HOME Meals Act

To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish a competitive grant program to enable States to purchase, customize, or repair vehicles with hot and cold food storage for delivering meals to older individuals through the Congregate Nutrition Program or the Home-Delivered Nutrition Program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Helping Our Most Elderly secure Meals Act HOME Meals Act 2. Grants for vehicles with hot and cold food storage for meal delivery to older individuals Subpart 3 of part C of title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3030g–21 340. Grants for vehicles with hot and cold food storage for meal delivery (a) In general The Assistant Secretary shall award grants in accordance with subsection (c) on a competitive basis to States receiving a grant under section 331 or 336 to enable such States to provide direct funds to area agencies on aging and local nutrition service providers to purchase, customize, or repair vehicles meeting the requirement under subsection (b) to be used in delivering meals to older individuals through an existing and eligible nutrition project supported under either such section. (b) Vehicle requirement The requirement under this subsection is that the vehicle has the capability to safely store hot food and cold food, as determined by the Assistant Secretary, while delivering meals. (c) Application and selection process (1) Applications (A) In general A State receiving a grant under section 331 or 336 that seeks a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may reasonably require, including the demonstrations described in subparagraph (B). (B) Demonstrations An application under this paragraph shall contain a demonstration— (i) of how the State submitting the application will use the grant to allow existing and eligible nutrition projects to enhance the delivery of services to older individuals with the greatest economic need and older individuals with the greatest social need; and (ii) that the nutrition projects utilizing the funds are in effect within the State, on the date on which the State submits the application, to use vehicles meeting the requirement under subsection (b) to provide nutrition services under section 331 or 336. (2) Selection The Assistant Secretary, in selecting States meeting the requirements under paragraph (1) to receive a grant under this section, shall give preference to— (A) States with a high percentage of individuals who are 60 years of age or older; and (B) States with a high rate of individuals at or below the poverty line. (d) Grant amount A grant awarded under this section shall be for an amount that is equal to or less than $3,000,000. (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to carry out this section. .

Summary: Helping Our Most Elderly secure Meals Act or the HOME Meals Act This bill establishes a competitive grant program for states to provide area agencies on aging and local nutrition service providers with funding to purchase or repair vehicles for delivering meals to older individuals. The vehicles must be capable of safely storing hot and cold foods. In awarding these grants, the Administration on Aging shall give preference to states with a high percentage of older individuals and states with high rates of individuals at or below the poverty line.