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Food supply

Military Food Security Act of 2025 Aims to Provide Affordable and Healthy Food to Military Families

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new bipartisan bill, the Military Food Security Act of 2025, has been reintroduced in the US Senate by Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Jimmy Panetta. The legislation targets food insecurity among military families, ensuring they have better access to affordable and healthy food. According to the Pentagon, approximately 286,800 active duty servicemembers, or 24%, experienced food insecurity in 2020 and 2021. Recently, the Office of the Secretary of Defense partnered with the RAND Corporation to discover that 25.8% of personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard were food insecure. The bill aims to remove an unintended barrier by excluding the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) from income calculations used to determine eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA).

Key Takeaways:

  • 24% of active duty servicemembers experienced food insecurity in 2020 and 2021, affecting approximately 286,800 personnel.
  • The Office of the Secretary of Defense found that 25.8% of personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard were food insecure.
  • The Military Food Security Act excludes the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) from income calculations used to determine eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA).
  • The bill has bipartisan support and is led by Representatives Jimmy Panetta, Blake Moore, Marilyn Strickland, Maggie Goodlander, Jen Kiggans, Sara Jacobs, and Josh Riley.
  • The legislation aims to remove outdated rules and obstacles preventing servicemembers from obtaining food assistance.

Statistics:

  • 24% of active duty servicemembers experienced food insecurity in 2020 and 2021, affecting approximately 286,800 personnel.
  • 25.8% of personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard were found to be food insecure by the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Sources:

  • Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal
  • Representative Jimmy Panetta
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • RAND Corporation

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