What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
This bill allows a state to receive cash funds under The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to directly purchase agricultural commodities through the private commercial marketplace. TEFAP is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people with low income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. Through TEFAP, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases a variety of commodities and makes those food products (e.g., canned, frozen, dried, and fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy, and whole-grain and enriched grain products) available to state distributing agencies. Specifically, the bill allows an eligible state agency to elect to receive as cash the dollar amount used by USDA to purchase the commodities to distribute to the state.
Action Timeline
2026-02-09
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
2026-02-09
Introduced in House
2026-02-09
Introduced in House
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.7455 pass?
HR.7455 is still alive. Current stage: COMMITTEE. Pass likelihood: pending.
What does HR.7455 do?
This bill allows a state to receive cash funds under The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to directly purchase agricultural commodities through the private commercial marketplace. TEFAP is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people with low income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. Through TEFAP, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases a variety of commodities and makes those food products (e.g., canned, frozen, dried, and fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy, and whole-grain and enriched grain products) available to state di…
Who sponsored HR.7455?
HR.7455 was sponsored by Jill N. Tokuda (D-Hawaii).
Full Bill Text
119 HR 7455 IH: To amend the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to allow certain States to directly purchase commodities, and for other purposes. U.S. House of Representatives 2026-02-09 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7455 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 9, 2026 Ms. Tokuda (for herself, Mr. Case , Mr. Moylan , Ms. King-Hinds , and Mr. Hernández ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to allow certain States to directly purchase commodities, and for other purposes. 1. Direct purchase of commodities Section 202 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 ( 7 U.S.C. 7502 ) is amended by inserting after subsection (a) the following: (b) Direct purchase of commodities (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Eligible State The term eligible State has the meaning given the term in section 4206(b) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 ( 7 U.S.C. 7518(b) ). (B) Entitlement funds The term entitlement funds , with respect to an eligible State, means the dollar amount used by the Secretary to purchase commodities pursuant to section 27 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2036 ) to distribute to the eligible State in accordance with section 214. (2) Direct purchase The Secretary shall allow an eligible State to elect to receive all of the entitlement funds of the eligible State as cash to make direct purchases of commodities through the private commercial marketplace. .
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