

7 ‘‘The State agency shall not be required to act on 

8 information about such household received from any 

9 source between such periodic reports unless the in10 formation clearly indicates that the household is not 

11 eligible, subject to standards established by the Sec12 retary, or the household requests an increase in ben13 efits.’’. 

14 SEC. 302. ACCESS TO BENEFITS. 

15 Section 7 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 

16 2016) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

17 ‘‘(k) No State agency shall establish any additional 

18 requirements or conditions on households to receive 

19 benefits other than the requirements or conditions speci20 fied in this section.’’. 

21 SEC. 303. ACCOUNTABLE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. 

22 (a) PROHIBITION.—Section 11(e)(6)(B) of the Food 

23 and Nutrition Assistance Act of 2007 (7 U.S.C. 

24 2020(e)(6)(B)) is amended to read: 


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1 ‘‘(B) only State employees employed in ac2 cordance with the current standards for a Merit 

3 System of Personnel Administration, or any 

4 standards later prescribed by the Office of Per5 sonnel Management pursuant to section 208 of 

6 the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 

7 (42 U.S.C. 4728) modifying or superseding 

8 such standards relating to the establishment 

9 and maintenance of personnel standards on a 

10 merit basis, shall— 

11 ‘‘(i) represent the State agency in any 

12 communications with a prospective appli13 cant, applicant, or recipient household; 

14 ‘‘(ii) participate in making any deter15 minations relating to a household’s sub16 stantive or procedural compliance with the 

17 requirements of this Act or implementing 

18 regulations, including the adequacy of the 

19 household’s application or of verification or 

20 other information the household has sub21 mitted in support of that application; or 

22 ‘‘(iii) perform any other acts or par23 ticipate in making any other determina24 tions required under this subsection;’’. 


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1 (b) WAIVERS.—Section 17(b)(1)(B)(iv)(III)(ff) of the 

2 Food and Nutrition Assistance Act of 2007 (7 U.S.C. 

3 2026(b)(1)(B)(iv)(III)(ff)) is amended in inserting ‘‘or 

4 11(e)(6)(B)’’ before the semicolon. 

5 (c) PROJECTS.—Section 26(f)(3)(E) of the Food and 

6 Nutrition Assistance Act of 2007 (7 U.S.C. 

7 2035(f)(3)(E)) is amended in inserting ‘‘(6)(B)’’ after 

8 ‘‘paragraphs’’. 

9 SEC. 304. REAUTHORIZATION OF FOOD STAMP PROGRAM 

10 AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM ON IN11 DIAN RESERVATIONS. 

12 (a) REDUCTIONS IN PAYMENTS FOR ADMINISTRA13 TIVE COSTS.—Section 16(k)(3) of the Food Stamp Act 

14 of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025(k)(3)) is amended— 

15 (1) in the first sentence of subparagraph (A), 

16 by striking ‘‘2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2012’’; and 

17 (2) in subparagraph (B)(ii) by striking ‘‘2007’’ 

18 and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 

19 (b) CASH PAYMENT PILOT PROJECTS.—Section 

20 17(b)(1)(B)(vi) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 

21 2026(b)(1)(B(vi)) is amended by striking ‘‘2007’’ and in22 serting ‘‘2012’’. 

23 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 

24 18(a)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 

25 2027(a)(1)) is amended in the first sentence by striking 


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1 ‘‘2003 through 2007’’ and inserting ‘‘2008 through 

2 2012’’. 

3 (d) CONSOLIDATED BLOCK GRANTS FOR PUERTO

4 RICO AND AMERICAN SAMOA.—Section 19(a)(2) of the 

5 Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2028(a)(2)) is amend6 ed in subparagraph (A)(ii) by striking ‘‘2007’’ and insert7 ing ‘‘2012’’. 

8 SEC. 305. PREVENTING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. 

9 Section 16(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

10 U.S.C. 2025(a)) is amended by inserting ‘‘directly or indi11 rectly’’ before ‘‘receive or benefit’’ in the final sentence. 

12 SEC. 306. LIMITATION ON CONTRACTING. 

13 Section 16(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

14 U.S.C. 2025(a)) is amended by inserting at the end: ‘‘The 

15 Secretary shall not make any payments for administrative 

16 costs under this or any other section of law relating to 

17 a contract that a State agency concluded in violation of 

18 this Act or the Secretary’s regulations, whether or not the 

19 Secretary may approve the contract subsequent to its let20 ting, or for any personnel costs to carry out functions 

21 specified under section 11(e)(3) except by persons de22 scribed under section 11(e)(6)(B).’’. 

23 SEC. 307. OUTREACH GRANTS. 

24 Section 11(t)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 2007 (7 

25 U.S.C. 2020(t)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘For each of 


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1 fiscal years’’ and all that follows through ‘‘$5,000,000’’ 

2 and inserting ‘‘For each of the fiscal years 2008 through 

3 2012, the Secretary shall use not more than 

4 $45,000,000’’. 

