December 10, 2025
Mr. Panetta introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
To authorize the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to assess the efficacy of providing junior enlisted members of the Armed Forces a monthly coupon for use in procuring food at commissaries.
Section 1. Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)
members of the Armed Forces and their families deserve access to affordable and healthy food options, including during their duty day;
(2)
there has been increased awareness about the challenges members and their families face in accessing affordable and healthy food options;
(3)
those challenges have been especially acute for unaccompanied junior enlisted members who live in government-provided quarters on military installations; and
(4)
the Department of Defense should explore a variety of proposals for expanding the accessibility of healthy and affordable food options to members, especially members who live in unaccompanied housing on military installations.
Sec. 2. Pilot program to provide coupons to junior enlisted members to purchase food at commissaries
(a) Pilot program
The Secretary of Defense may conduct a pilot program to assess the efficacy of providing junior enlisted members of the Armed Forces a monthly coupon for use in procuring food at commissaries.
(b) Selection of installations
(1) In general
The Secretary may conduct the pilot program authorized by subsection (a) at 2 military installations.
(2) Considerations
In selecting installations for the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider installations with—
(A)
large numbers of enlisted members who live in unaccompanied housing;
(B)
the largest ratios of enlisted members to commissioned officers;
(C)
unaccompanied housing that provides access to functioning kitchens that residents may use to prepare meals;
(D)
commissaries that are experimenting with or expanding their selection of nutritious and minimally processed ready-made and easy-to-make food options;
(E)
low rates of attendance at dining facilities;
(F)
low customer satisfaction ratings for dining facilities, including installations with complaints about dining facilities submitted through the Interactive Customer Evaluation system of the Department of Defense; and
(G)
commissaries located within easily accessible distances from unaccompanied housing.
(c) Coupons
(1) Amount
The Secretary may determine the amount of the coupons to be provided under the pilot program authorized by subsection (a).
(2) Use for food at commissaries required
A coupon provided under the pilot program authorized by subsection (a) may be used only to purchase food at commissaries.
(3) Prohibited uses
A coupon provided under the pilot program authorized by subsection (a) may not be used to—
(A)
purchase alcoholic beverages or tobacco; or
(B)
pay any deposit fee in excess of the amount of the State fee reimbursement (if any) required to purchase any food or food product contained in a returnable bottle or can, without regard to whether the fee is included in the shelf price posted for the food or food product.
(4) Supplement to other food assistance
A coupon provided to a member under the pilot program authorized by subsection (a) shall supplement and not supplant—
(A)
the basic allowance for subsistence under section 402 of title 37, United States Code; and
(B)
any program to provide meals or rations in kind for which the member is eligible.
(d) Duration of pilot program
The pilot program authorized by subsection (a) shall terminate not later than one year after the date on which the pilot program commences.
(e) Report required
(1) In general
Not later than 90 days after the termination under subsection (d) of the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report detailing the results of the pilot program.
(2) Elements
The report required by paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of the following:
(A)
The use of coupons by members who received coupons under the pilot program.
(B)
The satisfaction of and feedback from such members relating to the coupons.
(C)
The impact of providing the coupons on—
(i)
the rates at which such members used commissaries; and
(ii)
the rates at which such members used dining facilities on their installations.
(D)
Historical rates of use of dining facilities on installations and historical customer satisfaction metrics for such facilities, including the number of complaints with respect to such facilities submitted through the Interactive Customer Evaluation system of the Department of Defense.
(E)
The efficacy of the pilot program in—
(i)
reducing food insecurity rates among junior enlisted members;
(ii)
increasing the availability of nutritious food options for such members at commissaries; and
(iii)
increasing the availability of nutritious food options for such members generally, including such members living in unaccompanied housing.
(f) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Congressional defense committees
The term congressional defense committees
has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.
(2) Coupon
The term coupon means a voucher or monetary benefit for a member of the Armed Forces that may be used only at a commissary for the purchase of food.
(3) Food
The term food means any food or food product intended for home consumption, including a ready-made food item.