Blumenthal Reintroduces Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Reduce Hunger Among Military Families

[Hartford, CT] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Military Food Security Act of 2025. The legislation would ensure that military families have better access to affordable and healthy food.

The Pentagon found that 24 percent of all active duty servicemembers, or approximately 286,800 personnel, experienced food insecurity in 2020 and 2021. More recently, the Office of the Secretary of Defense partnered with the RAND Corporation to discover that 25.8 percent of personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard were food insecure.

The bill excludes the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) from income calculations used to determine eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA). This change would remove an unintended barrier that prevents some military families from qualifying for food assistance.

"Too many military families struggle to afford food-a betrayal of the tremendous sacrifices they make for our nation," said Senator Blumenthal. "The Military Food Security Act removes outdated rules and unnecessary obstacles preventing servicemembers from obtaining the benefits they have earned to help buy groceries and make nutritious meals. This critical legislation ensures service members can stay mission-focused-defending our nation-without the added burden of worrying how they'll put food on the table for their families."

"Too many of our servicemembers and their families struggle to put food on the table because of outdated rules and red tape," said Rep. Panetta. "Our bipartisan Military Food Security Act fixes the eligibility formula for food assistance so it reflects the real financial challenges military families face. We must ensure that no one who serves our country ever goes hungry."

Reps. Blake Moore (UT-1), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Maggie Goodlander (NH-2), Jen Kiggans (VA-2), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Josh Riley (NY-19) joined Rep. Panetta in leading the legislation.

More information on the bill can be found here.

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