TITLE 7 - US CODE - CHAPTER 102 - EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE

7 USC 7501 - Definitions

In this chapter:
(1) Additional commodities 
The term additional commodities means commodities made available under section 7515 of this title in addition to the commodities made available under sections 7502 and 7507 of this title.
(2) Average monthly number of unemployed persons 
The term average monthly number of unemployed persons means the average monthly number of unemployed persons in each State during the most recent fiscal year for which information concerning the number of unemployed persons is available, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.
(3) Eligible recipient agency 
The term eligible recipient agency means a public or nonprofit">nonprofit organization that
(A) administers
(i) an emergency feeding organization;
(ii) a charitable institution (including a hospital and a retirement home, but excluding a penal institution) to the extent that the institution serves needy persons;
(iii) a summer camp for children, or a child nutrition program providing food service;
(iv) a nutrition project operating under the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.), including a project that operates a congregate nutrition site and a project that provides home-delivered meals; or
(v) a disaster relief program;
(B) has been designated by the appropriate State agency, or by the Secretary; and
(C) has been approved by the Secretary for participation in the program established under this chapter.
(4) Emergency feeding organization 
The term emergency feeding organization means a public or nonprofit">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">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.
(5) 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.
(6) Food pantry 
The term food pantry means a public or private nonprofit">nonprofit organization that distributes food to low-income and unemployed households, including food from sources other than the Department of Agriculture, to relieve situations of emergency and distress.
(7) Poverty line 
The term poverty line has the meaning provided in section 9902 (2) of title 42.
(8) Soup kitchen 
The term soup kitchen means a public or charitable institution that, as an integral part of the normal activities of the institution, maintains an established feeding operation to provide food to needy homeless persons on a regular basis.
(9) Total value of additional commodities 
The term total value of additional commodities means the actual cost of all additional commodities that are paid by the Secretary (including the distribution and processing costs incurred by the Secretary).
(10) Value of additional commodities allocated to each State 
The term value of additional commodities allocated to each State means the actual cost of additional commodities allocated to each State that are paid by the Secretary (including the distribution and processing costs incurred by the Secretary).

7 USC 7502 - Availability of CCC commodities

(a) In general 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in order to complement the domestic nutrition programs, make maximum use of the Nations agricultural abundance, and expand and improve the domestic distribution of price-supported commodities, commodities acquired by the Commodity Credit Corporation that the Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as the Secretary) determines, in his discretion, are in excess of quantities needed to
(1) carry out other domestic donation programs,
(2) meet other domestic obligations (including quantities needed to carry out a payment-in-kind acreage diversion program),
(3) meet international market development and food aid commitments, and
(4) carry out the farm price and income stabilization purposes of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 [7 U.S.C. 1281 et seq.], the Agricultural Act of 1949 [7 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.], and the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act [15 U.S.C. 714 et seq.],

shall be made available by the Secretary, without charge or credit for such commodities, for use by eligible recipient agencies for food assistance.

(b) Repealed. Pub. L. 99–198, title XV, § 1565(a)(2), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1591 
(c) Additional commodities 
In addition to any commodities described in subsection (a) of this section, in carrying out this chapter, the Secretary may use agricultural commodities and the products thereof made available under clause (2) of the second sentence of section 612c of this title.
(d) Varieties of commodities 
Commodities made available under this chapter shall include a variety of commodities and products thereof that are most useful to eligible recipient agencies, including, but not be[1] limited to, dairy products, wheat or the products thereof, rice, honey, and cornmeal.
(e) Report to Congress 
Effective April 1, 1986, the Secretary shall submit semiannually to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the types and amounts of commodities made available for distribution under this chapter.
(f) Relation to other programs 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the programs authorized by section 713a–14 of title 15 and section 1163 of the Food Security Act of 1985 shall not be operated in a manner that will, in any way, reduce the quantities of dairy products that traditionally are made available to carry out this chapter or any other domestic feeding program.
(g) Donations to emergency feeding organizations 

