Excerpt from the Friday, January 22, 2021 announcement (click here to read full announcement):

The FEMA Empowering Essential Deliveries (FEED) Act aims to provide nutritious meals to people in need in response to the Coronavirus crisis. The bill waives section 403(b) and 503(a) of the Stafford Act, which allows for FEMA to cover the cost of emergency and disaster related expenses. Under this legislation, the Federal government would cover 100 percent of the cost of disaster-related expenses, instead of the typical 75 percent. This would eliminate any state costs during the COVID-19 crisis and allow more states to take a proactive approach to distributing meals and providing more financial relief to restaurants. You can click here to read the text of the FEED Act.

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives filed a companion bill. Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA) , Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Rodney Davis (R-IL) were all cosponsors.

“Today, we have in front of us a major opportunity to meet head-on two crises that have been going on throughout the pandemic, mostly out of sight: a serious increase in the number of hungry Americans, and the loss of hundreds of thousands of restaurants and millions of restaurant jobs,” said Chef José Andrés with the World Central Kitchen. “With the FEED Act we have a win-win solution: the federal government will start working hand-in-hand with cities and states to keep restaurants working and communities fed. We know that this model works – we’ve seen it work in Charleston, in New Haven, and hundreds of other cities around the country – and can take it nationwide with the support of Senators Scott, Murphy, and their colleagues in the Senate.”

“We are in the midst of another COVID-19 surge which is adding to the economic anxieties Americans have faced from the onset of this crisis. Right at the top of those concerns, for far too many Americans, is hunger insecurity. A record number of families are struggling to put food on the table during the pandemic,” said Senator Boozman (R-AR). “As co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus, I am confident the FEED Act can help address this concern. This approach will help us reach those in need, while keeping restaurants open and ensuring farmers have a market for their commodities and livestock. I appreciate the leadership of Senators Scott and Murphy, as well as the advocacy of Chef Jose Andres, and look forward to working them so we can put this plan into motion.”

“By forging partnerships between federal and local governments, restaurants, and nonprofits, this bill will lift up struggling restaurants and get nutritious meals to Americans facing hunger. I have seen the devastating impacts of the economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic firsthand visiting food pantries and small businesses across Connecticut,” said Senator Blumenthal (D-CT). “I am pleased to see that President Biden is putting vulnerable Americans first by backing this effort. I look forward to working with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to pass this bill and ensure that no American is forced to go hungry.”