September 8, 2025
Mr. Khanna introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
To amend title 10, United States Code, to require biennial assessments on the nutrition standards of the military departments, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Assessments and plan for increasing access to nutritious food on military installations
(a) Assessments
(1) Requirement
Chapter 23 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 488 the following new section:
489. Biennial assessments on nutrition standards of military departments
On a biennial basis, the Secretary of Defense shall—
(1)
conduct an assessment of the nutrition standards of each military department, including by reviewing any nutrition program or related policy of that military department, and the extent to which such standards are reflected in the food options accessible to members of the Armed Forces at the military installations of that military department;
(2)
submit a report containing the results of such assessment to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate; and
(3)
publish such report on a publicly available website of the Department of Defense.
(2) First report
Not later than December 1, 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and publish on a publicly available website of the Department of Defense, the first report required under section 489 of title 10, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1).
(b) Plan
(1) Requirement
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and such other entities as the Secretary of Defense determines appropriate, shall jointly submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate and publish on a publicly available website of the Department of Defense a plan to increase access to nutritious food on military installations, consistent with recommendations included in the report of the Government Accountability Office titled DOD Food Program: Additional Actions Needed to Implement, Oversee, and Evaluate Nutrition Efforts for Service Members
, and dated June 24, 2024 (GAO–24–106155).
(2) Elements
The plan under paragraph (1) shall include a strategy developed by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs for increasing nutritious menu options at venues that are located on military installations, offer food services to members of the Armed Forces, and are not funded with appropriated amounts (referred to in the report specified in such paragraph as nonappropriated fund food venues
).