(1) Whenever commodities acquired by the Commodity Credit Corporation are made available for donation to domestic food programs in quantities that exceed Federal obligations, the Secretary shall give equal consideration to making donations of such commodities to emergency feeding organizations participating in the program authorized by this chapter as is given to other commodity recipient agencies, taking into account the types and amounts of commodities available and appropriate for distribution to these organizations.
(2) In determining the commodities that will be made available to emergency feeding organizations under this chapter, the Secretary may distribute commodities that become available on a seasonal or irregular basis.
[1] So in original. The word “be” probably should not appear.

7 USC 7503 - State plan

(a) Plans 

(1) In general 
To receive commodities under this chapter, a State shall submit to the Secretary an operation and administration plan for the provision of benefits under this chapter.
(2) Updates 
A State shall submit to the Secretary for approval any amendment to a plan submitted under paragraph (1) in any case in which the State proposes to make a change to the operation or administration of a program described in the plan.
(b) Requirements 
Each plan shall
(1) designate the State agency responsible for distributing the commodities received under this chapter;
(2) set forth a plan of operation and administration to expeditiously distribute commodities under this chapter;
(3) set forth the standards of eligibility for recipient agencies; and
(4) set forth the standards of eligibility for individual or household recipients of commodities, which shall require
(A) individuals or households to be comprised of needy persons; and
(B) individual or household members to be residing in the geographic location served by the distributing agency at the time of applying for assistance.
(c) State advisory board 
The Secretary shall encourage each State receiving commodities under this chapter to establish a State advisory board consisting of representatives of all entities in the State, both public and private, interested in the distribution of commodities received under this chapter.

7 USC 7504 - Initial processing costs

The Secretary may use funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to pay costs of initial processing and packaging of commodities to be distributed under the program established under this chapter into forms, and in quantities, suitable, as determined by the Secretary, for use in individual households when such commodities are to be consumed by individual households or for institutional use, as applicable. The Secretary may pay such costs in the form of Corporation-owned commodities equal in value to such costs. The Secretary shall ensure that any such payments in kind will not displace commercial sales of such commodities.

7 USC 7505 - Federal and State responsibilities

(a) Federal responsibility; optional State priority 
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 sections[1] 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.
(b) Distribution by State agencies; priority; rural areas 
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.
(c) Distribution to needy persons 
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.
(d) Cooperative agreements with adjoining States 
Each State agency receiving commodities under this chapter may
(1) enter into cooperative agreements with State agencies of other States for joint provision of such commodities to an emergency feeding organization that serves needy persons in a single geographical area part of which is situated in each of such States; or
(2) transfer such commodities to any such emergency feeding organization in the other State under such agreement.
[1] So in original. Probably should be “section”.

7 USC 7506 - Assurances; anticipated use

(a) The Secretary shall take such precautions as the Secretary deems necessary to assure that any eligible recipient agency receiving commodities under this chapter will provide such commodities to persons served by the eligible recipient agency and will not diminish its normal expenditures for food by reason of the receipt of such commodities. The Secretary shall also take such precautions as the Secretary deems necessary to assure that commodities made available under this chapter will not displace commercial sales of such commodities or the products thereof. The Secretary shall not make commodities available for donation in any quantity or manner that the Secretary, in the Secretarys discretion, determines may, substitute for the same or any other agricultural produce that would otherwise be purchased in the market.
(b) Commodities provided under this chapter shall be distributed only in quantities that can be consumed without waste. No eligible recipient agency may receive commodities under this chapter in excess of anticipated use, based on inventory records and controls, or in excess of its ability to accept and store such commodities.

