Text of Senate Amendment 6656

On 2026-07-13, Senator Raphael G. Warnock (D-GA) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6656" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6656

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3887] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6656. Mr. WARNOCK (for himself and Mr. Moran) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle C of title VI, add the following: SEC. 624. PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE COUPONS TO JUNIOR ENLISTED MEMBERS TO PURCHASE FOOD AT COMMISSARIES. (a) 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. (b) Selection of Installations.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary may conduct the pilot program authorized by subsection (a) at 2 military installations. (2) Considerations.--In selecting installations for the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider installations with-- (A) large numbers of enlisted members who live in unaccompanied housing; (B) the largest ratios of enlisted members to commissioned officers; (C) unaccompanied housing that provides access to functioning kitchens that residents may use to prepare meals; (D) commissaries that are experimenting with or expanding their selection of nutritious and minimally processed ready- made and easy-to-make food options; (E) low rates of attendance at dining facilities; (F) 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 (G) commissaries located within easily accessible distances from unaccompanied housing. (c) Coupons.-- (1) Amount.--The Secretary may determine the amount of the coupons to be provided under the pilot program authorized by subsection (a). (2) Use.-- (A) In general.--A coupon provided under the pilot program authorized by subsection (a) may be used only to purchase food at commissaries. (B) Exclusions.--A coupon provided under the pilot program authorized by subsection (a) 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. (3) Supplement to other food assistance.--A coupon provided to a member under the pilot program authorized by subsection (a) shall be supplement and not supplant-- (A) the basic allowance for subsistence under section 402 of title 37, United States Code; and (B) any program to provide meals or rations in kind for which the member is eligible. (d) Duration of Pilot Program.--The pilot program authorized by subsection (a) shall terminate not later than one year after the pilot program commences. (e) Report Required.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the termination under subsection (d) of the pilot program authorized by subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report detailing the results of the pilot program. (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of the following: (A) The use of coupons by members who received coupons under the pilot program. (B) The satisfaction of and feedback from such members relating to the coupons. (C) 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. (D) 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. (E) 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. (f) Definitions.--In this section: (1) 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. (2) Food.--The term ``food'' means any food or food product intended for home consumption, including a ready-made food item. ______