S. 2772 — Commissary Healthy Options and servicemember Welfare (CHOW) Act

This section expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of Defense should expand access to affordable and healthy food options for members of the Armed Forces, particularly junior enlisted members in unaccompanied housing on military installations. It authorizes the Secretary of Defense to conduct a pilot program at two military installations—selected based on factors such as the number of enlisted members in unaccompanied housing, ratios of enlisted members to officers, access to kitchens in such housing, commissary offerings of nutritious foods, low dining facility usage and satisfaction rates, and proximity of commissaries to housing—to provide junior enlisted members with monthly coupons for purchasing food at commissaries. The coupons, whose amount is determined by the Secretary, may be used only for food (i.e., any food or food product intended for home consumption, including ready-made items), exclude alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and certain deposit fees, and supplement (not supplant) the basic allowance for subsistence and any eligible meals or rations in kind; the pilot terminates not later than one year after commencement. Not later than 90 days after termination, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees a report assessing coupon usage and satisfaction, impacts on commissary and dining facility usage, historical dining facility metrics, and the program's efficacy in reducing food insecurity and increasing nutritious food availability for participants.