119-hr1289

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1289 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 1289

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and carry out 
 a pilot program to administer to eligible veterans medically-tailored 
 meals and groceries, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 February 13, 2025

 Mr. Buchanan (for himself and Ms. Moore of Wisconsin) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' 
 Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and carry out 
 a pilot program to administer to eligible veterans medically-tailored 
 meals and groceries, 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 ``Veterans Nutrition and Wellness Act 
of 2025''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM TO ADMINISTER 
 MEDICALLY-TAILORED MEALS AND GROCERIES TO CERTAIN 
 ELIGIBLE VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish and carry out a pilot program (to be known as the ``Food is 
Medicine program'').

    (b) Functions.--Under the Food is Medicine program, the Secretary 
shall,

    (1) with respect to eligible veterans described in 
 subsection
            (c) --
        (A) administer medically-tailored meals and 
 medically-tailored groceries; and
        (B) furnish nutrition education and cooking classes 
 through a registered dieticians, nutritionists, and 
 community health workers;

    (2) develop and seek to implement training programs for 
 health care providers employed by the Department of Veterans 
 Affairs with respect to the integration of the Food is Medicine 
 program in the treatment plans of veterans receiving health 
 care under the laws administered by the Secretary; and

    (3) seek to collaborate with community-based organizations, 
 including food banks and local agriculture programs, to--
        (A) procure fresh and locally-sourced produce; and
        (B) expand the availability of medically-tailored 
 meals and medically-tailored groceries.
            (c) Eligibility.--An eligible veteran described in this subsection 
is a veteran (as defined in 

section 101 of title 38, United States 
Code) who is enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment 
established and operated under 

section 1705 of such section and--

    (1) receives health care furnished by the Department with 
 respect to multiple chronic conditions, including diabetes, 
 cancer, or heart failure; or

    (2) receives such health care with respect to maternal 
 health, including prenatal care, labor and delivery care, 
 postpartum care, and is at risk of preeclampsia or gestational 
 diabetes.
            (d) Regional Balance.--In carrying out the Food is Medicine 
program, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable ensure 
geographic diversity of the pilot program offices of the Food is 
Medicine program.

    (e) Report.--During the period the authority to carry out the Food 
is Medicine program is effective, the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress an annual report on such program that includes--

    (1) the number of eligible veterans participating in such 
 program;

    (2) with respect to such eligible veterans, a summary of--
        (A) health outcomes;
        (B) effects on physical and mental health;
            (C) quality of life; and
            (D) the extent of utilization of health care under 
 the laws administered by the Secretary;

    (3) an evaluation of the effectiveness of such program, 
 including estimated cost savings to the Department of Veterans 
 Affairs; and

    (4) recommendations of the Secretary with respect to 
 potential improvements to such program.

    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--

    (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph

    (2) , there are 
 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal years 
 2025 through 2028 such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
 the Food is Medicine program.

    (2) Use of funds.--Any amounts appropriated pursuant to 
 paragraph

    (1) shall be used for--
        (A) developing and operating the Food is Medicine 
 program;
        (B) hiring registered dieticians and nutrition 
 specialists;
            (C) conducting research and evaluations; and
            (D) establishing partnerships with local 
 organizations pursuant to subsection

    (b)

    (3) .

    (g) Termination Date.--The authority of the Secretary to carry out 
the Food is Medicine program shall terminate on the date that is three 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

    (h) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this Act:

    (1) The term ``medically-tailored groceries'' means 
 nutritious food for an individual with a diet-sensitive 
 condition curated to the treatment plan of such individual.

    (2) The term ``medically-tailored meals'' means nutritious 
 meals customized for an individual with a severe chronic 
 condition or limitation in activities of daily living.
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