S. 19 – FEED Act | Legislate.dev

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Updated February 7, 2026 at 9:32 PM UTC

The FEED Act (FEMA Empowering Essential Deliveries Act) authorizes the FEMA Administrator to approve state, local, and tribal plans that partner with small and mid‑size restaurants and nonprofit or faith‑based groups to provide nutritious meals to people in need during a declared emergency. It also allows FEMA to waive the usual matching‑fund requirements for disaster assistance. The bill impacts FEMA, state and local governments, tribal authorities, restaurants, and nonprofit organizations that deliver meals.

Key Provisions

FEMA Administrator may approve state, local, and tribal meal‑delivery plans after a major disaster declaration.
Approved plans must set up networks that contract with small/mid‑size restaurants and nonprofits to prepare healthy meals and enable direct purchases from food producers and farmers.
During the emergency period, FEMA must waive the matching‑fund requirements normally required under sections 403(b) and 503(a) of the Stafford Act.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

January 22, 2021

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 22, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

January 22, 2021

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 19 on the floor

1 Democrat

Sen. Jack ReedD-RI · Nov 19, 2021

Madam President, I call up amendment No. 3867, as modified, and I ask that it be reported by number. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to call up amendment No. 4775 and I ask that it be…

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued January 22, 2021

II

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 19

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 22, 2021

Mr. Scott of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Booker, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Warner, Mr. Graham, Ms. Sinema, and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

A BILL

To authorize the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to approve State and local plans to partner with small and mid-size restaurants and nonprofit organizations to provide nutritious meals to individuals in need, to waive certain matching fund requirements, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the FEMA Empowering Essential Deliveries Act or the FEED Act.

2.

State and local plans for meal delivery

(a)

In general

During the period following the emergency declaration issued by the President on March 13, 2020, pursuant to section 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191(b)), and under any subsequent major disaster declaration under section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) that supersedes such emergency declaration, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may approve plans from State, local, and Indian tribal governments that meet the requirements of subsection (b).

(b)

Requirements

To be eligible to provide food services set forth in this subsection, a State, local, or Indian tribal government shall establish a network to coordinate food distribution and delivery that includes a detailed plan to—

(1)

establish contracts with small and mid-sized restaurants and non-profits, including faith-based organizations and soup kitchens to prepare healthy meals for people in need; and

(2)

partner with non-profit organizations, including faith-based organizations and soup kitchens to purchase directly from food producers and farmers.

(c)

Waiver of matching requirements

During the period referred to in subsection (a), the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall waive the matching requirements in sections 403(b) and 503(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b(b), 5193(a)).