I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2003
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make temporary assistance
available to support community food security projects designed to meet
the food needs of low-income people, increase the self-reliance of commu-
nities in providing for their own food needs, and promote comprehensive,
inclusive, and future-oriented solutions to local food, farm, and nutrition
problems.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 11, 1995
Mr. DE LA GARZA (for himself, Mr. EMERSON, Mr. BALDACCI, Mr. BROWN
of California, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. DELLUMS, Mr. FARR, Mr. FAZIO of
California, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. FROST, Mr. GEJDENSON,
Mr. HALL of Ohio, Ms. KAPTUR, Mrs. KENNELLY, Mr. OLVER, Mr. PAS-
TOR, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. STENHOLM, and Mr. WILSON) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make temporary
assistance available to support community food security
projects designed to meet the food needs of low-income
people, increase the self-reliance of communities in pro-
viding for their own food needs, and promote comprehen-
sive, inclusive, and future-oriented solutions to local food,
farm, and nutrition problems.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Community Food Se-
curity Act of 1995’’.
SEC. 2. ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY
PROJECTS.
(a) COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY PROJECTS DE-
FINED.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘‘commu-
nity food security project’’ means a community-based
project that requires a one-time infusion of Federal assist-
ance to become self-sustaining and that is designed to
meet the food needs of low-income people, increase the
self-reliance of communities in providing for their own
food needs, and promote comprehensive, inclusive, and fu-
ture-oriented solutions to local food, farm, and nutrition
problems.
(b) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.—The
Secretary of Agriculture may make grants to assist eligible
entities to establish and carry out community food security
projects.
(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible for a grant
under subsection (b), an entity must meet all of the follow-
ing criteria:
(1) The entity must have experience in the area
of—
(A) community food work, including the
development of new markets in low-income com-
munities for agricultural producers, particularly
small and medium-sized farms; or
(B) job training and business development
activities for food-related businesses in low-in-
come communities.
(2) The entity must demonstrate competency to
implement a project, provide fiscal accountability,
collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary
documentation.
(3) The entity must demonstrate a willingness
to participate in an ongoing assessment of regional
food security and to share information with re-
searchers, practitioners, and other interested parties.
(d) PREFERENCE FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS.—In se-
lecting community food security projects to be supported
by grants under subsection (b), the Secretary shall give
a preference to projects designed—
(1) to develop linkages between two or more
sectors of the food system;
(2) to support the development of entrepreneur-
ial solutions to local food problems;
(3) to develop innovative linkages between the
for-profit and nonprofit food sectors; or
(4) to encourage long-term planning activities
and multi-system, interagency approaches.
(e) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENTS.—
(1) REQUIREMENTS.—The Federal share of the
cost of establishing or carrying out a community
food security project that receives assistance under
subsection (b) may not exceed 50 percent of such
cost during the term of the grant.
(2) CALCULATION.—In providing for the re-
maining share of the cost of carrying out a commu-
nity food security project, the entity receiving the
grant shall provide for such share through a pay-
ment in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including
facilities, equipment, or services. The entity may
provide for such share through private, State, or
local sources.
(f) TERM OF GRANT.—A particular community food
security project may be supported by only a single grant
under subsection (b). The term of the grant may not ex-
ceed three years.
(g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND RELATED INFOR-
MATION.—The Secretary shall provide technical assistance
regarding community food security projects, processes,
and development to entities seeking such information. The
Secretary shall provide for the sharing of information
about community food security projects and issues among
and between government, private for-profit and nonprofit
groups, and the public through publications, conferences,
and other appropriate forums. The Secretary shall also
participate in assessments of regional food security and
share information with researchers, practitioners, and
other interested parties.
(h) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall provide for
the evaluation of the success of community food security
projects supported using funds under this section. Not
later than January 30, 2000, the Secretary shall submit
to Congress a report regarding the results of the evalua-
tion.
(i) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
$2,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 1996 through 2000
to carry out this section.
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