7 USC 7507 - State and local supplementation of commodities

(a) Authorization 
The Secretary shall establish procedures under which State and local agencies, charitable institutions, or any other persons may supplement the commodities distributed under the program authorized by this chapter for use by emergency feeding organizations with nutritious and wholesome commodities that such entities or persons donate to State agencies and emergency feeding organizations for distribution, in all or part of the State, in addition to the commodities otherwise made available under this chapter.
(b) Use of funds and facilities 
States and emergency feeding organizations may use the funds appropriated under this chapter and equipment, structures, vehicles, and all other facilities involved in the storage, handling, or distribution of commodities made available under this chapter, and the personnel, both paid or volunteer, involved in such storage, handling, or distribution, to store, handle or distribute commodities donated for the use of emergency feeding organizations under subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Volunteer workers 
State and emergency feeding organizations shall continue, to the maximum extent practicable, to use volunteer workers and commodities and other foodstuffs donated by charitable and other organizations in the operation of the program authorized by this section.

7 USC 7508 - Authorization and appropriations

(a) 
(1) There are authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter for the Secretary to make available to the States to pay for the direct and indirect costs of the States related to the processing, storage, transporting, and distributing to eligible recipient agencies of commodities provided by the Secretary under this chapter and commodities secured from other sources, including commodities secured by gleaning (as defined in section 111(a) of the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988 (7 U.S.C. 612c note ; Public Law 100435)) and donated wild game. Funds appropriated under this paragraph for any fiscal year shall be allocated to the States on an advance basis, dividing such funds among the States in the same proportions as the commodities distributed under this chapter for such fiscal year are divided among the States. If a State agency is unable to use all of the funds so allocated to it, the Secretary shall reallocate such unused funds among the other States.
(2) Each State shall make available to emergency feeding organizations in the State not less than 40 per centum of the funds provided as authorized in paragraph (1) that it has been allocated for a fiscal year, as necessary to pay for, or provide advance payments to cover, the direct expenses of the emergency feeding organizations for distributing commodities to needy persons, but only to the extent such expenses are actually so incurred by such organizations. As used in this paragraph, the term direct expenses includes costs of transporting, storing, handling, repackaging, processing, and distributing commodities incurred after they are received by the organization; costs associated with determinations of eligibility, verification, and documentation; costs of providing information to persons receiving commodities under this chapter concerning the appropriate storage and preparation of such commodities; costs involved in publishing announcements of times and locations of distribution; and costs of recordkeeping, auditing, and other administrative procedures required for participation in the program under this chapter. If a State makes a payment, using State funds, to cover direct expenses of emergency feeding organizations, the amount of such payment shall be counted toward the amount a State must make available for direct expenses of emergency feeding organizations under this paragraph.
(3) States to which funds are allocated for a fiscal year under this subsection shall submit financial reports to the Secretary, on a regular basis, as to the use of such funds. No such funds may be used by States or emergency feeding organizations for costs other than those involved in covering the expenses related to the distribution of commodities by emergency feeding organizations.
(4) 
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), effective January 1, 1987, to be eligible to receive funds under this subsection, a State shall provide in cash or in kind (according to procedures approved by the Secretary for certifying these in-kind contributions) from non-Federal sources a contribution equal to the difference between
(i) the amount of such funds so received; and
(ii) any part of the amount allocated to the State and paid by the State
(I) to emergency feeding organizations; or
(II) for the direct expenses of such organizations; for use in carrying out this chapter.
(B) 
(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), subparagraph (A) shall apply to States beginning on January 1, 1987.
(ii) If the legislature of a State does not convene in regular session before January 1, 1987, paragraph (1) shall apply to such State beginning on October 1, 1987.
(C) Funds allocated to a State under this section may, upon State request, be allocated before States satisfy the matching requirement specified in subparagraph (A), based on the estimated contribution required. The Secretary shall periodically reconcile estimated and actual contributions and adjust allocations to the State to correct for overpayments and underpayments.
(5) States may not charge for commodities made available to emergency feeding organizations, and may not pass on to such organizations the cost of any matching requirements, under this chapter.
(b) The value of the commodities made available under this chapter and the funds of the Corporation used to pay the costs of initial processing, packaging (including forms suitable for home use), and delivering commodities to the States shall not be charged against appropriations made or authorized under this section.

