Bonamici, Schrier Introduce Bill to Improve Food Bank Storage

WASHINGTON, DC [12/18/25] - Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) introduced legislation to help food banks and other emergency food organizations make needed infrastructure updates to better serve their communities.

The Supporting Transportation Organization and Refrigeration Expansion (STORE) Act would update The Emergency Food Assistance Program's (TEFAP) Infrastructure Grant program to provide additional infrastructure and outreach resources to food banks, soup kitchens, and food pantries serving rural and underserved populations.

"For years food banks have provided a lifeline for individual, families, and children facing hunger," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "I have heard from food banks in NW Oregon that sometimes they have to limit the number of people they can serve because of insufficient storage. I'm introducing the STORE Act to provide emergency food organizations with the resources they need to upgrade infrastructure, including refrigerators and freezers, so they can serve more people."

"Meeting the infrastructure needs of local food banks is essential to ensuring that members of our community have access to the nutrition they need," said Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. "This legislation strengthens TEFAP by making a much-needed and long-overdue investment in its infrastructure grant program and will be a huge win for our communities' battle against food insecurity and a win for our farmers."

To combat hunger and address overdue infrastructure needs, the STORE Act would:

• Update the TEFAP Infrastructure Grants program through Fiscal Year 2030 and increase annual funding by $10 million;
• Include mobile and home delivery options and assessments of outreach activities as allowable activities;
• Align the structure of the TEFAP Infrastructure Grants program with the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency Initiative by distributing funds through state TEFAP agencies;
• Direct USDA to issue a report on cold storage needs for all emergency food organizations nationally; and,
• Guarantee that Tribal, remote, and low-income communities are given preference in distributing this funding.

The bill text is available here.

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