Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 13 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 497.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act," aims to ensure that United States foreign assistance commodities are used for their intended purposes before they expire or spoil. It requires that goods such as food, medicine, and vaccines be made available to beneficiaries through donation or other means. The legislation mandates that no commodity be destroyed unless every effort was made to sell or donate it first. Additionally, it requires federal agencies to submit annual reports to congressional committees regarding any destroyed or expired commodities. These reports must detail the reasons for the loss and the value of the items involved.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +6
Would children be better off under this?
The bill aims to save the lives of children by ensuring access to vaccines and nutrition.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill ensures that medical supplies, vaccines, and medicines reach intended beneficiaries before they expire.
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Increased efficiency in aid delivery can benefit low-income populations globally.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Ensuring Delivery of Critical Supplies: The bill requires that perishable and nonperishable goods, including medicine, vaccines, and food, be made available to intended beneficiaries before they spoil or expire (Section 3, subsection (b)(18)).
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Expedited Funding for Distribution: If a commodity is held by a foreign assistance partner, the Secretary of State, Secretary of Agriculture, or USAID Administrator must release necessary funds on an expedited basis to ensure the items reach beneficiaries before expiration (Section 3, subsection (d)(2)).
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Reducing Waste Through Prioritization of Donation/Sale: The bill prohibits the destruction of commodities unless every effort has been made to sell or donate them to ensure they are utilized by intended beneficiaries (Section 3, subsection (d)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated within the provided text.
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 children be better off under this? — The bill aims to save the lives of children by ensuring access to vaccines and nutrition. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increased efficiency in aid delivery can benefit low-income populations globally. Would women be better off under this? — The bill supports the delivery of family planning products which can reduce maternal mortality. Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill notes that US food assistance benefits US farmers and agribusinesses.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill ensures that medical supplies, vaccines, and medicines reach intended beneficiaries before they expire.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill aims to reduce waste of taxpayer-funded commodities by preventing unnecessary destruction.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — The bill assists in getting critical supplies to those recovering from natural disasters.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates annual reports to Congress regarding commodity destruction, increasing transparency.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill helps mitigate food insecurity and medical shortages in developing communities.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this send more money or help to other countries? — The bill improves the efficiency and impact of existing foreign aid by preventing waste.
- 7/27/2026
- Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 497.
- 6/17/2026
- Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 2/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/2/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 11/6/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/4/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/30/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/18/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/11/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/29/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/10/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Susan CollinsRepublican · Maine
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Patty MurrayDemocrat · Washington
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland