Bill Overview
Title: Food Security for All Veterans Act
Description: This bill establishes the Office of Food Security within the Department of Veterans Affairs to, among other duties, provide information to veterans concerning the eligibility requirements for federal nutrition assistance programs and develop policies to identify and treat veterans experiencing food insecurity.
Sponsors: Rep. Peltola, Mary Sattler [D-AK-At Large]
Target Audience
Population: Veterans experiencing or at risk of food insecurity
Estimated Size: 19000000
- The bill is focused on veterans, specifically those experiencing food insecurity.
- In the United States, there are approximately 19 million veterans as of recent data from the United States Census Bureau.
- Food insecurity rates among veterans can vary, but some studies estimate that about 25% of veterans may face food insecurity at some point in their lives.
- The bill aims to improve access to federal nutrition assistance programs, which implies it will directly impact those veterans who currently are not accessing these benefits.
- Addressing food insecurity implies improving overall wellbeing, as a lack of adequate food affects various aspects of health and quality of life.
Reasoning
- The Food Security for All Veterans Act is designed to help veterans who are facing food insecurity. It focuses on providing better access to federal nutrition assistance programs, which can result in significant improvements in wellbeing for those who are not currently benefiting from these programs.
- There are approximately 19 million veterans in the United States, with about an estimated 25% at risk of food insecurity. This means the policy is primarily targeting around 4.75 million veterans.
- The budget constraints indicate that the policy needs to be efficiently targeting those most at risk or in need of assistance, potentially through outreach programs and partnerships with organizations that can help identify food-insecure veterans.
- Wellbeing can be expected to improve due to better nutrition, reduced stress about food availability, and associated health benefits from improved diets.
- The policy has a budget increasing from $45 million in year one to $531 million over ten years. This indicates a scalable approach, starting with foundational support and informational campaigns and expanding efforts as the program becomes more established and effective.
Simulated Interviews
Retired Army (Tucson, Arizona)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could really help since I often struggle to put food on the table.
- I wasn't aware of some of the assistance programs out there.
- I hope it makes it easier to know where and how to get help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Nursing Student (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a future nurse and veteran, knowing how to access food programs would relieve a lot of stress.
- Balancing school, work, and family sometimes leaves me worrying about meals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Unemployed (Des Moines, Iowa)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have struggled with finding enough food monthly, hope this helps identify veterans like myself.
- The VA hasn't been very helpful in the past, but this sounds promising.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
IT Professional (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- When I lost my job, I experienced food insecurity for the first time.
- Having a guide to resources would have helped immensely back then.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Self-Employed (Houston, Texas)
Age: 59 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often choose between paying for medicine and buying food.
- Policies like this bring necessary attention to these hidden struggles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired (Orlando, Florida)
Age: 71 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative would be a blessing, it gets harder each year to afford essentials.
- I hope they make use of technology to easily reach veterans like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Warehouse Worker (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Struggling to make ends meet leaves little room for error.
- This policy would reduce the burden on days when work is slower.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Teacher (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Food is a lower concern due to some stability, but health impacts could make it crucial.
- Better awareness and access to support would ease future unpredictability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Freelancer (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Many freelancers like me can use this kind of support as work isn't always steady.
- This law could make a tremendous difference, possibly saving lives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Retired (Miami, Florida)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Community programs keep us afloat, more federal help would safeguard my wife and me.
- I sincerely hope this policy pushes in the right direction, offering an extra cushion.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $45000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $47000000 (Low: $32000000, High: $62000000)
Year 3: $49000000 (Low: $34000000, High: $64000000)
Year 5: $53000000 (Low: $38000000, High: $68000000)
Year 10: $60000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $75000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $85000000, High: $115000000)
Key Considerations
- The primary cost involves establishing and maintaining the Office of Food Security within the VA, incurring both initial setup and ongoing operational expenses.
- Potential offsetting savings through reduced healthcare costs associated with better nutrition and health among veterans.
- Improved food security could lead to more veterans participating in the workforce, impacting GDP and tax revenues.