Military Nutrition Improvement Act
Bill: S.1781 | Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine (D-NV)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Military Nutrition Improvement Act
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an assessment of the quality and nutrition of food available at military installations for members of the Armed Forces. The assessment must include specified elements, including a description of the extent to which data is being collected on the nutritional food options available, including the fat, sodium, and fiber content of hot line foods.
The GAO must brief Congress on the status of the assessment and submit a report on the assessment within one year after such briefing.

To require the Comptroller General of the United States to assess the 
 quality and nutrition of food available at military installations for 
                      members of the Armed Forces.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Military Nutrition Improvement 
Act''.

SEC. 2. COMPTROLLER GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY AND NUTRITION OF FOOD 
              AVAILABLE AT MILITARY INSTALLATIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE 
              ARMED FORCES.

    (a) Assessment.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct an assessment of the quality and nutrition of food available at 
military installations for members of the Armed Forces.
    (b) Elements.--The assessment required by subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            (1) A description of the extent to which data is being 
        collected on the nutritional food options available at military 
        installations for members of the Armed Forces, including the 
        fat, sodium, and fiber content of hot line foods.
            (2) An assessment of the extent to which the Department of 
        Defense has evaluated whether the nutritional food options 
        described in paragraph (1) meet or exceed the daily nutrition 
        standards for adults set forth by the Department of 
        Agriculture.
            (3) A description of how the Secretary integrates and 
        coordinates nutrition recommendations, policies, and pertinent 
        information through the Interagency Committee on Human 
        Nutrition Research.
            (4) An assessment of the extent to which the Department of 
        Defense has evaluated how such recommendations, policies, and 
        information affect health outcomes of members of the Armed 
        Forces or retention rates for those members who do not meet 
        physical standards set forth by the Department.
            (5) A description of how the Secretary gathers input on the 
        quality of food service options provided to members of the 
        Armed Forces.
            (6) An assessment of how the Department of Defense tracks 
        the attitudes and perceptions of members of the Armed Forces on 
        the quality of food service operations at military 
        installations in terms of availability during irregular hours, 
        accessibility, portion, price, and quality.
            (7) An assessment of access by members of the Armed Forces 
        to high-quality food options on military installations, such as 
        availability of food outside typical meal times or options for 
        members not located in close proximity to dining facilities at 
        a military installation.
            (8) Such recommendations as the Comptroller General may 
        have to address any findings related to the quality and 
        availability of food options provided to members of the Armed 
        Forces by the Department of Defense.
    (c) Briefing and Report.--
            (1) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall brief 
        the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of 
        Representatives on the status of the assessment conducted under 
        subsection (a).
            (2) Report.--Not later than one year after the briefing 
        under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall submit to 
        the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of 
        Representatives a report on the assessment conducted under 
        subsection (a).
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