5 SEC. 308. FUNDS TO STATES FOR IMPROVING AND INNO6 VATING PROGRAM ACCESS AND INTEGRITY. 

7 Section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 2007 (7 U.S.C. 

8 2025), as amended by section 304, is amended by adding 

9 at the end the following: 

10 ‘‘(m) FUNDS TO STATES FOR IMPROVING AND INNO11 VATING PROGRAM ACCESS AND INTEGRITY.— 

12 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) 

13 and (3), the Secretary shall provide that with re14 spect to administrative expenditures described in 

15 paragraph (2) the percent specified in (a) shall be 

16 increased to such percentage as the Secretary speci17 fies. 

18 ‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURES DE19 SCRIBED.—The administrative expenditures de20 scribed in this paragraph are expenditures described 

21 in (a) that a State demonstrates to the satisfaction 

22 of the Secretary are attributable to a program inno23 vation that— 

24 ‘‘(A) improves access to the food stamp 

25 program; 


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1 ‘‘(B) improves the efficiency and effective2 ness of program operations; or 

3 ‘‘(C) improves program integrity. 

4 ‘‘(3) LIMITATIONS.—The total amount of addi5 tional Federal funds that are made available under 

6 this subsection shall not exceed $80,000,000 in each 

7 of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012. In applying 

8 this paragraph, the Secretary shall use discretion in 

9 determining the State innovations that have the 

10 greatest likelihood of meeting the goals described in 

11 paragraph (2). The Secretary shall only make funds 

12 available under paragraph (2) that will result in new 

13 activities or operations.’’. 

14 SEC. 309. IMPROVING PROGRAM OPERATIONS AND PRO15 GRAM EFFECTIVENESS. 

16 Section 17 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 

17 2026) is amended by adding at the end— 

18 ‘‘(k) RESEARCH TO IMPROVE PROGRAM OPERATION

19 EFFECTIVENESS.— 

20 ‘‘(1) For each of the fiscal years 2008 through 

21 2010, the Secretary shall use no less than 

22 $9,000,000 of funds made available under section 

23 18(a)(1) to conduct research and demonstration 

24 projects in support of this Act. 


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1 ‘‘(2) Of the funds provided in paragraph (1), no 

2 less than $4,000,000 in each fiscal year shall be 

3 used to conduct research and studies on how to im4 prove the effectiveness of food stamp program oper5 ations by increasing access for eligible households, 

6 reducing State agency and household administrative 

7 burdens, and improving program integrity. Such 

8 studies may evaluate the most effective— 

9 ‘‘(A) use of verification; 

10 ‘‘(B) telephonic and internet applications; 

11 ‘‘(C) call centers; 

12 ‘‘(D) efforts to retain eligible households at 

13 recertification; and 

14 ‘‘(E) methods of providing food stamp ben15 efits to working households, seniors, legal immi16 grants, and households with limited English 

17 proficient households, particularly in areas and 

18 States that have experienced rapid growth in 

19 their non-English speaking populations.’’. 

20 SEC. 310. IMPROVING PERFORMANCE BONUSES FOR 

21 STATES. 

22 Section 16(d)(2)(B)(ii) of the Food Stamp Act of 

23 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025(d)) is amended by— 

24 (1) inserting ‘‘through fiscal year 2007’’ after 

25 ‘‘each fiscal year’’; 


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1 (2) inserting at the end ‘‘For fiscal years 2008 

2 and thereafter, $68 million shall be available under 

3 this clause for performance bonus payments.’’. 

4 SEC. 311. SUPPORTING STATE EFFORTS DURING NATURAL 

5 DISASTERS. 

6 Section 5(h) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

7 U.S.C. 2014(h)) is amended by adding at the end the fol8 lowing: 

9 ‘‘(4) In lieu of the payments section 16(a) would oth10 erwise require, the Secretary shall pay each State agency 

11 an amount equal to 90 percent of administrative costs al12 lowable under section 16(a) for costs related to planning 

13 and operating disaster food stamp programs under this 

14 subsection.’’. 

15 SEC. 312. EXPANDING THE USE OF FOOD STAMPS AT FARM16 ERS’ MARKETS. 

17 Section 25 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 

18 2034) is amended by adding at the end: 

19 ‘‘(i) GRANTS TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF FARM20 ERS’ MARKETS THAT ACCEPT FOOD STAMP BENEFITS.— 

21 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For each of the fiscal years 

22 2008 through 2010, the Secretary shall use not 

23 more than $5 million of funds made available under 

24 section 18(a)(1) to make grants to pay 100 percent 

25 of the costs of eligible entities approved by the SecVerDate Aug 31 2005 19:16 May 06, 2007 Jkt 059196 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2129.IH H2129

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1 retary to carry out projects to expand the number 

2 of farmers’ markets that accept food stamp benefits 

3 by— 

4 ‘‘(A) providing equipment and training 

5 necessary for markets to accept food stamp 

6 benefits; 

7 ‘‘(B) educating and providing technical as8 sistance to farmers and farmers’ market opera9 tors about the process and benefits of accepting 

10 food stamp benefits; or 

11 ‘‘(C) other activities deemed appropriate 

12 by the Secretary. 