7 USC 7509 - Relationship to other programs

(a) Section 2013 (b) of this title shall not apply with respect to the distribution of commodities under this chapter.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in section 7504 of this title, none of the commodities distributed under this chapter shall be sold or otherwise disposed of in commercial channels in any form.

7 USC 7510 - Commodities not income

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, commodities distributed under this chapter shall not be considered income or resources for any purposes under any Federal, State, or local law.

7 USC 7511 - Prohibition against certain State charges

Whenever a commodity is made available without charge or credit under any nutrition program administered by the Secretary for distribution within the States to eligible recipient agencies, the State may not charge recipient agencies any amount that is in excess of the States direct costs of storing and transporting the commodities to recipient agencies minus any amount the Secretary provides the State for the costs of storing and transporting such commodities.

7 USC 7511a - Emergency food program infrastructure grants

(a) Definition of eligible entity 
In this section, the term eligible entity means an emergency feeding organization.
(b) Program authorized 

(1) In general 
The Secretary shall use funds made available under subsection (d) to make grants to eligible entities to pay the costs of an activity described in subsection (c).
(2) Rural preference 
The Secretary shall use not less than 50 percent of the funds described in paragraph (1) for a fiscal year to make grants to eligible entities that serve predominantly rural communities for the purposes of
(A) expanding the capacity and infrastructure of food banks, State-wide food bank associations, and food bank collaboratives that operate in rural areas; and
(B) improving the capacity of the food banks to procure, receive, store, distribute, track, and deliver time-sensitive or perishable food products.
(c) Use of funds 
An eligible entity shall use a grant received under this section for any fiscal year to carry out activities of the eligible entity, including
(1) the development and maintenance of a computerized system for the tracking of time-sensitive food products;
(2) capital, infrastructure, and operating costs associated with the collection, storage, distribution, and transportation of time-sensitive and perishable food products;
(3) improving the security and diversity of the emergency food distribution and recovery systems of the United States through the support of small or mid-size farms and ranches, fisheries, and aquaculture, and donations from local food producers and manufacturers to persons in need;
(4) providing recovered foods to food banks and similar nonprofit">nonprofit emergency food providers to reduce hunger in the United States;
(5) improving the identification of
(A) potential providers of donated foods;
(B) potential nonprofit">nonprofit emergency food providers; and
(C) persons in need of emergency food assistance in rural areas; and
(6) constructing, expanding, or repairing a facility or equipment to support hunger relief agencies in the community.
(d) Authorization of appropriations 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

7 USC 7512 - Regulations

(a) Issuance 
The Secretary shall issue regulations within 30 days to implement this chapter.
(b) Minimization of regulatory requirements 
In administering this chapter, the Secretary shall minimize, to the maximum extent practicable, the regulatory, recordkeeping, and paperwork requirements imposed on eligible recipient agencies.
(c) Publication in Federal Register 

(1) The Secretary shall as early as feasible but not later than the beginning of each fiscal year, publish in the Federal Register an estimate of the types and quantities of commodities that the Secretary anticipates are likely to be made available under the commodity distribution program under this chapter during the fiscal year.
(2) The actual types and quantities of commodities made available by the Secretary under this chapter may differ from the estimates made under paragraph (1).
(d) Standards of liability for commodity losses 
The regulations issued by the Secretary under this section shall include provisions that set standards with respect to liability for commodity losses under the program under this chapter in situations in which there is no evidence of negligence or fraud, and conditions for payment to cover such losses. Such provisions shall take into consideration the special needs and circumstances of emergency feeding organizations[1]
(e) Final regulations 
The Secretary is authorized to issue final regulations without first issuing proposed regulations for public comment in order to carry out the provisions of sections 7514 and 7515 of this title. If final regulations are issued without such prior public comment the Secretary shall permit public comment on such regulations, consider pertinent comments, and make modifications of such regulations as appropriate not later than 1 year after September 19, 1988. Such final and modified regulations shall be accompanied by a statement of the basis and purpose for such regulations.
[1] So in original.

