Title: Anti-hunger Empowerment Act of 2017
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
Anti-hunger Empowerment Act of 2017
This bill reduces administrative requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program), authorizes funding to increase access to SNAP offices, and authorizes grants for community-based nonprofits to expand anti-hunger activities.
The bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to repeal existing provisions regarding administrative costs and authorize the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to pay 75% of the administrative costs for state agencies to increase the operating hours of SNAP offices, reduce wait times, accept online applications, upgrade technology, and provide a checklist of required documents.
If a state agency believes that information provided by a SNAP applicant is incorrect or incomplete, the agency must notify the applicant in writing and include instructions for providing the required information. Unless the information is not provided in response to the request or it cannot be verified, a state must not require an applicant to appear in person. State agencies must not require fingerprints for any member of a household to participate in SNAP or receive benefits.
USDA must report annually to Congress on the comparative progress of states in improving access to SNAP.
Beyond the Soup Kitchen Grants Program Act of 2017
The bill establishes a Beyond the Soup Kitchen Pilot Program to provide grants to community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups for programs to reduce hunger, increase the use of nutrition assistance and anti-poverty programs, bolster food security, assist individuals and families to develop assets, promote economic independence, improve nutrition, and reduce obesity.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1189 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1189

 To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to provide greater access 
     to the supplemental nutrition assistance program by reducing 
 duplicative and burdensome administrative requirements, authorize the 
  Secretary of Agriculture to award grants to certain community-based 
      nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups for the purpose of 
 establishing and implementing a Beyond the Soup Kitchen Pilot Program 
 for certain socially and economically disadvantaged populations, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 16, 2017

 Mr. Serrano introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                        Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to provide greater access 
     to the supplemental nutrition assistance program by reducing 
 duplicative and burdensome administrative requirements, authorize the 
  Secretary of Agriculture to award grants to certain community-based 
      nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups for the purpose of 
 establishing and implementing a Beyond the Soup Kitchen Pilot Program 
 for certain socially and economically disadvantaged populations, and 
                          for other purposes.

    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 ``Anti-hunger Empowerment Act of 
2017''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) In 2014 the number of Americans facing hunger or food 
        insecurity was 48,100,000, and 15,300,000 children lived in 
        these households. 5,400,000 seniors ages 60 and up were also 
        experiencing food hardship.
            (2) In August 2015 approximately 45,500,000 people 
        participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program 
        (SNAP). In fiscal year 2014 on a monthly average, 47,600,000 
        people participated in this program, about 15 percent of the 
        United States population. SNAP, the Special Supplemental 
        Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children 
        (WIC), and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) are the 
        largest nutrition assistance programs, and 61 percent of food-
        insecure households participated in 1 or more of the 3 
        programs.
            (3) Administrative burdens involved in securing 
        supplemental nutrition assistance benefits are particularly 
        burdensome for working families.
            (4) Each year tens of millions people in the United States, 
        including children and seniors, are forced to rely on soup 
        kitchens, food pantries, and other charitable feeding programs.
            (5) The charitable food distribution system in the United 
        States would benefit from increased coordination and technical 
        assistance.
            (6) Helping those who use feeding programs to move ``beyond 
        the soup kitchen'', by promoting the values of community, 
        opportunity, and responsibility, is a national priority.

       TITLE I--AMENDMENTS TO THE FOOD AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2008

SEC. 101. AMENDMENTS TO THE FOOD AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2008.

