Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19) today introduced the Delivering for Rural Seniors Act. This bipartisan bill will allow seniors living in rural areas, seniors with disabilities, and those with mobility or transportation issues to receive home delivery services from food banks participating in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. Rep. Molinaro introduced this bipartisan bill with U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-6), Jahana Hayes (D-CT-5), Yadira Caraveo (D-CO-8), Don Bacon (R-NE-2), Zach Nunn (R-IA-3), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), John Duarte (R-CA-13), Angie Craig (D-MN-7), and Don Davis (D-NC-1).
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is a federal food assistance program that provides monthly food boxes of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) commodities to nearly one million low-income seniors. However, the program currently does not reach all seniors in-need. Mobility and transportation challenges often make it difficult for many seniors to participate and seniors in rural areas have a much lower participation rate as they have to travel greater distances to pick up their monthly food box.
The Delivering for Rural Seniors Act authorizes a program that will direct federal funding to food banks to build out home delivery operations or contract with private partners to deliver senior food boxes.
Rep. Molinaro said, “The Delivering for Rural Seniors Act is a bipartisan solution to break down barriers for food insecure seniors. It will enable seniors living in rural areas, seniors with disabilities, and those with limited mobility to receive home delivery services from food banks participating in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. Every senior deserves to have access to a nutritious meal.”
Rep. Crockett said, “As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, it’s my duty to help keep North Texas families fed! We all need to eat, but lingering inflation at the grocery makes it hard for lower-income folks to afford the food they need - especially seniors on fixed incomes. The Delivering for Rural Seniors Act would establish a pilot program that gives food banks money to create innovative last mile food delivery systems for low-mobility residents. Local food banks, like Tarrant Area Food Bank which serves my district, have endorsed this bill, and are as excited as I am for this pilot. This is the year of the Farm Bill, and including programs that ensure everyone has access to nutritious food is my top priority. With this bill, we're one step closer from turning the food deserts of North Texas into food oases!”
Ellie Hollander, President & CEO of Meals on Wheels America said, “Meals on Wheels America commends Representatives Molinaro and Crockett for introducing the Delivering for Rural Seniors Act. This bipartisan bill would seek to improve nutrition access for low-income seniors living in rural areas by providing additional resources to pilot and partner with local organizations, like Meals on Wheels, to deliver nutritious foods to the home through the Commodity Supplemental Nutrition Program (CSFP). Strengthening and securing nutrition access for older adults is a top priority for our organization, and we are committed to working together to advance and implement this promising pilot program.”
Vince Hall, Chief Government Relations Officer at Feeding America said, “No one should face hunger in their golden years. Yet, every state is home to seniors who experience food insecurity. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is critical to helping seniors with low incomes access the food they need to maintain good health. But the program doesn’t reach all eligible individuals, due to insufficient funding and a shortage of delivery options. The bipartisan Delivering for Rural Seniors Act introduced by Reps. Molinaro and Crockett would help more seniors keep food on the table, especially in rural areas, by expanding access to delivery services. We urge Congress to help seniors facing hunger by including this important legislation in the final 2023 Farm Bill.”
The Delivering for Rural Seniors Act is endorsed by the National Commodity Supplemental Food Program Association, Meals on Wheels, Feeding America, Alliance to End Hunger, MAZON, RESULTS, and the Congressional Hunger Center
