In a move aimed at addressing the pressing issue of food insecurity among service members, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced her support for the bipartisan Military Family Nutrition Access Act. As the chair of the Senate Armed Services Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Gillibrand expressed her intention to include the Act in the 2023 Farm Bill. The proposed legislation seeks to exclude [Basic Allowance for Housing](https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing-(BAH)?serv=122#:~:text=Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a United States (,government%20quarters%20are%20not%20provided. “‌”) (BAH) from income calculations for determining eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). By aligning SNAP with other federal assistance programs that already exclude [BAH](https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing-(BAH)?serv=122#:~:text=Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a United States (,government%20quarters%20are%20not%20provided. “‌”), such as Head Start, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, this change would ensure fair treatment for military families.

Current statistics paint a concerning picture, with 24% of service members experiencing food insecurity, posing a threat not only to military readiness but also to national security. Among service members, junior enlisted personnel face the highest risk of food insecurity.

Senator Gillibrand emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue, stating that nearly one in four active duty service members face low food security. She highlighted the flaw in SNAP‘s eligibility calculations, which consider [BAH](https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing-(BAH)?serv=122#:~:text=Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a United States (,government%20quarters%20are%20not%20provided. “‌”) as income, when housing vouchers are not counted for the civilian population. Gillibrand expressed her commitment to rectify this injustice through the Military Family Nutrition Access Act, which would exclude [BAH](https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing-(BAH)?serv=122#:~:text=Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a United States (,government%20quarters%20are%20not%20provided. “‌”) from income calculations and enable more military families to qualify for SNAP assistance. She pledged to include this crucial legislation in the 2023 Farm Bill, asserting that in the wealthiest country in the world, no one, especially service members, should suffer from hunger.

Senator Gillibrand‘s fight against food insecurity in America has been a focal point throughout her career. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, she aims to introduce several provisions in the 2023 Farm Bill to enhance SNAP benefits and address hunger comprehensively. In the realm of military hunger specifically, Gillibrand cosponsored the Military Hunger Prevention Act, which established the Basic Needs Allowance Program to assist military families grappling with food insecurity as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). She also voted in favor of a provision included in the Fiscal Year 2023 NDAA that raised the income limit for Basic Needs Allowance eligibility from 130% to 150% of the federal poverty line. During a Senate Armed Services Hearing in March 2023, Gillibrand secured a commitment from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to implement this increase ahead of schedule.

The Military Family Nutrition Access Act is led by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in the Senate, with support from over a dozen senators across party lines.