    (a) Administrative Cost Sharing and Quality Control.--Section 16(k) 
of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(k)) is amended by 
striking subsection (k) and inserting the following:
    ``(k) Administrative Cost for Increasing Access.--Notwithstanding 
any other provision of this section, the Secretary is authorized to pay 
to each State agency an amount equal to 75 percent of the 
administrative costs incurred by the State agency in carrying out new 
activities not previously funded by the State--
            ``(1) to increase the number of hours that supplemental 
        nutrition assistance offices are open on weekends and nights if 
        there is neither a decrease in the total number of supplemental 
        nutrition assistance offices that are open in the State nor a 
        decrease in the number of hours such offices are open during 
        the regular work week;
            ``(2) to conduct verifiable activities to reduce the 
        average wait time that applicants spend at supplemental 
        nutrition assistance offices or to reduce the average number of 
        office visits required of applicants;
            ``(3) to accept applications for supplemental nutrition 
        assistance benefit by means of the Internet;
            ``(4) to upgrade computer systems and technology in ways 
        that specifically increase access to the supplemental nutrition 
        assistance program; and
            ``(5) at the time of application, to provide applicants 
        with a checklist listing all documents required for a complete 
        supplemental nutrition assistance application.''.
    (b) Reduction of Burdensome and Duplicative Office Visits; 
Prohibition of Fingerprinting.--Section 11(e)(2) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A) by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and'',
            (2) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``In'' and inserting 
        ``that in'',
            (3) in subparagraph (D) by inserting the following before 
        the semicolon at the end: ``, and the fingerprint of any member 
        of a household shall not be required for the purpose of 
        participating in the supplemental nutrition assistance program 
        or for issuance of benefits for which the household would 
        otherwise be eligible'',
            (4) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as 
        subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively, and
            (5) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
            ``(C) that the State agency shall inform households, at the 
        time of application, that--
                    ``(i) household members are not required to appear 
                in person at the time of application, or at any other 
                time, unless--
                            ``(I) expressly required by this Act; or
                            ``(II) in accordance with clause (ii); and
                    ``(ii) if the State agency has a basis to 
                reasonably believe that information provided by a 
                household is incorrect or that a household has failed 
                to provide information required for participation in 
                the supplemental nutrition assistance program, then the 
                State agency shall--
                            ``(I) provide to the household a written 
                        statement notifying the household of such 
                        belief; specifying the factual basis of such 
                        belief, informing the household of the 
                        applicable information that is believed to be 
                        incorrect or missing, and instructing the 
                        household how to correct or to provide the 
                        appropriate information; and
                            ``(II) not require any member of such 
                        household to appear in person unless either the 
                        household fails to provide the appropriate 
                        information or the State agency cannot verify 
                        the accuracy of information the household 
                        provides in response to the request made under 
                        this subparagraph by the State agency;''.

SEC. 102. COMPARATIVE PROGRESS REPORT.

    Section 18 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2027) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) The Secretary shall submit a single, unified, annual report 
to the appropriate committees of the Congress on the comparative 
progress of States in improving access to the supplemental nutrition 
assistance program. The following statistics shall be included in the 
report with respect to each particular State:
            ``(1) The percentage of supplemental nutrition assistance 
        program applications processed within the 30-day period 
        required by this Act.
            ``(2) The average number of days required to process 
        expedited applications for supplemental nutrition assistance 
        benefits.
            ``(3) The average number of days required to process 
        regular applications for supplemental nutrition assistance 
        benefits.
            ``(4) The average number of office visits that each 
        applicant makes to receive supplemental nutrition assistance 
        benefits.
            ``(5) Statewide negative errors rates.
            ``(6) The overall participation rate of households that are 
        eligible to participate in the supplemental nutrition 
        assistance program.
            ``(7) The information specified in paragraphs (1) through 
        (6) for a particular geographical area in such State.''.

                  TITLE II--ANTI-HUNGER GRANTS PROGRAM

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Beyond the Soup Kitchen Grants 
Program Act of 2017''.

SEC. 202. BEYOND THE SOUP KITCHEN PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment of Pilot Program.--The Secretary shall establish 
a pilot program, to be known as the ``Beyond the Soup Kitchen Pilot 
Program'', in accordance with this title.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the pilot program are--
            (1) to provide grant assistance to a primary community-
        based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group in each pilot 
        community for purposes of allocating subgrants to other 
        community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups in 
        such community; and
            (2) to provide technical assistance grants.

SEC. 203. SELECTION OF PRIMARY COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT FEEDING AND 
              ANTI-HUNGER GROUPS AND SUBGRANTEES.

