Delivering for Rural Seniors Act of 2023

To amend the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to establish a pilot grant program to award grants to facilitate home delivery of commodities under the commodity supplemental food program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Delivering for Rural Seniors Act of 2023 2. Commodity supplemental food program delivery pilot program The Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 ( 7 U.S.C. 612c 5A. Commodity supplemental food program delivery pilot program (a) Purpose The purposes of this section are— (1) to award grants for the operation of projects that increase the access of low-income elderly persons to commodities through home delivery; and (2) to evaluate such projects. (b) In general The Secretary shall award, on a competitive basis, grants to State agencies to carry out the activities described in subsection (e). (c) Maximum grant award A grant awarded to a State agency under this section may be in an amount not greater than the lesser of— (1) the State’s commodity supplemental food program caseload at time of application multiplied by 60; or (2) $4,000,000. (d) Application A State agency seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (e) Grant uses A State agency awarded a grant under this section shall distribute grant funds to eligible entities to operate projects that facilitate home delivery of commodities to participants in the commodity supplemental food program, including with respect to costs associated with— (1) transportation and distribution of commodities to participants in the commodity supplemental food program, including transportation and distribution services provided by a third party; (2) staffing required to operate home delivery services; and (3) outreach to participants or potential participants in the commodity supplemental food program with respect to home delivery. (f) Priority A State agency awarded a grant under this section shall prioritize eligible entities that serve participants in the commodity supplemental food program who reside in a rural area. (g) Report to the Secretary No later than 180 days after the end of the fiscal year in which a State agency is awarded a grant under this section and has distributed grant funds to eligible entities, and in each succeeding fiscal year until grant funds are expended, a State agency shall submit a report to the Secretary that includes— (1) a summary of the activities carried out under the project, including the quantity of commodities delivered, number of participants in the commodity supplemental food program served, and total number of deliveries; (2) an assessment of the effectiveness of the project, including— (A) a calculation of the average cost per delivery; and (B) an evaluation of any services provided by a third party; and (3) best practices regarding use of home delivery to improve the effectiveness of the commodity supplemental food program. (h) Definitions In this section: (1) Commodity supplemental food program The term commodity supplemental food program (2) CFR terms The terms local agency State agency subdistributing agency (3) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) a local agency; or (B) a subdistributing agency. (4) Rural area The term rural area 7 U.S.C. 1991(a) (i) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026, to remain available until expended. .

Summary: Delivering for Rural Seniors Act of 2023This bill directs the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to award competitive grants to state agencies under a home delivery pilot program for participants in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).&nbsp;(The&nbsp;CSFP works to improve the health of low-income persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious Department of Agriculture foods.)&nbsp;Under the pilot program, a state agency must distribute grant funds to an eligible entity (i.e., a local agency or subdistributing agency) to operate projects that facilitate home delivery of commodities to CSFP participants. Grant funds may be used for costs associated withtransportation and distribution of commodities to CSFP participants,staffing required to operate home delivery services, andhome delivery outreach to CSFP participants or potential participants.A state agency must prioritize eligible entities that serve CSFP participants who reside in rural areas.A state agency must also submit an annual report to FNS about the project, including best practices regarding the use of home delivery to improve the effectiveness of the CSFP.&nbsp;