13 ‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—A grant made under this 

14 subsection shall not be made for the cost of the on15 going cost of carrying out any project. 

16 ‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to re17 ceive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall 

18 be— 

19 ‘‘(A) a State agency administering the 

20 Food Stamp Program; 

21 ‘‘(B) a State or local government; or 

22 ‘‘(C) a private nonprofit entity that coordi23 nates farmers’ markets in or within a State and 

24 that operates in cooperation with State or local 

25 government. 


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1 ‘‘(4) SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The 

2 Secretary— 

3 ‘‘(A) shall develop criteria for the selection 

4 of eligible entities to receive grants under this 

5 subsection; and 

6 ‘‘(B) may give preference to any eligible 

7 entity that consists of a partnership between a 

8 government entity and a nongovernmental enti9 ty.’’. 

10 TITLE IV—SUPPORTING THE 

11 EMERGENCY FOOD BANK 

12 NETWORK AND OTHER COM13 MUNITY PARTNERS 

14 SEC. 401. ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS. 

15 Section 25(b)(2) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

16 U.S.C. 2034(b)(2)) is amended— 

17 (1) in subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

18 the end; 

19 (2) in subparagraph (B) by striking the period 

20 at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

21 (3) by inserting at the end: 

22 ‘‘(C) for each of the fiscal years 2008 

23 through 2012, the amount available in the im24 mediately preceding fiscal year adjusted to re25 flect changes in the Consumer Price Index for 


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1 All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau 

2 of Labor Statistics for the twelve months end3 ing the preceding June 30.’’. 

4 SEC. 402. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR ADDI5 TIONAL COMMODITIES UNDER THE FOOD 

6 STAMP ACT. 

7 (a) Section 27(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

8 U.S.C. 2011–2036a) is amended to read as follows: 

9 (1) by striking ‘‘(a) PURCHASE OF COMMOD10 ITIES.—’’ and all that follows through ‘‘2007’’ and 

11 inserting the following: 

12 ‘‘(a) PURCHASE OF COMMODITIES.— 

13 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As provided in paragraph 

14 (2), for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012’’; 

15 and 

16 (2) by striking ‘‘$140,000,000 of’’; and 

17 (3) by inserting at the end: 

18 ‘‘(2) AMOUNTS.—The following amounts are 

19 made available to carry out this subsection: 

20 ‘‘(A) for fiscal year 2008, $250,000,000; 

21 ‘‘(B) for each of the fiscal years 2009 

22 through 2012, the dollar amount of commod23 ities available in the immediately preceding fis24 cal year adjusted by the percentage by which 

25 the thrifty food plan has been adjusted under 


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1 section 3(o)(4) between June 30, 2007 and 

2 June 30 of the immediately preceding fiscal 

3 year.’’. 

4 (b) Section 204(a) of the Emergency Food Assistance 

5 Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 612C note) is amended in subpara6 graph (1) by striking ‘‘$60,000,000’’ and inserting 

7 ‘‘$100,000,000.’’. 

8 SEC. 403. COMMUNITY FOOD ASSISTANCE AND FOOD BANK 

9 INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS UNDER THE 

10 FOOD STAMP ACT. 

11 The Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) 

12 is amended by adding at the end the following: 

13 ‘‘SEC. 28. COMMUNITY FOOD ASSISTANCE AND FOOD BANK 

14 INFRASTRUCTURE COMPETITIVE GRANTS. 

15 ‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—In this sec16 tion, the term eligible entity means an emergency feeding 

17 organization (as defined in Section 201A(4) of the Emer18 gency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501(4))). 

19 ‘‘(b) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 

20 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made avail21 able to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall make 

22 available not less than $5,000,000 for fiscal year 

23 2008 and for the each of the fiscal years 2009 

24 through 2012, the amount available in the imme25 diately preceding fiscal year adjusted to reflect 


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1 changes in the Consumer Price Index for all urban 

2 consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statis3 tics for the twelve months ending the preceding June 

4 30 for the purposes of making grants to eligible en5 tities to support the work of food banks and similar 

6 nonprofit emergency feeding organizations. 

7 ‘‘(c) APPLICATION.— 

8 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To receive a grant under 

9 this section, an eligible entity shall submit an appli10 cation to the Secretary at the time and manner and 

11 accompanied by any information the Secretary may 

12 require. 