    (a) Grants to Primary Community-Based Nonprofit Feeding and Anti-
Hunger Groups.--Under the pilot program and for a fiscal year, the 
Secretary shall award not more than 30 grants to primary community-
based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups, in accordance with this 
section.
    (b) Application.--To be eligible for an award of a grant for a 
fiscal year under this section, a community-based nonprofit feeding and 
anti-hunger group shall submit to the Secretary an application that 
contains a description of how the applicant proposes to use the grant 
funds to implement the components of the pilot program listed in 
subsection (c) in the pilot community of the community-based nonprofit 
feeding and anti-hunger group. The application shall be submitted in 
such form, at such time, and containing such other information as the 
Secretary may require.
    (c) Pilot Program Components.--An application for a grant under 
this section shall contain the following components:
            (1) Programs component.--A program component that 
        describes, with respect to a target population of a pilot 
        community and in accordance with section 204, programs designed 
        for the following purposes:
                    (A) To reduce hunger in such target population.
                    (B) To increase the use of nutrition assistance and 
                anti-poverty programs by such target population.
                    (C) To bolster food security within such target 
                population.
                    (D) To assist individuals and families within such 
                target population to develop assets.
                    (E) To promote the economic independence of 
                individuals and families within such target population.
                    (F) To improve the nutrition of such target 
                population.
                    (G) To reduce the occurrence of obesity in such 
                target population.
            (2) Community food council.--A community food council 
        component that describes the formation and operation of a 
        community food council designed to engage emergency feeding 
        groups, Federal, State, and local government agencies, the 
        cooperative extension system, land-grant colleges and 
        universities, and historically African-American, Hispanic, and 
        American Indian educational institutes for the purposes 
        described under paragraph (1).
            (3) Subgrants component.--A subgrants component that 
        describes a plan for the allocation of grants funds to 
        subgrantees by the primary community-based nonprofit feeding 
        and anti-hunger group, in accordance with subsection (e).
    (d) Criteria.--In evaluating an application of a community-based 
nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group, the Secretary shall consider, 
in addition to such other criteria as the Secretary determines 
appropriate, the extent to which the application of the group 
demonstrates the following:
            (1) The capacity to serve as a leader for other community-
        based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups in the pilot 
        community and to successfully provide technical assistance and 
        other assistance to the greatest number of such groups.
            (2) Successful experience--
                    (A) in conducting a program described in section 
                204(b);
                    (B) in working with a national service, community 
                service, or volunteer service group that conducts a 
                program described in section 204(b);
                    (C) in managing and using Federal grant funds, 
                including grants for community food and nutrition 
                programs authorized under section 681(a) of the 
                Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9922(a));
                    (D) in working cooperatively with a nutrition 
                assistance and anti-poverty program, other community-
                based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups, and 
                faith-based and other community programs in the pilot 
                community; and
                    (E) in researching, monitoring, and evaluating the 
                hunger problems in the pilot community of such 
                organization and nutrition assistance and anti-poverty 
                programs.
            (3) In the case of a community-based nonprofit feeding and 
        anti-hunger group with a large budget, the existence of a 
        financial mechanism to implement the proposal and staff 
        expertise to handle large Federal and private grants, or in the 
        case of a community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger 
        group with a small budget, proven effectiveness in the delivery 
        and coordination of a program described in section 204(b).
            (4) The ability to influence other community, government, 
        and private resources to assist in the creation and 
        implementation of the pilot program in the pilot community of 
        the community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group.
    (e) Subgrants.--
            (1) Selection by primary community-based nonprofit feeding 
        and anti-hunger group required.--Under the pilot program, the 
        Secretary shall require a primary community-based nonprofit 
        feeding and anti-hunger group that is awarded a grant under 
        subsection (a) to select at least 10, but no more than 200, 
        subgrantees to carry out subgrants under the grants. Such 
        subgrants shall be used in support of the pilot program in the 
        pilot community of such group, in accordance with section 204.
            (2) Selection of subgrantees.--A primary community-based 
        nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group shall select 
        subgrantees for purposes of paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by selecting the subgrantee in the application 
                submitted under subsection (b); or
                    (B) in consultation with the Secretary of 
                Agriculture after evaluating proposals submitted by 
                subgrantee applicants.

SEC. 204. USES OF GRANTS.

