This Senate bill would direct the Secretary of Agriculture, working with the Census Bureau, to establish an interagency food security measurement program. The goal is to improve how the federal government tracks who has reliable access to enough food and where food insecurity is most severe. It would mainly affect the agencies that collect and use national food-security data, along with the states, researchers, nonprofits, and local governments that rely on those numbers. The bill is a policy and data-collection measure rather than a benefit-expansion program, so its main mechanism is coordination across federal agencies.
What This Bill Does
- Requires the Agriculture Secretary to establish an interagency food security measurement program.
- Directs coordination with the Director of the Census Bureau.
- Focuses on measuring food security more consistently across federal agencies.
- Aims to improve how the government tracks hunger and food access.
- Does not create a direct cash benefit or eligibility change.
Who This Bill Affects
For most people, this bill would not change benefits, taxes, or eligibility right away. If enacted, it could improve the quality of federal food-security data that agencies use to target nutrition programs, which may eventually help households that struggle to afford enough food by making assistance better aimed at the places and groups most in need. For the general public, the effect is mainly indirect through better policy decisions rather than a direct new program.
See how this bill affects you — sign in for a personalized analysisWho Supports & Opposes This
- anti-hunger advocates They are likely to support the bill because better measurement can reveal where food insecurity is rising and which communities are being missed by current programs. More accurate data can strengthen the case for targeted nutrition assistance and program improvements.
- state and local policymakers Officials who administer food and social-service programs may favor a standardized federal measurement system because it gives them a clearer baseline for planning, grant applications, and program evaluation. Consistent data can make it easier to compare needs across regions.
- researchers and public-health analysts They may back the bill because coordinated measurement improves trend analysis and makes it easier to evaluate whether federal interventions are working. Reliable data can support evidence-based policy instead of relying on fragmented survey results.
- privacy-focused advocates They may worry that expanding interagency measurement and data coordination could increase the amount of sensitive household information collected or shared across government systems. Even if the goal is statistical, they may press for strong safeguards on confidentiality and use limits.
- budget watchdogs They may question whether a new interagency program duplicates existing surveys and data collection already done by USDA, Census, and other agencies. Their concern would be that the government could spend money on administrative coordination without producing enough new value.
- administrative agencies facing reporting burdens Some agency staff may oppose the bill if it adds new coordination duties, reporting requirements, or integration costs without dedicated funding. They may argue that measurement reforms should be paired with clear resources and implementation guidance.
Key Implications
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““establish an interagency food security measurement program””
This would create a formal federal structure for tracking food insecurity across agencies rather than leaving measurement scattered among separate offices and surveys. In practice, that can affect how reliable and comparable national food-security statistics are.
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““in coordination with the Director of the Bureau of the Census””
The Census Bureau would be part of the measurement effort, which signals a focus on statistical rigor and nationwide data collection. That can improve consistency, but it also means the program depends on interagency cooperation.
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““for other purposes””
This standard legislative phrase leaves room for related administrative or technical provisions beyond the core measurement mandate. It can allow the bill to address implementation details such as reporting, coordination, or data-use rules.
Official Source & Bill Facts
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- Bill
- S 4923
- Congress
- 119th Congress
- Official title
- A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the Director of the Bureau of the Census, to establish an interagency food security measurement program, and for other purposes.
- Policy area
- Agriculture
- Latest action
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (June 24, 2026)
- Last updated
- June 25, 2026
Latest Status
June 24, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
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