13 ‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—Each application submitted 

14 under paragraph (1) shall— 

15 ‘‘(A) identify the activity described in sub16 section (d) that the grant will be used to fund; 

17 and 

18 ‘‘(B) describe the means by which an activ19 ity identified under subparagraph (A) will re20 duce hunger in the community or support the 

21 efforts of food banks or other nonprofit emer22 gency feeding organizations as defined in Sec23 tion (a) to reduce hunger or food insecurity in 

24 their communities. 


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1 ‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In making grants under this 

2 section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible 

3 entities the applications of which demonstrate two of 

4 the following criteria: 

5 ‘‘(A) The eligible entity serves a predomi6 nantly rural and geographically underserved 

7 area. 

8 ‘‘(B) The eligible entity serves a commu9 nity in which the rates of food insecurity, very 

10 low food insecurity, hunger, poverty, or unem11 ployment are demonstrably higher than national 

12 average rates. 

13 ‘‘(C) The eligible entity serves a commu14 nity that provides demonstrable public support 

15 for the efforts of the eligible entity through the 

16 direct provision of private sector food assistance 

17 to low-income individuals. 

18 ‘‘(D) The eligible entity can show that the 

19 grant will assist in the support of rural commu20 nities, small or mid-size farms, and the con21 sumption of locally produced agricultural prod22 ucts by low-income people in need of temporary 

23 food assistance. 


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1 ‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity shall use a 

2 grant received under this section for fiscal year to carry 

3 out activities of the eligible entity, including— 

4 ‘‘(1) constructing, expanding, or repairing a fa5 cility or equipment to support hunger relief agencies 

6 in the community; 

7 ‘‘(2) assisting an emergency feeding organiza8 tion in the community in obtaining locally-grown or 

9 raised produce, dairy or protein products; and 

10 ‘‘(3) assisting an emergency feeding organiza11 tion in the community for the procurement, storage, 

12 handling and distribution of locally produced agricul13 tural products.’’. 

14 SEC. 404. FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY TRANSPORTATION 

15 GRANT PROGRAM. 

16 (a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 

17 (1) to authorize the creation of the National 

18 Food for the Hungry Transportation, Self-Help, and 

19 Job Training Fund to facilitate the procurement and 

20 transportation of highly perishable, healthy food to 

21 low-income individuals in the United States; 

22 (2) to establish a competitive mechanism in the 

23 Department of Agriculture by which appropriations 

24 made available from the Fund would be allocated; 


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1 (3) to ensure the direct involvement of the pri2 vate carrier trucking fleet of the United States in 

3 carrying out this section; 

4 (4) to increase the quantity of nutritious food 

5 available to low-income individuals in the United 

6 States by supporting the procurement and distribu7 tion of highly perishable food, such as fresh produce 

8 and protein products, to the low-income individuals; 

9 (5) to offer job training and employment oppor10 tunities in the food transportation and distribution 

11 systems; 

12 (6) to better identify potential providers of do13 nated foods and enhance the nonprofit food donation 

14 system; and 

15 (7) to provide adequate funding to carry out 

16 this section. 

17 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

18 (1) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Na19 tional Food for the Hungry Transportation, Self20 Help, and Job Training Fund established under sub21 section (c). 

22 (2) NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION.—The 

23 term ‘‘nongovernmental organization’’ means a na24 tional nonprofit charitable organization that— 


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1 (A) is described in section 501(c)(3) of the 

2 Internal Revenue Code of 1986; 

3 (B) is capable of, and has at least 10 years 

4 experience in, procuring donated food and other 

5 services from major domestic food manufactur6 ers and processors, grocery wholesalers and re7 tailers, food warehouse operations, agricultural 

8 producer organizations, fishing interests com9 mercial transport providers (such as trucking 

10 companies), and Federal and State food assist11 ance agencies; 

12 (C) is capable of, and has shown pro13 ficiency in, the national distribution of highly 

14 perishable food through contracts with member 

15 emergency feeding organizations (as defined in 

16 section 201A of the Emergency Food Assist17 ance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501)); 

18 (D) has at least 10 years experience in 

19 procuring commercial freight for the distribu20 tion of time-sensitive food products through a 

21 network of emergency food assistance organiza22 tions; 

23 (E) has at least 10 years experience in 

24 working with transport providers in creating, 

25 coordinating, and maintaining transfer systems 


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1 designed to assist, at the national level, the de2 livery of time-sensitive food products, for dis3 tribution to emergency food assistance organi4 zations in all 50 States and the District of Co5 lumbia; 

6 (F) does not operate any commercial, pri7 vate, or public subsidiary trucking or freight 

8 operations for the purposes of transporting 

9 food; and 

10 (G) agrees— 

11 (i) to contribute in-kind resources to 

12 help carry out this section; 

13 (ii) to provide to eligible emergency 

14 food assistance organizations services and 

15 information free of charge; and 

16 (iii) to regularly certify and inspect 

17 any member emergency feeding organiza18 tion with which the nongovernmental orga19 nization entered into a contract to carry 

20 out an activity described in subparagraph 

21 (B). 