    (a) Required Uses by Primary Community-Based Nonprofit Feeding and 
Anti-Hunger Groups.--A primary community-based nonprofit feeding and 
anti-hunger group that is awarded a grant under section 203(a) shall--
            (1) allocate at least 60 percent of the grant for subgrants 
        in accordance with section 203(e); and
            (2) spend at least 5 percent of the grant on evaluation of 
        the pilot program in the pilot community of such group.
    (b) Eligible Uses by Primary Community-Based Nonprofit Feeding and 
Anti-Hunger Groups and Subgrantees.--Grant funds awarded to a primary 
community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group or allocated to 
a subgrantee under the pilot program may be used for any of the 
following purposes:
            (1) Eligible programs.--With respect to a target population 
        in a pilot community, any of the following programs:
                    (A) A program that informs such population about 
                benefits under nutrition assistance and anti-poverty 
                programs, pre-screens members of such population to 
                determine the eligibility of such members to receive 
                such benefits, and assists such members to access 
                relevant benefits.
                    (B) A program to assist such population to 
                transition successfully from welfare to work.
                    (C) A program that is likely to result in job 
                creation or that involves job training, readiness, 
                placement, or retention activities.
                    (D) A program to increase the supply of donated 
                foods to community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-
                hunger groups, especially of fresh fruits, vegetables, 
                and other nutritious foods.
                    (E) A program that increases the access of such 
                population to fresh fruits, vegetables, and other 
                nutritious foods.
                    (F) A program that promotes the use of farmers' 
                markets, urban farms, and food-producing agriculture 
                projects, especially a program that promotes the use of 
                such markets, farms, and projects by nutrition 
                assistance and anti-poverty programs.
                    (G) A program to assess the flow of food, from 
                production through consumption, in a community.
                    (H) A program that involves nutrition education, 
                obesity reduction, or financial management activities, 
                especially such activities that have hands-on 
                demonstrations or that promote physical activity.
                    (I) A program that promotes microenterprise and 
                small business development, especially the development 
                of such a business that is food-related.
                    (J) A program that assists government agencies and 
                nonprofit groups to increase the number of sites (and 
                participation in existing sites) for after-school 
                snacks and meals programs under the summer food service 
                program for children authorized under section 13 of the 
                Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
                1766) and the child and adult care food program 
                authorized under section 17 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                1761).
                    (K) A program that creates a customer advisory 
                council at a community-based nonprofit feeding and 
                anti-hunger group to enable an individual who obtains 
                food from such group to consult with the council on 
                ways to improve the operations of such group.
                    (L) A program to increase the assistance of 
                national and community service programs, including 
                AmeriCorps, Volunteers in Service to America 
                (AmeriCorps-VISTA), Learn and Serve America, Senior 
                Corps, Freedom Corps, and any other volunteer program 
                to aid community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-
                hunger groups.
                    (M) A program to increase the involvement of 
                volunteers who have professional skills with community-
                based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups and 
                other nonprofit groups.
                    (N) A program that relates nutrition improvement 
                and the problem of hunger within such population to 
                broader issues within the pilot community, including 
                community development and economic improvement.
                    (O) A program that promotes the use of individual 
                development accounts, as defined in section 404(5) of 
                the Assets for Independence Act (title IV of Public Law 
                105-285; 42 U.S.C. 604 note), or any other such asset-
                development program.
                    (P) With respect to a community-based nonprofit 
                feeding and anti-hunger group, a program to--
                            (i) provide technical assistance to such 
                        group to increase the technical capacities of 
                        such group; or
                            (ii) enable the group to more efficiently 
                        and effectively use computer technology, 
                        recruit volunteers, write grants, or otherwise 
                        increase the fundraising and operation of such 
                        group.
                    (Q) A program that provides for the provision of 
                technical assistance and informational materials on the 
                Internet that relate to any program described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (P).
                    (R) A program to coordinate activities of 
                community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger 
                groups within the pilot community, including activities 
                that further any of the following goals:
                            (i) Creation of joint advertising, 
                        communications, and referral systems.
                            (ii) Coordination of hours of operations 
                        and services provided.
                            (iii) Creation of joint client, funding, 
                        and other databases, tracking systems, and 
                        benefits referral systems.
                            (iv) Implementation of joint activities to 
                        reduce hunger, strengthen local food systems, 
                        reduce poverty, improve economic self-
                        sufficiency, and reduce obesity.
            (2) Eligible food-related uses.--Subject to the limitation 
        in subsection (c)(1), any of the following food-related 
        purposes:
                    (A) Gathering food.
                    (B) The collection of perishable, but safe, food 
                from entities such as restaurants, caterers, and farms, 
                for distribution to a target population.
                    (C) Packing food.
                    (D) Sorting food.
                    (E) Processing food.
                    (F) Transportation of food.
                    (G) Heating, cooling, or freezing of food.
                    (H) Storage of food.
                    (I) Administrative expenses necessary to increase 
                the supply of nutritious food (especially fresh fruit 
                and vegetables) distributed by community-based 
                nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups.
                    (J) Administrative staff and volunteer management 
                for purposes of performing activities listed in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (H).
            (3) Eligible stipends.--For the provision of stipends to 
        customers for expenses incurred by such customers for 
        participating in a customer advisory council described in 
        subsection (b)(1)(K).
    (c) Limitations.--
            (1) Limitation on food purchases.--No more than 20 percent 
        of the total amount of grant funds awarded to a primary 
        community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group or 
        allocated to a subgrantee under the pilot program may be used 
        to directly purchase food.
            (2) Limitation on funds expended to national or community 
        service program.--Grant funds awarded to a primary community-
        based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group or allocated to a 
        subgrantee under the pilot program may not be used to provide a 
        volunteer in a national or community service program listed in 
        subsection (b)(1)(L) with any educational funding, stipend, 
        health care, or child care.

