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H.R. 5189House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

To amend title 10, United States Code, to require biennial assessments on the nutrition standards of the military departments, and for other purposes.

Sponsored by Ro KhannaRep. Ro Khanna (D-CA)
Introduced September 8, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 23, 2025 at 10:13 PM UTC

This bill adds a new requirement to Title 10 that the Department of Defense assess the nutrition standards of each military department every two years and make the findings public. It also obligates senior Defense officials to create and share a plan, within 180 days, for improving access to nutritious food on military installations, following a recent GAO report. The assessments and plan are to be reported to Congress and posted online, affecting service members who use base food services.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Defense must conduct a nutrition‑standard assessment for each military department every two years, review related policies, and check how well those standards are reflected in food options on military bases.
  • The results of each assessment must be reported to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and posted on a publicly accessible Department of Defense website, with the first report due by Dec. 1, 2026.
  • Within 180 days of the law’s enactment, senior Defense officials must submit and publish a plan to increase access to nutritious food on military installations, using recommendations from a June 2024 GAO report.
  • The plan must include a strategy—developed by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs—to expand healthier menu options at non‑appropriated‑fund food venues on bases.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

September 8, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 8, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

September 8, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 8, 2025

I

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 5189

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 8, 2025

Mr. Khanna introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To amend title 10, United States Code, to require biennial assessments on the nutrition standards of the military departments, and for other purposes.

1.

Assessments and plan for increasing access to nutritious food on military installations

(a)

Assessments

(1)

Requirement

Chapter 23 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 488 the following new section:

489.

Biennial assessments on nutrition standards of military departments

On a biennial basis, the Secretary of Defense shall—

(1)

conduct an assessment of the nutrition standards of each military department, including by reviewing any nutrition program or related policy of that military department, and the extent to which such standards are reflected in the food options accessible to members of the Armed Forces at the military installations of that military department;

(2)

submit a report containing the results of such assessment to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate; and

(3)

publish such report on a publicly available website of the Department of Defense.

.

(2)

First report

Not later than December 1, 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and publish on a publicly available website of the Department of Defense, the first report required under section 489 of title 10, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1).

(b)

Plan

(1)

Requirement

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and such other entities as the Secretary of Defense determines appropriate, shall jointly submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate and publish on a publicly available website of the Department of Defense a plan to increase access to nutritious food on military installations, consistent with recommendations included in the report of the Government Accountability Office titled DOD Food Program: Additional Actions Needed to Implement, Oversee, and Evaluate Nutrition Efforts for Service Members, and dated June 24, 2024 (GAO–24–106155).

(2)

Elements

The plan under paragraph (1) shall include a strategy developed by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs for increasing nutritious menu options at venues that are located on military installations, offer food services to members of the Armed Forces, and are not funded with appropriated amounts (referred to in the report specified in such paragraph as nonappropriated fund food venues).