22 (3) PRIMARY NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZA23 TION.—The term ‘‘primary nongovernmental organi24 zation’’ means a nongovernmental organization seVerDate Aug 31 2005 19:16 May 06, 2007 Jkt 059196 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2129.IH H2129

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1 lected by the Secretary on a competitive basis from 

2 among nongovernmental organizations. 

3 (4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

4 the Secretary of Transportation. 

5 (5) TIME-SENSITIVE FOOD PRODUCT.— 

6 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘time-sen7 sitive food product’’ means a fresh, raw, or 

8 processed food with a short time limitation for 

9 safe and acceptable consumption, as determined 

10 by the Secretary. 

11 (B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘time-sen12 sitive food product’’ includes fruits, vegetables, 

13 dairy products, meat, fish, and poultry. 

14 (c) NATIONAL FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY TRANSPOR15 TATION FUND.—The Secretary shall offer to enter into 

16 a contract or grant agreement with a primary nongovern17 mental organization to establish the National Food for the 

18 Hungry Transportation Fund to track, collect, and deliver 

19 time-sensitive food products. 

20 (d) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall 

21 ensure that funds made available under this Act are used 

22 for 

23 (1) the development and maintenance of a com24 puterized system for the tracking of time-sensitive 

25 food products; 


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1 (2) capital and operating costs associated with 

2 the collection and transportation of time-sensitive 

3 food products; 

4 (3) capital and operating costs associated with 

5 the storage and distribution of time-sensitive food 

6 products; 

7 (4) job training opportunities in trucking, food 

8 handling, food recovery, and related industries; 

9 (5) improving the security and diversity of the 

10 food distribution and recovery systems of the United 

11 States with the use of— 

12 (A) family-sized farms; and 

13 (B) donations from entities of food prod14 ucts to persons in need; 

15 (6) providing recovered healthy foods to non16 profit emergency food providers to reduce hunger in 

17 the United States; and 

18 (7) improving the identification of— 

19 (A) potential providers of donated foods; 

20 (B) potential nonprofit emergency food 

21 providers; and 

22 (C) persons in need of emergency food as23 sistance throughout the United States. 

24 (e) ADDITIONAL NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZA25 TIONS.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The primary nongovern2 mental organization may enter into one or more con3 tracts with, and provide funds to, not more than two 

4 additional nongovernmental organizations that the 

5 Secretary determines meet the requirements in para6 graph (2) to carry out some of the functions re7 quired by this section. 

8 (2) REQUIREMENTS.—An additional nongovern9 mental organization selected under paragraph (1) 

10 shall— 

11 (A) have expertise in operating for several 

12 years a national information clearinghouse re13 lating to anti-hunger activities; 

14 (B) have extensive experience in working 

15 with other anti-hunger organizations through16 out the United States; 

17 (C) have significant experience in working 

18 with the Department of Agriculture; and 

19 (D) operate, at a national level, a hotline 

20 to provide information about— 

21 (i) access to food for low-income fami22 lies; 

23 (ii) programs in existence on the date 

24 of enactment of this Act that transport 

25 fresh produce to food pantries, homeless 


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1 shelters, and soup kitchens that could 

2 serve as national models for replication in 

3 other areas; and 

4 (iii) ways low-income individuals and 

5 families may become self-reliant. 

6 (f) AUDITS.—The Secretary shall establish fair and 

7 reasonable procedures to audit the expenditure of funds 

8 made available to carry out this section. 

9 (g) FUNDING.—From funds not otherwise appro10 priated from the Treasury, $5,000,000 shall be made 

11 available to the Secretary for fiscal year 2008 and for each 

12 of the fiscal years 2009 through 2012, the amount appro13 priated for the immediately preceding fiscal year adjusted 

14 to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for All 

15 Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Sta16 tistics for the twelve months ending the preceding June 

17 30. 

18 SEC. 405. HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVE 

19 GRANTS. 

20 Section 25 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 

21 2034), as amended by section 312, is amended by adding 

22 at the end the following: 

23 ‘‘(j) HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVE

24 GRANTS.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—In 

2 this subsection, the term ‘eligible entity’ means a 

3 public food program service provider or a nonprofit 

4 organization, including but not limited to an emer5 gency feeding organization, that demonstrates the 

6 organization has collaborated, or will collaborate, 

7 with 1 or more local partner organizations to reduce 

8 hunger in the community. 