SEC. 205. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Technical Assistance Grants.--Under the pilot program and for a 
fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants to technical assistance 
community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups, in accordance 
with this section.
    (b) Application for Technical Assistance Grants.--To be eligible 
for an award of a grant under this section, a technical assistance 
community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group shall submit to 
the Secretary an application containing a description of how the 
applicant proposes to use the grant funds to provide technical 
assistance to all pilot communities. The application shall be submitted 
in such form, at such time, and containing such other information as 
the Secretary may require.
    (c) Criteria To Receive Grants.--In evaluating an application of a 
technical assistance community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger 
group, the Secretary shall consider, in addition to such other criteria 
as the Secretary determines appropriate, the extent to which the 
application of the technical assistance group demonstrates the 
following:
            (1) The ability to provide capacity-building technical 
        assistance to community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger 
        groups.
            (2) Organizational and staff experience in--
                    (A) national issues related to emergency food 
                programs, food banks, food rescue organizations, the 
                hunger problem, food insecurity, anti-poverty programs, 
                and nutrition education;
                    (B) providing technical assistance to community-
                based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups and 
                conducting outreach programs on nutrition assistance 
                and anti-poverty programs;
                    (C) successfully working with national and 
                community service programs, including such programs 
                listed in section 204(b)(1)(L);
                    (D) working cooperatively or in a leadership role 
                with other national, regional, State, and local 
                eligible technical entities; and
                    (E) working with a wide variety of faith-based and 
                community organizations and with community-wide 
                religious and civic organizations.
            (3) Proven financial control mechanisms and staff expertise 
        to work with large Federal and private grants, or in the case 
        of a technical assistance community-based nonprofit feeding and 
        anti-hunger group with a small operating budget, effectiveness 
        in program delivery and coordination.
    (d) Department of Agriculture Technical Assistance Authorized.--
            (1) Assistance from department of agriculture.--The 
        Secretary may provide technical and evaluation assistance to--
                    (A) a technical assistance community-based 
                nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group awarded a grant 
                under subsection (a);
                    (B) a primary community-based nonprofit feeding and 
                anti-hunger group awarded a grant under section 203(a) 
                or a subgrantee selected under section 203(e); or
                    (C) any community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-
                hunger group or technical assistance community-based 
                nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group that does not 
                receive a grant under this Act, but that carries out 
                activities similar to those of such a group or 
                subgrantee.
            (2) Assistance from federal departments and agencies.--The 
        head of any Federal department or agency may provide technical 
        assistance to a group or subgrantee referred to in subparagraph 
        (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1) to carry out activities 
        described in subparagraph (C) of such paragraph.
            (3) Assistance from state and local agencies and land-grant 
        colleges and universities.--The Secretary may encourage any 
        appropriate State or local agency or land-grant college or 
        university to provide technical assistance to such groups or 
        subgrantees to carry out such activities.

SEC. 206. ALLOCATION OF GRANTS.

