Newhouse, Walorski introduce Food Donation Improvement Act

With millions of Americans facing food insecurity, U.S. Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN) on Dec. 13 introduced a bipartisan bill to help expand food donations from businesses and nonprofits.

“Tackling hunger is a bipartisan priority, and the Food Donation Improvement Act has the potential to make a huge difference for Americans facing food insecurity,” Rep. Walorski said on Monday.

The Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021, H.R. 6251, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), would extend liability protections to food donors when food is either given directly to a person in need or when a recipient pays a deeply reduced cost, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

“The law should never discourage people from helping their neighbors or encourage them to throw away perfectly good food,” said Rep. Newhouse. “The Food Donation Improvement Act will enact logical reforms that will provide clarity and protections to farmers, retailers and nonprofits seeking in good faith to assist the hungry, helping those in need have access to food that would otherwise go to waste.”

If enacted, H.R. 6251 would extend liability protections to allow retail grocers, wholesalers, agricultural producers, restaurants, caterers, school food authorities, and higher education institutions to increase the quantity and efficiency of their food donation efforts, the bill summary says, and would clarify labeling standards that food products must meet to be eligible for such protections. 

“Making it easier for restaurants, grocery stores, farms, and other businesses to donate food to their neighbors is a commonsense tool to help communities fight hunger,” Rep. Walorski said. “Americans have long been characterized by a spirit of generosity, and Congress stands ready to eliminate burdensome barriers to this charitable giving.”