Food Access in Community Health Centers Act of 2026
Creates competitive grants for community health centers and nonprofit food providers to make food available to patients.
In the House Agriculture Committee since Oct. 1, 2026, 7 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROOCT 1, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Food access can be one part of meeting patients’ needs alongside health care. The bill would create competitive grants for partnerships between community health centers and nonprofit food providers. The grants could support food locations, scheduled distribution vehicles, and related food costs, with public reports evaluating the program.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Create food-access grants
The Secretary of Health and Human Services would establish a competitive grant program for partnerships between community health centers and nonprofit emergency feeding organizations. Grants could support a food location in or next to a health center, a scheduled food-distribution vehicle at a health center, or related food procurement, transportation, storage, and distribution costs; no award could exceed $500,000.
- Require public program reports
The Secretary would publish an evaluation of the program, an analysis of its impact on patients’ food insecurity, and recommendations for improvement. The first report would be due within two years after enactment, with reports each year after that.
- Define eligible partnerships
A partnership would have to include a federally qualified health center and a public or private nonprofit emergency feeding operation, such as a food bank, food pantry, hunger relief center, or soup kitchen.
The bill focuses on food access for community health center patients and calls for measuring whether the program affects their food insecurity. Its practical effect would be to support food availability through partnerships between health centers and nonprofit food providers, while requiring public evaluation of the effort.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedOCT 1, 2026HOUSEOCT 1, 2026By Rep. Latimer with 10 original cosponsorsReferred to Agriculture
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeeOCT 1, 2026AGRICULTURE NOWOCT 1, 2026In committee for 7 daysNo hearing yet
- 7 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- OCT 12026OCT 1, 2026REFERREDHOUSEReferred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- OCT 12026OCT 1, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 7, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
A coalition from 7 states
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. The smaller side has 1 member.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. The smaller side has 1 member.
Rep. Latimer’s record: sponsored 11 bills this Congress. 1 passed the House; 0 became law.
- Janelle S. BynumD-OR-5ORIGINAL
- Yvette D. ClarkeD-NY-9ORIGINAL
- Chuy GarcíaD-IL-4ORIGINAL
- Jonathan L. JacksonD-IL-1ORIGINAL
- Robin L. KellyD-IL-2ORIGINAL
- Sarah McBrideD-DE-ALORIGINAL
- Eleanor Holmes NortonD-DC-ALORIGINAL
- Bennie G. ThompsonD-MS-2ORIGINAL
- Rashida TlaibD-MI-12ORIGINAL
- Ritchie TorresD-NY-15ORIGINAL
- Michael LawlerR-NY-17OCT 6, 2026
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