I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4084 
To amend the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to establish a 
Community Gardens Pilot Program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 25, 2014 
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida (for himself, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Ms. 
JACKSON LEE, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MORAN, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. WILSON 
of Florida, Mr. SERRANO, and Mr. CONNOLLY) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Work-
force 
A BILL 
To amend the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to 
establish a Community Gardens Pilot Program, 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 ‘‘Community Gardening 
and Nutrition Act of 2014’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) A community garden improves the quality 
of life, encourages self-reliance, produces highly nu-
tritious food, reduces family food budgets, and cre-
ates opportunities for recreation, social interaction, 
exercise, education, and economic development for 
people participating in the garden. 
(2) The creation of community gardens has 
been an effective approach to cleaning up and main-
taining abandoned vacant lots. 
(3) Many community gardens donate fresh 
fruits and vegetables to local food pantries, coopera-
tives, and homeless members of the community, and 
provide for a source of fresh fruits and vegetables 
for participants of the gardens. 
(4) An August 2013 report by the Union of 
Concerned Scientists entitled ‘‘The $11 Trillion Re-
ward’’ concluded that if Americans were to eat 2.5 
cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit daily, as rec-
ommended by Federal dietary guidelines, nearly 
130,000 deaths could be prevented and $17 billion 
could be saved in medical costs. 
(5) The Department of Health and Human 
Services recommends eating more dark green vegeta-
bles, legumes, and fruits; and eating fewer refined 
grains, less fat, and fewer calories. 
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(6) A 2010 review of the Nutritional Implica-
tions of Farmers’ Markets and Community Gardens 
published by the Journal of the American Dietetic 
Association found that community gardens promote 
healthy behaviors. 
(7) A 2011 pilot study entitled ‘‘LA Sprouts’’ 
published by the Journal of the American Dietetic 
Association found that teaching gardening and nu-
trition improved the dietary intakes of children and 
reduced childhood obesity. 
SEC. 3. COMMUNITY GARDEN PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) PURPOSE.—Section 103(a) of the Domestic Vol-
unteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4953(a)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (12) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (13) by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(14) in establishing initiatives that address the 
health and nutrition of individuals in low-income and 
underserved communities, including by— 
‘‘(A) creating new community gardens and 
supporting and expanding existing community 
gardens; 
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‘‘(B) recruiting local community members 
to actively engage in community gardens and 
gardening projects; 
‘‘(C) transforming vacant places into com-
munity garden plots; 
‘‘(D) increasing access for community 
members to healthy foods and local foods while 
also encouraging community members to stay 
active; 
‘‘(E) expanding anti-poverty efforts by 
teaching 
basic 
nutrition 
and 
self-reliance 
through community gardening programs; and 
‘‘(F) developing initiatives that increase 
access to healthy, locally grown foods for the 
community at large.’’. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Part A of title I of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 4951 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 110. COMMUNITY GARDEN PILOT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) The Director shall establish a Community Gar-
den Pilot Program for the purpose of carrying out the 
work described under section 103(a)(14). In conducting 
the Program, the Director shall carry out no less than 40 
projects. 
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