Food Assurance and Security Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4923
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T04:53:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Food Assurance and Security Act (S. 4923)
Purpose
This legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture, working with the Director of the Bureau of the Census, to create an interagency program for measuring food insecurity and hunger. The goal is to ensure consistent annual collection, analysis, and public reporting of related data through the Current Population Survey.
Key Provisions
- Program Establishment: Creates an interagency food security measurement program to coordinate data efforts on food insecurity and hunger.
- Food Security Supplement: Requires the Current Population Survey to include a specific set of questions on food security for calendar years 2026 through 2028. These questions cover household worries about food running out, skipping meals, hunger, weight loss, and child-specific issues in households with children ages 0 to 17.
- Question Updates: Starting in 2029, the supplement may use the same or similar questions, provided changes follow testing, public input, and Office of Management and Budget approval.
- Annual Reporting: Mandates an annual report to Congress with findings from the data, also made available on the Department of Agriculture website.
- Funding: Authorizes necessary appropriations without specifying amounts.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill formalizes the inclusion of a detailed food security supplement in the Current Population Survey for a set period, referencing the 2023 questionnaire format. It introduces statutory requirements for question content, duration, and future modifications, shifting from potentially voluntary or agency-driven practices to mandated coordination and reporting.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases coordination and workload for the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of the Census in data collection and analysis.
- Citizens: May lead to more reliable public data on food insecurity, potentially informing future policies that affect access to food assistance programs.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of the Census.
- Households participating in the Current Population Survey.
- Congress, for receiving annual reports.
- Researchers, policymakers, and advocacy groups focused on food security and hunger issues.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The legislation involves standard data collection authority under existing survey frameworks and does not raise apparent constitutional concerns. It emphasizes public input and oversight for future changes to survey questions, which could support transparency in government statistical practices.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Food Assurance and Security Act — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (6 pages)