Bills · HR 1538
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 1538Agriculture and Food
Delivering for Rural Seniors Act of 2025
INTRO FEB 24· LAST ACTION MAR 28
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
26BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it addresses a critical issue of food access for vulnerable seniors, especially those facing mobility challenges, transportation barriers, or living in areas with limited access to food pantries. Many low-income seniors rely on programs like the Commodity Supplemental Food Program for their nutritional needs, but getting to distribution centers can be difficult or impossible for some.
If this bill becomes law, it could significantly improve the quality of life for participating seniors by bringing essential food directly to their doorsteps, potentially reducing food insecurity and improving health outcomes. If it doesn't become law, many seniors, particularly in rural and underserved areas, would continue to face existing hurdles in accessing their monthly food packages, potentially leading to poorer nutrition and increased hardship.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Establishes a competitive grant program for home delivery of food commodities to low-income elderly persons under the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).
This directly creates a mechanism to fund services that address food access issues for seniors.
PROVISION 02
Requires state agencies receiving grants to prioritize eligible entities that serve CSFP participants residing in rural areas.
This ensures that a significant focus of the program is on addressing the unique challenges of food access in less populated regions.
PROVISION 03
Allows grant funds to be used for transportation, distribution, staffing, and outreach related to home delivery services.
This provides flexibility for local organizations to cover the practical costs associated with running a home delivery program.
PROVISION 04
Sets a maximum grant award for state agencies based on their CSFP caseload or a $4 million cap, whichever is less.
This limits the financial scope of individual grants and ties funding levels to the size of a state's existing program.
PROVISION 05
Requires state agencies to submit reports to the Secretary of Agriculture detailing project activities, effectiveness, average cost per delivery, and best practices.
This ensures accountability and provides data to evaluate the pilot program's success and inform future policy decisions.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 26
R· Iowa
YRS IN OFFICE
3
BILLS LED
61
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 61%
DEM 18 REP 8 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
4 EVENTSMAR 28
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
MAR 28
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
FEB 24
Introduced in House
FEB 24
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 1538
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedFeb 24, 2025
Last actionMar 28, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 24, 2025
House BillHR 1538Agriculture and Food
Delivering for Rural Seniors Act of 2025
INTRODUCED FEB 24, 2025· LAST ACTION MAR 28, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
26
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
