No Veteran Should Go Hungry Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1411
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-18: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-26T08:06:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "No Veteran Should Go Hungry Act of 2025" aims to address food insecurity among transitioning military service members by integrating information about federal food assistance programs into the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). TAP is a mandatory support service provided by the Department of Defense (DoD) to help service members prepare for civilian life after leaving the military.
Key Provisions
- Requires the addition of a new element to TAP under Section 1142(b) of Title 10, United States Code.
- Mandates that information and counseling on federal food and nutrition assistance programs be developed and provided in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture.
- Specifically includes programs such as:
- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to low-income individuals and families (authorized under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008).
- The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which offers nutritional support for eligible pregnant women, new mothers, and young children (authorized under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the existing TAP requirements in Title 10, U.S. Code, by inserting a new paragraph (20) at the end of Section 1142(b).
- This is the first explicit requirement to incorporate federal food assistance education into TAP, expanding the program's scope beyond employment, education, and benefits counseling to include nutrition support.
- No other sections of the law are altered; the change is targeted and additive.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Enhances coordination between the DoD (which administers TAP) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), potentially increasing administrative workload for developing and delivering the new content but promoting better resource sharing.
- On citizens: Improves access to food assistance for separating service members and veterans, reducing the risk of hunger during the transition to civilian life; could lead to higher enrollment in SNAP and WIC among eligible veterans.
- On international relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic military and nutrition programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Transitioning military service members and veterans: Primary beneficiaries, gaining easier access to information on food support to combat post-service food insecurity.
- Department of Defense (DoD): Responsible for implementing the changes within TAP, including training counselors.
- Department of Agriculture (USDA): Involved in consulting on program content, potentially increasing outreach efforts to military communities.
- Families of service members: Indirectly affected through programs like WIC, which support dependents.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens compliance with existing federal mandates for veteran support under Title 10, without creating new entitlements; relies on inter-agency consultation to ensure accurate information delivery.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to regulate military affairs and provide for veteran welfare (Article I, Section 8); no apparent conflicts with individual rights or federalism principles.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan interest in veteran welfare and food security, potentially setting a precedent for integrating social services into military transition programs; may influence future legislation on veteran poverty reduction without significant controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-18: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2025-02-18: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No Veteran Should Go Hungry Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-18 — PDF (2 pages)