I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8852 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program 
on food insecurity, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 
Ms. JACOBS of California (for herself, Ms. BROWNLEY, Mr. LEVIN of Cali-
fornia, and Ms. SPEIER) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out 
a pilot program on food insecurity, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘End Veteran Hunger 
Act of 2022’’. 
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PRO-
GRAM ON FOOD INSECURITY. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
acting through the Director of the National Nutrition and 
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Food Services Office, shall carry out a pilot program 
under which the Secretary shall— 
(1) make grants to eligible entities for the pur-
pose of supporting partnerships that address food 
insecurity among veterans and family members of 
veterans, including veterans who receive services 
through Vet Centers or other facilities of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs as determined by the 
Secretary; and 
(2) make grants to eligible entities for the pur-
pose of supporting partnerships that address food 
insecurity among veterans who have recently 
transitioned from serving as members of the Armed 
Forces to civilian life, and the family members of 
such members. 
(b) DISTRIBUTION AND DURATION OF GRANTS.— 
(1) GENERAL
GRANTS.—The Secretary shall 
award at least five grants under subsection (a)(1) to 
eligible entities that principally serve Native Ameri-
cans. 
(2) TRANSITION GRANTS.—The Secretary shall 
award at least one grant under subsection (a)(2) in 
five different geographic areas that the Secretary de-
termines have a high rate of individuals described in 
such paragraph. 
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(3) GRANT PERIOD.—A grant awarded to an el-
igible entity under this section shall be for a period 
of two years, but the Secretary may renew the grant 
for additional periods, subject to subsection (h). 
(c) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each grant awarded under 
this section shall be used to carry out either or both 
of the following activities: 
(A) Increasing access to, and enrollment 
in, Federal assistance programs, including the 
supplemental 
nutrition 
assistance 
program 
under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the special supplemental 
nutrition program for women, infants, and chil-
dren established by section 17 of the Child Nu-
trition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), the low- 
income home energy assistance program estab-
lished under the Low-Income Home Energy As-
sistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.), 
and any other assistance program that the Sec-
retary determines advisable. 
(B) Increasing participation in nutrition 
counseling programs and providing educational 
materials and counseling to veterans, and fam-
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ily members of veterans, to address food insecu-
rity and healthy diets among those individuals. 
(2) ADDITIONAL
USE.—In addition to being 
used to carry out either or both of the activities 
specified in paragraph (1), any grant awarded under 
this section may be used to provide direct food as-
sistance to covered individuals, or otherwise to pro-
vide assistance to covered individuals in accessing 
food. 
(d) APPLICATIONS.—An eligible entity seeking a 
grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an 
application therefor at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require. 
(e) SELECTION
OF
RECIPIENTS.—The Secretary 
shall select eligible entities that submit applications under 
subsection (d) for the award of grants using a competitive 
process that takes into account the following: 
(1) The capacity of the applicant entity to serve 
covered individuals. 
(2) The demonstrated need of the population 
the applicant entity would serve. 
(3) The demonstrated need of the applicant en-
tity for assistance from the grants. 
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(4) The capacity of the applicant entity to serve 
covered individuals from underserved or disadvan-
taged populations. 
(5) Such other criteria as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate. 
(f) MULTIPLE GRANTS.—The Secretary may award 
grants to an eligible entity under both paragraphs (1) and 
(2) of subsection (a). 
(g) INFORMATION.— 
(1) COLLECTION.—The Secretary shall collect 
such information from eligible entities that receive a 
grant under this section as the Secretary determines 
appropriate to monitor and evaluate the use of 
grants, including— 
(A) data regarding the results or outcomes 
of the services provided to covered individuals 
under the grant; and 
(B) data regarding how activities or pro-
grams carried out under the grant contribute to 
specific goals, including eligibility screening, ap-
plication assistance, and food insecurity. 
(2) FORM
AND
MANNER.—Information under 
paragraph (1) shall be furnished in such form and 
manner as the Secretary may specify. 
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subsection (g)(1)), disaggregated by grants awarded 
under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a), re-
spectively. With respect to grants awarded under 
such paragraph (2), such study shall— 
(A) measure the need for food assistance 
by individuals described in such paragraph (2); 
and 
(B) include a description of how improving 
access to food during the period in which an in-
dividual transitions from service in the armed 
forces to civilian life affects the outcomes of the 
individual and the family of the individual. 
(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$50,000,000 for fiscal years 2023 through 2027. 
(k) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered individual’’ means any 
veteran or family member described in paragraph 
(1) or (2) of subsection (a). 
(2) The term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means— 
(A) a nonprofit organization; 
(B) a veterans service organization; 
(C) a Federal, State, or local government 
agency; 
(D) an Indian Tribe or tribal organization; 
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(E) a community-based organization; or 
(F) an institution of higher education. 
(3) The terms ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ and ‘‘tribal orga-
nization’’ have the meanings given those terms in 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(4) The term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 101 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001). 
(5) The term ‘‘Native American’’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 3765 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
(6) The term ‘‘State’’ means each of the several 
States, territories, and possessions of the United 
States, the District of Columbia, and the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico. 
(7) The term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ 
means any organization recognized by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs for the representation of vet-
erans under section 5902 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
Æ 
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