This bill would let the Secretary of Defense run a test program to see if giving junior enlisted soldiers monthly food coupons helps them eat better and save money. Right now, young soldiers—especially those living alone in military housing—sometimes struggle to afford healthy food. This pilot program would give them coupons they can only use at military commissaries (the grocery stores on base) to buy food. The coupons would be extra help on top of the money soldiers already get for food as part of their regular pay. The program would run at two military bases that are chosen based on specific criteria, like having lots of junior enlisted soldiers in single housing, bases where soldiers aren't using the dining halls much, and commissaries that stock fresh, healthy foods. The coupons couldn't be used for alcohol or tobacco. After running the program for up to one year, the Department of Defense would report back to Congress with results showing whether the coupons actually helped soldiers eat better, use the commissary more, and feel less worried about affording food.

To authorize the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to assess the efficacy of providing junior enlisted members of the Armed Forces a monthly coupon for use in procuring food at commissaries.