7 USC 7513 - Finality of determinations

Determinations made by the Secretary of Agriculture under this chapter and the facts constituting the basis for any donation of commodities under this chapter, or the amount thereof, when officially determined in conformity with the applicable regulations prescribed by the Secretary, shall be final and conclusive and shall not be reviewable by any other officer or agency of the Government.

7 USC 7514 - Incorporation of additional commodities

(a) In general 
The Secretary shall administer the program authorized under this chapter in a manner that incorporates into the program additional commodities purchased by the Secretary under section 7515 of this title to be distributed to States for use in such States by emergency feeding organizations, as defined in section 7501 (1)1 of this title. Such additional commodities, to the extent practicable and appropriate, shall include commodities purchased within a given State for distribution within such State.
(b) Supplement commodities available 
The Secretary shall supplement the commodities made available to emergency feeding organizations under sections 7502 and 7507 (a) of this title with nutritious and useful commodities purchased by the Secretary under section 7515 of this title.
[1] See References in Text note below.

7 USC 7515 - Allotment and delivery of commodities

(a) Mandatory allotments 
In each fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot
(1) 60 percent of the total value of additional commodities provided to States in a manner such that the value of additional commodities allocated to each State bears the same ratio to 60 percent of the total value of additional commodities as the number of persons in households within the State having incomes below the poverty line bears to the total number of persons in households within all States having incomes below such poverty line, and each State shall be entitled to receive such value of additional commodities; and
(2) 40 percent of the total value of additional commodities provided to States in a manner such that the value of additional commodities allocated to each State bears the same ratio to 40 percent of the total value of additional commodities as the average monthly number of unemployed persons within the State bears to the average monthly number of unemployed persons within all States during the same fiscal year, and each State shall be entitled to receive such value of additional commodities.
(b) Reallocation 
The Secretary shall notify each State of the amount of the additional commodities that such State is allotted to receive under subsection (a) of this section, and each State shall promptly notify the Secretary if such State determines that it will not accept any or all of the commodities made available under such allocation. On such a notification by a State, the Secretary shall reallocate and distribute the amount the State was allocated to receive under the formula prescribed in subsection (a) of this section but declined to accept. The Secretary shall further establish procedures to permit States to decline to receive portions of such allocation during each fiscal year as the State determines is appropriate and the Secretary shall reallocate and distribute such allocation. In the event of any drought, flood, hurricane, or other natural disaster affecting substantial numbers of persons in a State, county or parish, the Secretary may request that States unaffected by such a disaster consider assisting affected States by allowing the Secretary to reallocate commodities to which each such unaffected State is entitled to States containing areas adversely affected by the disaster.
(c) Administration 

(1) In general 
Commodities made available for each fiscal year under this section shall be delivered at reasonable intervals to States based on the grants calculated under subsection (a) of this section, or reallocated under subsection (b) of this section, before December 31 of the following fiscal year.
(2) Entitlement 
Each State shall be entitled to receive the value of additional commodities determined under subsection (a) of this section.
(d) Maintenance of effort 
If a State uses its own funds to provide commodities or services to organizations receiving funds or services under this section, such State shall not diminish the level of support it provides to such organizations.

7 USC 7516 - Settlement and adjustment of claims

(a) In general 
The Secretary or a designee of the Secretary shall have the authority to
(1) determine the amount of, settle, and adjust any claim arising under this chapter; and
(2) waive such a claim if the Secretary determines that to do so will serve the purposes of this chapter.
(b) Litigation 
Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to diminish the authority of the Attorney General of the United States under section 516 of title 28 to conduct litigation on behalf of the United States.

