7 U.S.C. § 7505
The Secretary shall, as expeditiously as possible, provide the commodities made available under this chapter in such quantities as can be used without waste to State agencies designated by the Governor or other appropriate State official for distribution to eligible recipient agencies, except that the Secretary may provide such commodities directly to eligible recipient agencies and to private companies that process such commodities for eligible recipient agencies under sections1 7504 of this title. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, in the distribution of commodities under this chapter, each State agency shall have the option to give priority to existing food bank networks and other organizations whose ongoing primary function is to facilitate the distribution of food to low-income households, including food from sources other than the Department of Agriculture.
State agencies receiving commodities under this chapter shall, as expeditiously as possible, distribute such commodities, in the quantities requested (to the extent practicable), to eligible recipient agencies within their respective States. However, if a State agency cannot meet all requests for a particular commodity under this chapter, the State agency shall give priority in the distribution of such commodity to eligible recipient agencies providing nutrition assistance to relieve situations of emergency and distress through the provision of food to needy persons, including low-income and unemployed persons. Each State agency shall encourage distribution of such commodities in rural areas.
Each State agency receiving commodities for individual household use under this chapter shall distribute such commodities to eligible recipient agencies in the State that serve needy persons, and shall, with the approval of the Secretary, determine those persons in the State that shall qualify as needy persons eligible for such commodities.
Each State agency receiving commodities under this chapter may-
1So in original. Probably should be "section".
7 U.S.C. § 7505
EDITORIAL NOTES
AMENDMENTS1996-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104-193 substituted "203A", which was translated as "section 7504 of this title", for "203 and 203A of this Act". 1988-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100-435 inserted at end "Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, in the distribution of commodities under this chapter, each State agency shall have the option to give priority to existing food bank networks and other organizations whose ongoing primary function is to facilitate the distribution of food to low-income households, including food from sources other than the Department of Agriculture."1985-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99-198, §1568(a), inserted at end "Each State agency shall encourage distribution of such commodities in rural areas."Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 99-198, §1568(b), added subsec. (d).
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1988 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 100-435 to be effective and implemented on Oct. 1, 1988, see section 701(a) of Pub. L. 100-435 set out as a note under section 2012 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATEPub. L. 98-92, §2, Sept. 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 608, provided in part that this section is effective Oct. 1, 1983.
- emergency feeding organization
- The term "emergency feeding organization" means a public or nonprofit organization that administers activities and projects (including the activities and projects of a charitable institution, a food bank, a food pantry, a hunger relief center, a soup kitchen, or a similar public or private nonprofit eligible recipient agency) providing nutrition assistance to relieve situations of emergency and distress through the provision of food to needy persons, including low-income and unemployed persons.
- food bank
- The term "food bank" means a public or charitable institution that maintains an established operation involving the provision of food or edible commodities, or the products of food or edible commodities, to food pantries, soup kitchens, hunger relief centers, or other food or feeding centers that, as an integral part of their normal activities, provide meals or food to feed needy persons on a regular basis.