George Latimer (D-NY)
Food Access in Community Health Centers Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 17 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Food Access in Community Health Centers Act of 2026. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to set up a grant program within one year to help make food more accessible in community health centers. Under this program, competitive grants of up to $500,000 can be awarded to eligible partnerships. These partnerships consist of a community health center and an emergency feeding operation working together. The grant money is meant to fund physical spaces for food, vehicles that deliver food on a schedule, or operational costs like food transportation and storage. The Secretary is also required to make public reports evaluating the program's effectiveness and its impact on food insecurity.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill directly targets food insecurity among low-income patients utilizing community health centers and emergency feeding operations.
- Scored +5
Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?
The grant program addresses food insecurity among vulnerable populations, helping to lift individuals and families out of poverty.
- Scored +4
Would children be better off under this?
Improving food access at community health centers directly benefits children in low-income families suffering from food insecurity.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(d)(1) and Section 2(d)(2) allow grants to be used to provide a physical space for food or a vehicle that makes food available on the premises of a community health center. This is positive because it directly helps patients access food where they are receiving healthcare.
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Section 2(d)(3) permits grants to assist with costs related to the procurement, transportation, storage, or distribution of food. This is a positive provision because it helps cover the heavy operational expenses of actually getting food to the people who need it.
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Section 2(f) requires the Secretary to publish reports evaluating the program and analyzing its impact on the food insecurity of community health center patients. This is beneficial because it holds officials accountable and checks whether the program is actually helping people.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not explicitly mention any potential negative impacts, consequences, or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill directly targets food insecurity among low-income patients utilizing community health centers and emergency feeding operations. Would children be better off under this? — Improving food access at community health centers directly benefits children in low-income families suffering from food insecurity. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Many seniors rely on community health centers and will benefit from increased availability of food resources. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — On-site food distribution at health centers provides accessible aid to individuals with disabilities who may struggle to travel to multiple locations for assistance. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The grant program supports mobile vehicles and local partnerships that can improve food access in underserved rural health center locations. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Community health centers located in urban areas will be eligible for grants to expand local food access.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By facilitating food access directly within community health centers, the bill improves overall patient support and access to essential resources. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill provides grant funding for partnerships involving community health centers, which serve low-income patients often covered by Medicaid.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The grant program addresses food insecurity among vulnerable populations, helping to lift individuals and families out of poverty. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — Providing accessible food through community health centers offers critical support to individuals experiencing housing instability and extreme poverty.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates regular public reports evaluating the effectiveness of the grant program and its impact on food insecurity.
- 10/22/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 10/15/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 10/9/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 10/6/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/1/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 10 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Janelle BynumDemocrat · Oregon
Jim CostaDemocrat · California
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Jesús GarcíaDemocrat · Illinois
Jonathan JacksonDemocrat · Illinois
Robin KellyDemocrat · Illinois
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Sarah McBrideDemocrat · Delaware
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Chellie PingreeDemocrat · Maine
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Bennie ThompsonDemocrat · Mississippi
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Ritchie TorresDemocrat · New York
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia
George WhitesidesDemocrat · California