7 USC 7517 - Hunger-free communities

(a) Definitions 
In this section:
(1) Eligible entity 
The term eligible entity means a public food program service provider or nonprofit">nonprofit organization, including an emergency feeding organization, that has collaborated, or will collaborate, with 1 or more local partner organizations to achieve at least 1 hunger-free communities goal.
(2) Emergency feeding organization 
The term emergency feeding organization has the meaning given the term in section 7501 of this title.
(3) Hunger-free communities goal 
The term hunger-free communities goal means any of the 14 goals described in the H. Con. Res. 302 (102nd Congress).
(b) Hunger-free communities collaborative grants 

(1) Program 

(A) In general 
The Secretary shall use not more than 50 percent of any funds made available under subsection (e) to make grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share of the costs of an activity described in paragraph (2).
(B) Federal share 
The Federal share of the cost of carrying out an activity under this subsection shall not exceed 80 percent.
(C) Non-Federal share 

(i) Calculation The non-Federal share of the cost of an activity under this subsection may be provided in cash or fairly evaluated in-kind contributions, including facilities, equipment, or services.
(ii) Sources Any entity may provide the non-Federal share of the cost of an activity under this subsection through a State government, a local government, or a private source.
(2) Use of funds 
An eligible entity in a community shall use a grant received under this subsection for any fiscal year for hunger relief activities, including
(A) meeting the immediate needs of people who experience hunger in the community served by the eligible entity by
(i) distributing food;
(ii) providing community outreach to assist in participation in federally assisted nutrition programs, including
(I) the school breakfast program established by section 1773 of title 42;
(II) the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.);
(III) the summer food service program for children established under section 13 of that Act [42 U.S.C. 1761]; and
(IV) other Federal programs that provide food for children in child care facilities and homeless and older individuals; or
(iii) improving access to food as part of a comprehensive service; and
(B) developing new resources and strategies to help reduce hunger in the community and prevent hunger in the future by
(i) developing creative food resources, such as community gardens, buying clubs, food cooperatives, community-owned and operated grocery stores, and farmers markets;
(ii) coordinating food services with park and recreation programs and other community-based outlets to reduce barriers to access; or
(iii) creating nutrition education programs for at-risk populations to enhance food-purchasing and food-preparation skills and to heighten awareness of the connection between diet and health.
(c) Hunger-free communities infrastructure grants 

(1) Program authorized 

(A) In general 
The Secretary shall use not more than 50 percent of any funds made available for a fiscal year under subsection (e) to make grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal share of the costs of an activity described in paragraph (2).
(B) Federal share 
The Federal share of the cost of carrying out an activity under this subsection shall not exceed 80 percent.
(2) Application 

(A) In general 
To receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall submit an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may prescribe.
(B) Contents 
Each application submitted under subparagraph (A) shall
(i) identify any activity described in paragraph (3) that the grant will be used to fund; and
(ii) describe the means by which an activity identified under clause (i) will reduce hunger in the community of the eligible entity.
(C) Priority 
In making grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that demonstrate 2 or more of the following:
(i) The eligible entity serves a community in which the rates of food insecurity, hunger, poverty, or unemployment are demonstrably higher than national average rates.
(ii) The eligible entity serves a community that has successfully carried out long-term efforts to reduce hunger in the community.
(iii) The eligible entity serves a community that provides public support for the efforts of the eligible entity.
(iv) The eligible entity is committed to achieving more than 1 hunger-free communities goal.
(3) Use of funds 
An eligible entity shall use a grant received under this subsection to construct, expand, or repair a facility or equipment to support hunger relief efforts in the community.
(d) Report 
If funds are made available under subsection (e) to carry out this section, not later than September 30, 2012, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes
(1) each grant made under this section, including
(A) a description of any activity funded; and
(B) the degree of success of each activity funded in achieving hunger free-communities goals; and
(2) the degree of success of all activities funded under this section in achieving domestic hunger goals.
(e) Authorization of appropriations 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.