9 ‘‘(2) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 

10 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 

11 use not more than 50 percent of any funds 

12 made available under this subsection to make 

13 grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal 

14 share of the costs of an activity described in 

15 paragraph (3)(A). 

16 ‘‘(B) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal 

17 share of the cost of carrying out an activity 

18 under this subsection shall not exceed 80 per19 cent. 

20 ‘‘(C) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.— 

21 ‘‘(i) CALCULATION.—The non-Federal 

22 share of the cost of an activity under this 

23 subsection may be provided in cash or in 

24 kind, fairly evaluated, including facilities, 

25 equipment, or services. 


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1 ‘‘(ii) SOURCES.—Any entity may pro2 vide the non-Federal share of the cost of 

3 an activity under this subsection through a 

4 State government, a local government, or a 

5 private source. 

6 ‘‘(3) APPLICATION.— 

7 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To receive a grant 

8 under this subsection, an eligible entity shall 

9 submit an application to the Secretary at the 

10 time and in the manner and accompanied by 

11 any information the Secretary may require. 

12 ‘‘(B) PRIORITY.—In making grants under 

13 this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority 

14 to eligible entities that— 

15 ‘‘(i) demonstrate in the application of 

16 the eligible entity that the eligible entity 

17 makes collaborative efforts to reduce hun18 ger in the community of the eligible entity; 

19 and 

20 ‘‘(ii)(I) serve a predominantly rural 

21 and geographically underserved area; 

22 ‘‘(II) serve communities in which the 

23 rates of food insecurity, hunger, poverty, 

24 or unemployment are demonstrably higher 

25 than national average rates; 


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1 ‘‘(III) provide evidence of long-term 

2 efforts to reduce hunger in the community; 

3 or 

4 ‘‘(IV) provide evidence of public sup5 port for the efforts of the eligible entity. 

6 ‘‘(4) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity shall 

7 use a grant received under this subsection for any 

8 fiscal year for activities of the eligible entity, includ9 ing— 

10 ‘‘(A) meeting the immediate needs of peo11 ple in the community served by the eligible enti12 ty who experience hunger by— 

13 ‘‘(i) distributing food; 

14 ‘‘(ii) providing community outreach to 

15 connect needy people with nutrition assist16 ance for which they may be eligible; or 

17 ‘‘(iii) providing nutrition assistance 

18 and food distribution as part of com19 prehensive services; 

20 ‘‘(B) developing new resources and strate21 gies to help reduce hunger in the community; 

22 ‘‘(C) establishing a program to prevent, 

23 monitor, and treat children in the community 

24 experiencing hunger or poor nutrition; and 


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1 ‘‘(D) providing community outreach to fos2 ter the involvement of community members and 

3 organizations in local efforts that provide nutri4 tion assistance and food distribution; 

5 ‘‘(E) establishing a program coordinating 

6 community-based comprehensive services, in7 cluding food distribution or nutrition assistance, 

8 or adding food distribution or nutrition assist9 ance or existing comprehensive service pro10 grams. 

11 ‘‘(5) AMOUNTS.—The following amounts are 

12 made available to carry out this subsection: 

13 ‘‘(A) For fiscal year 2008, $4,000,000. 

14 ‘‘(B) For each of the fiscal years 2009 

15 through 2012, the dollar amount of, the 

16 amount appropriated to carry out this sub17 section for the immediately preceding fiscal year 

18 adjusted to reflect changes in the Consumer 

19 Price Index for All Urban Consumers published 

20 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the twelve 

21 months ending the preceding June 30.’’. 

22 SEC. 406. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE COMMODITY SUPPLE23 MENTAL FOOD PROGRAM. 

24 Section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protec25 tion Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note; Public Law 93– 


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1 86) is amended in the first sentence by striking ‘‘2007’’ 

2 and inserting ‘‘2012’’. 

3 SEC. 407. BILL EMERSON NATIONAL HUNGER FELLOWS 

4 AND MICKEY LELAND INTERNATIONAL HUN5 GER FELLOWS. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 

7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), as amended by section 403, is 

8 amended by adding at the end the following: 

9 ‘‘SEC. 29. BILL EMERSON NATIONAL HUNGER FELLOWS 

10 AND MICKEY LELAND INTERNATIONAL HUN11 GER FELLOWS. 

12 ‘‘(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 

13 ‘Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows and Mickey Le14 land International Hunger Fellows Program Act of 2007’. 