    (a) Allocation by Type of Grant.--Of the amounts made available to 
carry out this title for a fiscal year--
            (1) $190,000,000 is available for grants to primary 
        community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups 
        authorized under section 203(a); and
            (2) $8,000,000 is available for technical assistance grants 
        authorized under section 205(a).
    (b) Allocation to Pilot Communities.--Of the amounts made available 
under subsection (a)(1) to primary community-based nonprofit feeding 
and anti-hunger groups for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allocate 
such amounts to one primary community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-
hunger group in each of the pilot communities listed in subsection (c) 
and may allocate such amounts to one such group in each pilot community 
designated by the Secretary under subsection (d)(2). The amount 
allocated to a primary community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-
hunger group--
            (1) shall not be less than $500,000, nor more than 
        $20,000,000; and
            (2) shall be in proportion to the number of individuals and 
        families within the target population of the pilot community 
        involved.
    (c) Pilot Communities Listed.--For purposes of subsection (b), a 
pilot community listed in this subsection is each of the following 
areas:
            (1) New York, New York.
            (2) Chicago, Illinois.
            (3) Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
            (4) Puerto Rico.
            (5) Indianapolis, Indiana.
            (6) Des Moines, Iowa.
            (7) Toledo, Ohio.
            (8) Savannah, Georgia.
            (9) New Haven, Connecticut.
            (10) Roanoke, Virginia.
            (11) Santa Cruz County, Santa Clara County, and Monterey 
        County in California.
            (12) Onondaga County in New York.
            (13) The rural boroughs in Alaska.
            (14) Washington metropolitan region.
            (15) Pittsburgh and the suburban and rural areas in 
        southwestern Pennsylvania.
            (16) Rural counties in eastern Kentucky.
            (17) Counties in northern West Virginia.
            (18) Rural counties in southern Texas.
            (19) Rural counties in southern Missouri.
            (20) Rural counties in north, west, and central Wisconsin.
    (d) Specification of Areas; Designation of Additional Pilot 
Communities.--
            (1) Specification of areas.--The Secretary shall specify 
        the counties or other areas to be included in each of the pilot 
        communities described in paragraphs (15) through (20) of 
        subsection (c).
            (2) Designation of additional pilot communities.--The 
        Secretary may designate not more than 10 pilot communities in 
        addition to those listed in subsection (c).

SEC. 207. REPORTS AND EVALUATION.

    (a) Subgrantee Report to Primary Community-Based Nonprofit Feeding 
and Anti-Hunger Group.--Not later than 90 days after the end of the 
fiscal year for which a subgrantee received a subgrant under section 
203(e), the subgrantee shall submit to the primary community-based 
nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group that selected the subgrantee 
under such section a report that evaluates the results of the 
activities, including financial expenditures, during such fiscal year 
of the subgrantee in carrying out the subgrant.
    (b) Primary Community-Based Nonprofit Feeding and Anti-Hunger Group 
Reports to Secretary.--Not later than 180 days after the end of the 
fiscal year for which a primary community-based nonprofit feeding and 
anti-hunger group received a grant under section 203(a), the group 
shall submit to the Secretary a report that evaluates the results of 
the activities, including financial expenditures, during the preceding 
fiscal year of the group in carrying out the grant. Such report shall 
include each report submitted to the group by a subgrantee under 
subsection (a) for such fiscal year.
    (c) Annual Reports to Congress.--Not later than October 31 of each 
of calendar years 2016 through 2020, the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a report on the progress of the pilot program.
    (d) Final Report to Congress.--Not later than April 30, 2020, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that evaluates the 
successes and challenges of the pilot program and that makes such 
recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate for similar 
future grants programs.

