NO TIME TO Waste Act);
- Bill Number
- S. 1395
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-09: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-24T11:03:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "New Opportunities for Technological Innovation, Mitigation, and Education To Overcome Waste Act" (NO TIME TO Waste Act) aims to reduce food loss and waste in the United States by authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to implement research, coordination, infrastructure support, partnerships, and education initiatives. It supports a national goal of cutting food loss and waste by 50 percent by 2030, compared to 2016 levels, to address environmental, public health, food security, and climate change issues.
Key Provisions
- Office of Food Loss and Waste: Establishes a new office within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to oversee research on quantifying and reducing food loss/waste, develop technologies, track progress toward the 2030 goal, issue reports to Congress and the public, run educational campaigns, and administer grants for data collection on state/local policies. Authorizes $1.5 million annually (FY2026–2030) for the office, plus $2 million for grants (with up to 4% for admin costs).
- Regional Coordinators: Creates USDA regional coordinators to partner with food producers, processors, distributors, and recovery organizations; provide technical support for real-time food recovery; and build capacity for infrastructure like storage and transport. Authorizes $1 million for implementation.
- Food Recovery Block Grants: Expands an existing USDA program to award annual block grants to states and Tribal governments for food recovery infrastructure (e.g., processing equipment, tech for surplus matching, staff support). States distribute funds to local governments and nonprofits. Authorizes $2 million annually (FY2026–2030).
- Interagency Collaboration: Strengthens coordination among USDA, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under a 2020 agreement; requires annual progress reports to Congress; involves other federal agencies (e.g., Defense, Education); and mandates consultations with private sector, producers, nonprofits, and food-insecure communities for policy advice and best practices. Exempts advisory groups from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Authorizes $1 million annually (FY2026–2030).
- Federal Contractor Requirements: Amends the Federal Food Donation Act of 2008 to require contractors with federal food-service contracts to donate surplus edible food, report on waste prevention efforts and donations, and submit biennial reports to Congress.
- Research Priorities: Directs USDA to prioritize food loss/waste projects in existing grant programs under the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act, including areas like animal nutrition and production efficiencies (e.g., using food byproducts as animal feed).
- Composting and Waste Reduction Program: Expands USDA's existing composting grants to include state/Tribal governments and non-composting methods (e.g., other waste reduction pilots); adds guidance for resource-limited applicants and extended application periods for small/rural communities; allows private funding for matching requirements.
- Public-Private Partnerships Grants: Awards grants to state, local, or Tribal governments to form partnerships with nonprofits and private sectors (e.g., grocery, restaurants, hospitals) to reduce waste; partnerships must measure progress, share best practices, and report annually. Requires 50% matching funds. Authorizes $2 million annually (FY2026–2030).
- Education and Awareness Campaign: Launches a national campaign via USDA and EPA to educate on waste amounts, storage tips, date label meanings (e.g., "best by" for quality, not safety), composting, upcycled products, and links to health/security/climate. Includes community pilots, waste audits, behavioral research, and tailored materials for sectors like schools and retail. Authorizes $2 million annually (FY2026–2030).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- New Structures: Introduces the Office of Food Loss and Waste and regional coordinators, building on but expanding the existing Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison role (from the 1994 USDA Reorganization Act).
- Federal Food Donation Act Amendments: Shifts from encouraging to requiring food donations by federal contractors (effective 180 days after enactment); adds mandatory reporting on waste efforts and donations, with agency reports to Congress every two years.
- Composting Program Expansion: Broadens eligibility to Tribal governments; includes non-composting waste reduction pilots; simplifies applications for underserved areas; incorporates private funding options.
- Research Grant Adjustments: Adds explicit priorities for food loss/waste in USDA's competitive grant programs, without altering overall funding mechanisms.
- Block Grant Integration: Incorporates new food recovery support into the Emergency Food Assistance Act's existing grant framework.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases coordination and reporting burdens for USDA, EPA, FDA, and others; requires new offices, grants, and pilots, funded through authorizations totaling about $12.5 million annually (FY2026–2030); enhances data collection for policy-making.
- Citizens: Improves food access for insecure communities via recovery and distribution; educates households on reducing waste at home (e.g., better storage, composting), potentially lowering grocery costs and environmental footprint; promotes upcycled products for healthier, sustainable options.
- International Relations: Aligns U.S. efforts with global sustainability goals (e.g., UN targets on waste), potentially strengthening climate diplomacy, but no direct international provisions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: USDA (lead), EPA, FDA, and others like Defense and Education for procurement and operations.
- State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Eligible for grants, block funds, and policy models; must distribute resources and report data.
- Food Industry and Producers: Farmers, processors, retailers, restaurants, and contractors required to donate/report waste; benefit from technical support, research, and partnerships.
- Nonprofits and Recovery Organizations: Partners for infrastructure, education, and data projects; gain funding for operations like transport and storage.
- Consumers and Communities: Especially food-insecure, rural, and small-producer groups; targeted for education, recovery access, and waste reduction tools.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: FACA exemption for advisory consultations streamlines interagency and stakeholder input without formal committee requirements, reducing administrative hurdles but potentially limiting public oversight. Definitions (e.g., food loss vs. waste, upcycled products) provide clarity for enforcement and grants.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges; supports general welfare through environmental and health measures, with federal funding tied to voluntary state/local participation.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (Sens. Coons and Moran) emphasizes nonpartisan issues like climate and security; focuses on innovation and equity (e.g., prioritizing underserved communities), but relies on future appropriations, which could face budget debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-09: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2025-04-09: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- New Opportunities for Technological Innovation, Mitigation, and Education To Overcome Waste Act — issued 2025-04-09 — PDF (27 pages)