15 ‘‘(b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

16 ‘‘(1) there is a critical need for compassionate 

17 individuals who are committed to assisting people 

18 who suffer from hunger to initiate and administer 

19 solutions to the hunger problem; 

20 ‘‘(2) Bill Emerson, the distinguished late Rep21 resentative from the 8th District of Missouri, dem22 onstrated— 

23 ‘‘(A) his commitment to solving the prob24 lem of hunger in a bipartisan manner; 

25 ‘‘(B) his commitment to public service; and 


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1 ‘‘(C) his great affection for the institution 

2 and ideals of the United States Congress; 

3 ‘‘(3) George T. (Mickey) Leland, the distin4 guished late Representative from the 18th District 

5 of Texas, demonstrated— 

6 ‘‘(A) his compassion for those in need; 

7 ‘‘(B) his high regard for public service; 

8 and 

9 ‘‘(C) his lively exercise of political talents; 

10 ‘‘(4) the special concern that Mr. Emerson and 

11 Mr. Leland demonstrated during their lives for the 

12 hungry and poor was an inspiration for others to 

13 work toward the goals of equality and justice for all; 

14 ‘‘(5) these 2 outstanding leaders maintained a 

15 special bond of friendship regardless of political af16 filiation and worked together to encourage future 

17 leaders to recognize and provide service to others; 

18 and 

19 ‘‘(6) it is especially appropriate to honor the 

20 memory of Mr. Emerson and Mr. Leland by creating 

21 a fellowship program to develop and train the future 

22 leaders of the United States to pursue careers in hu23 manitarian service. 

24 ‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 


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1 ‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘Adminis2 trator’ means— 

3 ‘‘(A) if the Secretary enters into a contract 

4 described in subsection (d)(3), the head of the 

5 Congressional Hunger Center; or 

6 ‘‘(B) if the Secretary does not enter into 

7 such a contract, the Secretary. 

8 ‘‘(2) FELLOW.—The term ‘fellow’ means— 

9 ‘‘(A) a Bill Emerson Hunger Fellow; or 

10 ‘‘(B) Mickey Leland Hunger Fellow 

11 ‘‘(3) FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS.—The term ‘Fel12 lowship Programs’ means the Bill Emerson National 

13 Hunger Fellowship Program and the Mickey Leland 

14 International Hunger Fellowship Program estab15 lished under subsection (d)(1). 

16 ‘‘(d) FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS.— 

17 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the 

18 Department of Agriculture the Bill Emerson Na19 tional Hunger Fellowship Program and the Mickey 

20 Leland International Hunger Fellowship Program. 

21 ‘‘(2) PURPOSES.— 

22 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The purposes of the 

23 Fellowship Programs are— 

24 ‘‘(i) to encourage future leaders of the 

25 United States— 


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1 ‘‘(I) to pursue careers in humani2 tarian and public service; 

3 ‘‘(II) to recognize the needs of 

4 low-income people and hungry people; 

5 ‘‘(III) to provide assistance to 

6 people in need; and 

7 ‘‘(IV) to seek public policy solu8 tions to the challenges of hunger and 

9 poverty; 

10 ‘‘(ii) to provide training and develop11 ment opportunities for such leaders 

12 through placement in programs operated 

13 by appropriate organizations or entities; 

14 and 

15 ‘‘(iii) to increase awareness of the im16 portance of public service. 

17 ‘‘(B) BILL EMERSON HUNGER FELLOW18 SHIP PROGRAM.—The purpose of the Bill Emer19 son Hunger Fellowship Program is to address 

20 hunger and poverty in the United States. 

21 ‘‘(C) MICKEY LELAND HUNGER FELLOW22 SHIP PROGRAM.—The purpose of the Mickey 

23 Leland Hunger Fellowship Program is to ad24 dress international hunger and other humani25 tarian needs. 


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1 ‘‘(3) ADMINISTRATION.— 

2 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara3 graph (B), the Secretary shall offer to enter 

4 into a contract with the Congressional Hunger 

5 Center to administer the Fellowship Programs. 

6 ‘‘(B) REQUIREMENT.—As a condition of a 

7 contract described in subparagraph (A), the 

8 Congressional Hunger Center shall agree to 

9 submit to Congress each year the results of an 

10 independent financial audit that demonstrates 

11 that the Congressional Hunger Center uses ac12 counting procedures that conform to generally 

13 accepted accounting principles and auditing 

14 procedures that conform to chapter 75 of title 

15 31, United States Code (commonly known as 

16 the ‘Single Audit Act of 1984’). 

17 ‘‘(e) FELLOWSHIPS.— 

18 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall 

19 make available Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowships 

20 and Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowships in accord21 ance with this subsection. 

22 ‘‘(2) CURRICULUM.— 

23 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Fellowship Pro24 grams shall provide experience and training to 

25 develop the skills necessary to train fellows to 


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1 carry out the purposes described in subsection 

2 (d)(2), including— 

3 ‘‘(i) training in direct service pro4 grams for the hungry and other anti-hun5 ger programs in conjunction with commu6 nity-based organizations through a pro7 gram of field placement; and 

8 ‘‘(ii) providing experience in policy de9 velopment through placement in a govern10 mental entity or nongovernmental, non11 profit, or private sector organization. 

