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S. 2772Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Commissary Healthy Options and servicemember Welfare (CHOW) Act

Sponsored by Raphael G. WarnockSen. Raphael G. Warnock (D-GA)
Introduced September 11, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 23, 2025 at 10:04 PM UTC

The CHOW Act lets the Defense Department test a program that gives junior enlisted service members a monthly voucher to buy food at base commissaries. The pilot would run for up to one year at two selected installations, focusing on those with many unaccompanied junior enlisted personnel and limited dining‑facility satisfaction. The goal is to see if the coupons improve access to affordable, healthy food and reduce food‑insecurity among these service members.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Defense may run a one‑year pilot at up to two military bases, giving junior enlisted service members a monthly coupon to buy food at the base commissary.
  • Coupons can only be used for food (no alcohol, tobacco, or extra deposit fees) and are meant to supplement, not replace, existing food allowances or meal programs.
  • The Secretary will choose installations based on factors such as many unaccompanied junior enlisted members, high enlisted‑to‑officer ratios, available kitchen facilities, and commissaries that are expanding healthy‑food options.
  • Within 90 days after the pilot ends, the Secretary must report to the congressional defense committees on coupon usage, member satisfaction, effects on commissary and dining‑facility use, and any impact on food‑insecurity and nutrition for junior enlisted members.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

September 11, 2025

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 11, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

September 11, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued September 11, 2025

II

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2772

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 11, 2025

Mr. Warnock (for himself and Mr. Marshall) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of Defense to conduct a pilot program to provide coupons to junior enlisted members to purchase food at commissaries.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Commissary Healthy Options and servicemember Welfare (CHOW) Act.

2.

Pilot program to provide coupons to junior enlisted members to purchase food at commissaries

(a)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

members of the Armed Forces and their families deserve access to affordable and healthy food options, including during their duty day;

(2)

there has been increased awareness about the challenges members and their families face in accessing affordable and healthy food options;

(3)

those challenges have been especially acute for unaccompanied junior enlisted members who live in government-provided quarters on military installations; and

(4)

the Department of Defense should explore a variety of proposals for expanding the accessibility of healthy and affordable food options to members, especially members who live in unaccompanied housing on military installations.

(b)

Pilot program

(1)

In general

The Secretary of Defense may conduct a pilot program to assess the efficacy of providing junior enlisted members of the Armed Forces a monthly coupon for use in procuring food at commissaries.

(2)

Selection of installations

(A)

In general

The Secretary may conduct the pilot program authorized by paragraph (1) at 2 military installations.

(B)

Considerations

In selecting installations for the pilot program authorized by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider installations with—

(i)

large numbers of enlisted members who live in unaccompanied housing;

(ii)

the largest ratios of enlisted members to commissioned officers;

(iii)

unaccompanied housing that provides access to functioning kitchens that residents may use to prepare meals;

(iv)

commissaries that are experimenting with or expanding their selection of nutritious and minimally processed ready-made and easy-to-make food options;

(v)

low rates of attendance at dining facilities;

(vi)

low customer satisfaction ratings for dining facilities, including installations with complaints about dining facilities submitted through the Interactive Customer Evaluation system of the Department of Defense; and

(vii)

commissaries located within easily accessible distances from unaccompanied housing.

(3)

Coupons

(A)

Amount

The Secretary may determine the amount of the coupons to be provided under the pilot program authorized by paragraph (1).

(B)

Use

(i)

In general

A coupon provided under the pilot program authorized by paragraph (1) may be used only to purchase food at commissaries.

(ii)

Exclusions

A coupon provided under the pilot program authorized by paragraph (1) may not be used—

(I)

to purchase alcoholic beverages or tobacco; or

(II)

to pay any deposit fee in excess of the amount of the State fee reimbursement (if any) required to purchase any food or food product contained in a returnable bottle or can, without regard to whether the fee is included in the shelf price posted for the food or food product.

(C)

Supplement to other food assistance

A coupon provided to a member under the pilot program authorized by paragraph (1) shall be supplement and not supplant—

(i)

the basic allowance for subsistence under section 402 of title 37, United States Code; and

(ii)

any program to provide meals or rations in kind for which the member is eligible.

(4)

Duration of pilot program

The pilot program authorized by paragraph (1) shall terminate not later than one year after the pilot program commences.

(5)

Report required

(A)

In general

Not later than 90 days after the termination under paragraph (4) of the pilot program authorized by paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report detailing the results of the pilot program.

(B)

Elements

The report required by subparagraph (A) shall include an assessment of the following:

(i)

The use of coupons by members who received coupons under the pilot program.

(ii)

The satisfaction of and feedback from such members relating to the coupons.

(iii)

The impact of providing the coupons on—

(I)

the rates at which such members used commissaries; and

(II)

the rates at which such members used dining facilities on their installations.

(iv)

Historical rates of use of dining facilities on installations and historical customer satisfaction metrics for such facilities, including the number of complaints with respect to such facilities submitted through the Interactive Customer Evaluation system of the Department of Defense.

(v)

The efficacy of the pilot program in—

(I)

reducing food insecurity rates among junior enlisted members;

(II)

increasing the availability of nutritious food options for such members at commissaries; and

(III)

increasing the availability of nutritious food options for such members generally, including such members living in unaccompanied housing.

(c)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Congressional defense committees

The term congressional defense committees has the meaning given the term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code.

(2)

Coupon

The term coupon means a voucher or monetary benefit for a member of the Armed Forces that may be used only at a commissary for the purchase of food.

(3)

Food

The term food means any food or food product intended for home consumption, including a ready-made food item.