NEWS: Senators Blunt Rochester, Luján Introduce Bill to Restore USDA Food Security Supplemental Survey

U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), introduced the Food Assurance and Security Act to reinstate the Food Security Supplemental Survey and resume publication of annual household food security reports.

In 1995, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Census Bureau developed this comprehensive nutrition access survey, collecting data on food security and nutrition assistance program participation. However, in September 2025, the Trump administration terminated this survey. Coupled with cuts to nutrition assistance included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, losing the data collected by this survey severely undermines the federal government's ability to address food insecurity in America. The Food Assurance and Security Act would reinstate this critical reporting tool.

"Last year, the Trump administration made devastating cuts to America's food assistance programs, making it harder for families across the country to put food on the table. Now, they're trying to mask the reality of food insecurity," said Senator Blunt Rochester. "I'm proud to lead the Food Assurance and Security Act to ensure we have clarity on the nutrition needs of our communities and access to accurate data to respond accordingly."

"For half a century, our nation has stood behind a bipartisan promise: that no child, no senior, no veteran, and no working family should go hungry. Not only did the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans break that promise by ripping meals away from millions of Americans in their Budget Betrayal, but they also eliminated the tools needed to effectively address food insecurity," said Senator Luján, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research. "That's why I'm proud to partner with Senator Blunt Rochester in introducing this legislation, which will ensure we have the data necessary to better understand and address food insecurity in New Mexico and communities across the country."

"For decades, the CPS-FSS and Household Food Security Report have been the gold standard for understanding the struggle that millions of families face to put food on the table," said Crystal FitzSimons, president of the Food Research & Action Center. "These valuable tools must be reinstated. Without them, we cannot evaluate whether policies are effective or responsive to community needs or document the impact of harmful policy decisions, such as the recent historic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. We applaud Sen. Blunt Rochester's commitment to enshrine food security data collection in federal law to guarantee access to credible, consistent, and transparent information food insecurity in America and encourage Congress to pass this bill."

The Food Assurance and Security Act would:

• Reinstates the Food Security Supplement survey using the same validated questionnaire and methodology; and
• Resumes publication of annual household food security reports.

Bill text can be found HERE and a one-pager on the bill can be found HERE.

The Food Assurance and Security Act is endorsed by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), 2nd Chance Mentoring, LLC, Food Bank of Delaware, Anne Arundel County Food Bank, Inc, California Association of Food Banks, Chatham Area Silent Pantry, Church Women United in New York State, Common Threads, DC Hunger Solutions, Defrost ICE, Food & Water Watch, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, Full Plates Full Potential, Glide Foundation, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks, Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids, House of Mercey, Hunger Free Vermont, Hunger Solutions New York, Iowa Hunger Coalition, Kingdom Athletics, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Maryland Hunger Solutions, Meals on Wheels American, Montana Food Bank Network, National Women's Law Center Action Fund, Network of Jewish Juman Services Agencies, Noth Iowa Impact Team, Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, San Diego Hunger Coalition, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Serving at Risk Families Everywhere, Inc., St. Matthew Trinity Lunchtime Ministry, Umpqua Valley Farmers' Market, Washington State Public Health Association, and Wichita Public School, Nutrition Services.