SEC. 208. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    (a) One-Year Extension of Grants.--
            (1) Beyond the soup kitchen grants.--Upon the expiration of 
        a grant awarded to a community-based nonprofit feeding and 
        anti-hunger group under section 203(a) and the request of such 
        group, the Secretary, in accordance with procedures established 
        by the Secretary, may extend the duration of the grant once, by 
        one fiscal year, if the Secretary determines that the programs 
        established and implemented by such group with the grant 
        resulted in (or are likely to result in) significant progress 
        in satisfying the purposes of the pilot program described in 
        section 203(c)(1).
            (2) Technical assistance grants.--Upon the expiration of a 
        grant awarded to a technical assistance community-based 
        nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group under section 205(a) 
        and the request of such entity, the Secretary, in accordance 
        with procedures established by the Secretary, may extend the 
        duration of the grant once, by one fiscal year, if the 
        Secretary determines that such technical assistance group has 
        successfully provided all pilot programs with technical 
        assistance.
    (b) Form of Grants.--The Secretary, if the Secretary finds it 
appropriate, may use cooperative agreements, as described in section 
6305 of title 31, United States Code, for purposes of awarding grants 
to primary community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups 
under section 203(a) and to technical assistance community-based 
nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups under section 205(a).

SEC. 209. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
            (2) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the 
        Beyond the Soup Kitchen Pilot Program established under section 
        202(a).
            (3) Community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger 
        group.--The term ``community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-
        hunger group'' means an anti-hunger organization, food bank, 
        food pantry, soup kitchen, food rescue group, or community food 
        security organization that--
                    (A) is described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
                Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under 
                section 501(a) of such Code; and
                    (B) is located in (or regularly provides service 
                to) a pilot community.
            (4) Primary community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-
        hunger group.--The term ``primary community-based nonprofit 
        feeding and anti-hunger group'' means a community-based 
        nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group awarded a grant under 
        section 203(a).
            (5) Subgrantee.--The term ``subgrantee'' means a community-
        based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group (other than a 
        primary community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger 
        group)--
                    (A) that is selected under section 203(e) by a 
                primary community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-
                hunger group; and
                    (B) that is located in (or regularly provides 
                service to) the pilot community in which the primary 
                nonprofit feeding group is located (or to which the 
                primary nonprofit feeding group provides regular 
                service).
            (6) Technical assistance community-based nonprofit feeding 
        and anti-hunger group.--The term ``technical assistance 
        community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group'' means 
        a national, State, or local group that--
                    (A) is an anti-hunger group, food bank, food 
                pantry, soup kitchen, food rescue group, or community 
                food security organization;
                    (B) is described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
                Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under 
                section 501(a) of such Code; and
                    (C) has the capacity to provide technical 
                assistance to all pilot communities.
            (7) Pilot community.--The term ``pilot community'' means a 
        community specified in section 206(b).
            (8) Target population.--The term ``target population'' 
        includes an individual who (or family that)--
                    (A) earns an income below 200 percent of the 
                Federal poverty line;
                    (B) suffers from food insecurity;
                    (C) earns insufficient income to ensure food 
                security for such individual or family;
                    (D) lives in a community that suffers from poverty, 
                hunger, or food insecurity;
                    (E) is homeless;
                    (F) receives (or recently received) assistance 
                under a State program funded under part A of title IV 
                of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. et seq.), 
                relating to temporary assistance to needy families; or
                    (G) is eligible for benefits under any nutrition 
                assistance or anti-poverty program.
            (9) Nutrition assistance and anti-poverty program.--The 
        term ``nutrition assistance and anti-poverty program'' means 
        any Federal, State, or local government assistance program 
        offered to low-income individuals or families, including the 
        following programs:
                    (A) The supplemental nutrition assistance program 
                established under section 4 of the Food and Nutrition 
                Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013).
                    (B) A program authorized under the Richard B. 
                Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et 
                seq.) or Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et 
                seq.), including the national school lunch program, the 
                national school breakfast program, the summer food 
                service program for children, the special supplemental 
                nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and 
                the child and adult care food program.
                    (C) The earned income tax credit allowed under 
                section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 
                U.S.C. 32).
            (10) Food insecurity.--The term ``food insecurity'' means a 
        lack of consistent access to food.
            (11) Washington metropolitan region.--The term ``Washington 
        metropolitan region'' includes the District of Columbia, the 
        counties of Montgomery and Prince George's in Maryland, and the 
        counties of Arlington and Fairfax and the cities of Alexandria 
        and Falls Church in Virginia.

SEC. 210. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated $200,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2016 through 2020 to carry out this title.

                       TITLE III--EFFECTIVE DATE

SEC. 301. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this Act and the 
amendments made by this Act shall take effect on October 1, 2017.
                                 <all>