STORE Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6834
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-22T08:08:12Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Supporting Transportation Organization and Refrigeration Expansion Act of 2025 (STORE Act of 2025) aims to strengthen the infrastructure of food assistance programs, particularly for food banks and emergency feeding organizations serving rural, Tribal, low-income, and remote communities. It focuses on improving grants for equipment, transportation, and storage needs under the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP), while also requiring a national assessment of cold storage shortages to better meet emergency food demands.
Key Provisions
- Amendments to EFAP Infrastructure Grants (Section 2): Updates Section 209 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to:
- Direct grants through state agencies designated in state plans, rather than directly to individual emergency feeding organizations.
- Prioritize grants for Tribal, low-income, remote, and rural communities.
- Expand allowable uses of grant funds to include:
- Equipment and technology for safe and efficient food distribution.
- Handling of government-provided commodities and those from other sources.
- Support for local food systems, including mobile and home delivery options, and outreach assessments.
- Partnerships with nonprofit, governmental, and Tribal entities.
- Capacity building in underserved areas for storage, processing, and distribution.
- Renovation of facilities (replacing "constructing" with "renovating").
- Up to 10% of grants for administrative costs.
- Increases annual funding to $25 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 (previously capped at $15 million through 2023).
- National Report on Cold Storage Needs (Section 3): Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study and issue a report within two years of enactment, covering:
- Shortages in refrigerated/frozen storage space, refrigerated trucks, and delivery vehicles for emergency food organizations.
- Estimated costs to address these needs nationwide, including new coolers, freezers, trucks, and trailers.
- Appropriates $1 million for this study, available until spent.
- Definitions: Clarifies terms like "emergency food organization" (broadly includes food banks and pantries serving community needs) and "shortages" (gaps in meeting total emergency food demands in served areas).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Shifts grant administration from direct awards to emergency feeding organizations to state agencies, potentially streamlining oversight but centralizing control.
- Broadens grant preferences and eligible activities beyond time-sensitive or perishable foods to encompass all commodities, local sourcing, delivery innovations (e.g., mobile/home options), and Tribal/governmental partnerships.
- Replaces limits on new construction with allowances for renovations, and introduces an explicit 10% cap on administrative expenses.
- More than doubles annual funding levels and extends them through 2030, providing sustained support compared to the prior temporary authorization.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will manage increased funding and a required study, potentially enhancing coordination with state agencies for more efficient food distribution programs. This could reduce waste and improve program effectiveness without major new regulatory burdens.
- On Citizens: Improves access to safe, timely food assistance for vulnerable populations, especially in rural, Tribal, low-income, and remote areas, by enabling better storage, transportation, and delivery infrastructure. This may help address food insecurity more comprehensively.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic food assistance programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Emergency Food Organizations: Food banks, pantries, and similar groups benefit from expanded grants for infrastructure upgrades and operations.
- Underserved Communities: Rural, Tribal, low-income, and remote residents gain improved access to emergency food supplies.
- State and Tribal Agencies: Take on roles in grant distribution and planning, with new opportunities for collaboration.
- Local Producers and Partners: Farmers, fisheries, manufacturers, and nonprofits can participate more in sourcing and distribution.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Oversees implementation, funding, and the required report.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on existing federal authority under the Emergency Food Assistance Act without introducing new mandates; the appropriations are straightforward and do not require additional congressional approval beyond enactment.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges, as it involves standard spending for public welfare programs under Congress's spending power.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan support for rural and food security issues (introduced by Democratic representatives), potentially influencing future farm bills or hunger relief efforts by emphasizing infrastructure equity for marginalized areas. It avoids controversy by focusing on practical enhancements rather than overhauling program eligibility.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- 2025-12-18: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-12-18: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Supporting Transportation Organization and Refrigeration Expansion Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-18 — PDF (5 pages)