Joco Today

U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) and Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia) have introduced bipartisan legislation designed to improve access to healthy food options for military personnel. The Commissary Healthy Options and Servicemember Wellness (CHOW) Act would establish a pilot program at two military installations, as selected by the Department of War, that provides servicemembers with a monthly credit to use at their on-base commissaries.

Commissaries are grocery stores located on military bases that offer affordable options for cooking at home, as well as ready-to-eat and easy-to-prepare meals. These stores typically provide lower prices compared to off-base alternatives. By encouraging greater use of commissaries, the proposed program aims to give servicemembers more reliable alternatives to limited dining facilities and expensive fast food choices.

Senator Marshall stated, “Healthy troops are ready troops – and ensuring the brave men and women who protect our country have access to healthy and nutritious food should be a top priority. I am proud to partner with Senator Warnock on the CHOW Act to take another meaningful step towards providing healthy alternatives to our servicemembers. This helps to make certain our troops set the standard for strength and peak physical fitness. I am happy to see my MAHA agenda implemented within our armed forces.”

Senator Warnock added, “For too long, servicemembers have lacked reliable access to quality, nutritious food options on base. This bipartisan legislation will launch a program to provide commissary credits to help soldiers put healthy, tasty, and quality meals on the table.”

The full text of the legislation is available online.