7 U.S.C. § 4004 — Food bank special nutrition projects

(a) Distribution of agricultural commodities to community food banks for emergency distribution; availability of agricultural commodities; use of currently used distributorship systems; selection of food banks The Secretary of Agriculture must carry out special nutrition projects to provide agricultural commodities and other foods that might not otherwise be used, or might be more effectively used by organizations assisted under this section, to community food banks for emergency food box distribution to needy individuals and families. Despite any other provisions of law, the Secretary must make available for purposes of that special nutrition projects, agricultural commodities and other foods available to the Secretary under section 1431 of this title, section 1446a–1 of this title, and section 612c of this title. For purposes of distributing agricultural commodities and other foods to community food banks under this section, the Secretary may, in consultation with State agencies, use food distribution systems currently used to distribute agricultural commodities and other foods under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act [ 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.] and Child Nutrition Act of 1966 [ 42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.]. The Secretary must select food banks, in consultation with the Director of the Community Services Administration, for participation in the special nutrition projects under this section. Food banks must be selected for participation so as to ensure adequate geographic distribution of emergency food box programs in at least two but not more than seven Department of Agriculture regions. (b) Application by food bank; recordkeeping and internal procedures (1) No food bank may participate in the special nutrition projects conducted under this section unless an application for it is submitted to and approved by the Secretary. Such application must be submitted in that form and manner and must contain that information as the Secretary must prescribe. (2) Each food bank participating in the special nutrition projects under this section must establish a recordkeeping system and internal procedures to monitor the use of agricultural commodities and other foods provided under this section. The Secretary must develop standards by which the feasibility and effectiveness of the projects must be measured, and must conduct an ongoing review of the effectiveness of the projects. (c) Quantities and types of agricultural commodities; regulations for designation of eligible participants The Secretary must determine the quantities and types of agricultural commodities and other foods to be made available under this section. The Secretary may prescribe regulations regarding the designation of eligible participants in the projects and any other regulations necessary to carry out this section. (d) Report to Congress; contents; recommendations The Secretary must submit to Congress a progress report on July 1, 1983, and a final report on January 1, 1984, regarding the special nutrition projects carried out under this section. Such report must include an analysis and evaluation of Federal participation in food bank emergency food programs, the effectiveness of that participation, and the feasibility of continuing that participation. The Secretary must also include in that report any recommendations regarding improvements in Federal assistance to community food banks, including assistance for administrative expenses and transportation. (e) Sale of food prohibited; fines and penalties The sale of food provided under this section must be prohibited and any person who receives any remuneration in exchange for food provided under this section must be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. (f) Paperwork minimization and encouragement of participation The Secretary must minimize paperwork requirements placed on food banks which participate in the special nutrition projects established under this section and must otherwise encourage food banks to participate in that projects. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated that sums as can be necessary to carry out this section.