I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5059 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 27, 2023 Ms. Tokuda (for herself, Mr. Moylan , Mrs. Peltola , Mr. Sablan , and Mr. Case ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to allow certain States to directly purchase commodities, and for other purposes.

1. Direct purchase of commodities Section 202 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 ( 7 U.S.C. 7502 ) is amended by inserting after subsection (a) the following: (b) Direct purchase of commodities (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Eligible State The term eligible State has the meaning given the term in section 4206(b) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 ( 7 U.S.C. 7518(b) ). (B) Entitlement funds The term entitlement funds , with respect to an eligible State, means the dollar amount used by the Secretary to purchase commodities pursuant to section 27 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2036 ) to distribute to the eligible State in accordance with section 214. (2) Direct purchase The Secretary shall allow an eligible State to elect to receive all of the entitlement funds of the eligible State as cash to make direct purchases of commodities through the private commercial marketplace. .