12 ‘‘(B) WORK PLAN.—To carry out subpara13 graph (A) and assist in the evaluation of the 

14 fellowships under paragraph (6), the Adminis15 trator shall, for each fellow, approve a work 

16 plan that identifies the target objectives for the 

17 fellow in the fellowship, including specific duties 

18 and responsibilities relating to those objectives. 

19 ‘‘(3) PERIOD OF FELLOWSHIP.— 

20 ‘‘(A) BILL EMERSON HUNGER FELLOW.— 

21 A Bill Emerson Hunger Fellowship awarded 

22 under this section shall be for not more than 15 

23 months. 

24 ‘‘(B) MICKEY LELAND HUNGER FEL25 LOW.—A Mickey Leland Hunger Fellowship 


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1 awarded under this section shall be for not 

2 more than 2 years. 

3 ‘‘(4) SELECTION OF FELLOWS.— 

4 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Fellowships shall be 

5 awarded pursuant to a nationwide competition 

6 established by the Administrator. 

7 ‘‘(B) QUALIFICATIONS.—A successful pro8 gram applicant shall be an individual who has 

9 demonstrated— 

10 ‘‘(i) an intent to pursue a career in 

11 humanitarian services and outstanding po12 tential for such a career; 

13 ‘‘(ii) leadership potential or actual 

14 leadership experience; 

15 ‘‘(iii) diverse life experience; 

16 ‘‘(iv) proficient writing and speaking 

17 skills; 

18 ‘‘(v) an ability to live in poor or di19 verse communities; and 

20 ‘‘(vi) such other attributes as are con21 sidered to be appropriate by the Adminis22 trator. 

23 ‘‘(5) AMOUNT OF AWARD.— 

24 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A fellow shall re25 ceive— 


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1 ‘‘(i) a living allowance during the term 

2 of the Fellowship; and 

3 ‘‘(ii) subject to subparagraph (B), an 

4 end-of-service award. 

5 ‘‘(B) REQUIREMENT FOR SUCCESSFUL

6 COMPLETION OF FELLOWSHIP.—Each fellow 

7 shall be entitled to receive an end-of-service 

8 award at an appropriate rate for each month of 

9 satisfactory service completed, as determined by 

10 the Administrator. 

11 ‘‘(C) TERMS OF FELLOWSHIP.—A fellow 

12 shall not be considered an employee of— 

13 ‘‘(i) the Department of Agriculture; 

14 ‘‘(ii) the Congressional Hunger Cen15 ter; or 

16 ‘‘(iii) a host agency in the field or pol17 icy placement of the fellow. 

18 ‘‘(D) RECOGNITION OF FELLOWSHIP

19 AWARD.— 

20 ‘‘(i) EMERSON FELLOW.—An indi21 vidual awarded a fellowship from the Bill 

22 Emerson Hunger Fellowship shall be 

23 known as an ‘Emerson Fellow’. 

24 ‘‘(ii) LELAND FELLOW.—An indi25 vidual awarded a fellowship from the MickVerDate Aug 31 2005 19:16 May 06, 2007 Jkt 059196 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2129.IH H2129

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1 ey Leland Hunger Fellowship shall be 

2 known as a ‘Leland Fellow’. 

3 ‘‘(6) EVALUATION.—The Administrator shall 

4 conduct periodic evaluations of the Fellowship Pro5 grams. 

6 ‘‘(f) AUTHORITY.— 

7 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 

8 in carrying out this section, the Administrator may 

9 solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or 

10 devises of services or property, both real and per11 sonal, for the purpose of facilitating the work of the 

12 Fellowship Programs. 

13 ‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—Gifts, bequests, or devises 

14 of money and proceeds from sales of other property 

15 received as gifts, bequests, or devises shall be used 

16 exclusively for the purposes of the Fellowship Pro17 grams. 

18 ‘‘(g) REPORT.—Each year, the Administrator shall 

19 submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 

20 Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri21 tion, and Forestry of the Senate a report that describes 

22 the activities and expenditures of the Fellowship Programs 

23 during the preceding fiscal year. 

24 ‘‘(h) FUNDING.—To carry out this section, 

25 $3,000,000 shall be appropriated in fiscal year 2008 from 


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1 funds otherwise not appropriated from the Treasury and 

2 in for each fiscal year thereafter, an amount that is equal 

3 to the amount from the previous fiscal year adjusted to 

4 the nearest lower dollar increment to reflect changes in 

5 the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers pub6 lished by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for items other 

7 than food, for the twelve months ending the preceding 

8 June 30.’’. 

9 (b) REPEAL.—Section 4404 of the Farm Security 

10 and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2 U.S.C. 1161) is re11 pealed. 

Æ 


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