Veterans Nutrition and Wellness Act of 2025
Veterans Nutrition and Wellness Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Veterans Nutrition and Wellness Act of 2025 – Summary **What the bill does:** This bill would require the VA to create a three-year pilot program called "Food is Medicine" that provides eligible veterans with medically tailored meals, groceries, nutrition education, and cooking classes. The program would target veterans enrolled in VA health care who have multiple chronic conditions or pregnant veterans at risk of complications like preeclampsia or gestational diabetes.
The VA would also train its health care providers to integrate nutrition support into veteran treatment plans and work with local community organizations to source fresh produce and expand meal availability. **Who it affects:** The bill primarily affects veterans with specific health conditions who are already enrolled in VA health care services. It also impacts VA healthcare providers, who would receive training on the program, and community-based organizations that would partner with the VA to supply meals and produce. **Current status:** The bill (HR 1289) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Veterans Nutrition and Wellness Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish and implement the Food is Medicine pilot program, under which the VA must provide medically tailored meals and groceries, nutrition education, and cooking classes to certain veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system. Specifically, the program is for veterans enrolled in the VA health care system who receive VA care for (1) multiple chronic conditions, or (2) maternal health and are at risk of preeclampsia or gestational diabetes.The three-year pilot program also requires the VA to (1) develop and seek to implement training programs for VA health care providers in integrating the program into the treatment plans of veterans, and (2) seek to collaborate with community-based organizations to procure locally sourced produce and expand the availability of medically tailored meals and groceries.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.