text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Community Gardening and Nutrition 
  Act of 2014''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds the following:
              (1) A community garden improves the quality of life, 
          encourages self-reliance, produces highly nutritious food, 
          reduces family food budgets, and creates opportunities for 
          recreation, social interaction, exercise, education, and 
          economic development for people participating in the garden.
              (2) The creation of community gardens has been an effective 
          approach to cleaning up and maintaining abandoned vacant lots.
              (3) Many community gardens donate fresh fruits and 
          vegetables to local food pantries, cooperatives, and homeless 
          members of the community, and provide for a source of fresh 
          fruits and vegetables for participants of the gardens.
              (4) An August 2013 report by the Union of Concerned 
          Scientists entitled ``The $11 Trillion Reward'' concluded that 
          if Americans were to eat 2.5 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of 
          fruit daily, as recommended by Federal dietary guidelines, 
          nearly 130,000 deaths could be prevented and $17 billion could 
          be saved in medical costs.
              (5) The Department of Health and Human Services recommends 
          eating more dark green vegetables, legumes, and fruits; and 
          eating fewer refined grains, less fat, and fewer calories.
              (6) A 2010 review of the Nutritional Implications of 
          Farmers' Markets and Community Gardens published by the Journal 
          of the American Dietetic Association found that community 
          gardens promote healthy behaviors.
              (7) A 2011 pilot study entitled ``LA Sprouts'' published by 
          the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that 
          teaching gardening and nutrition improved the dietary intakes 
          of children and reduced childhood obesity.
  
  SEC. 3. COMMUNITY GARDEN PILOT PROGRAM.
  
      (a) Purpose.--Section 103(a) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act 
  of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4953(a)) is amended--
              (1) in paragraph (12) by striking ``and'' at the end;
              (2) in paragraph (13) by striking the period and inserting 
          ``; and''; and
              (3) by adding at the end the following:
              ``(14) in establishing initiatives that address the health 
          and nutrition of individuals in low-income and underserved 
          communities, including by--
                      ``(A) creating new community gardens and supporting 
                  and expanding existing community gardens;
                      ``(B) recruiting local community members to 
                  actively engage in community gardens and gardening 
                  projects;
                      ``(C) transforming vacant places into community 
                  garden plots;
                      ``(D) increasing access for community members to 
                  healthy foods and local foods while also encouraging 
                  community members to stay active;
                      ``(E) expanding anti-poverty efforts by teaching 
                  basic nutrition and self-reliance through community 
                  gardening programs; and
                      ``(F) developing initiatives that increase access 
                  to healthy, locally grown foods for the community at 
                  large.''.
      (b) Establishment.--Part A of title I of such Act (42 U.S.C. 4951 
  et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
  
  ``SEC. 110. COMMUNITY GARDEN PILOT PROGRAM.
  
      ``(a) The Director shall establish a Community Garden Pilot Program 
  for the purpose of carrying out the work described under section 
  103(a)(14). In conducting the Program, the Director shall carry out no 
  less than 40 projects.
      ``(b) In carrying out the Program established under subsection (a), 
  the Director shall give priority to--
              ``(1) volunteers with experience in health, nutrition, and 
          gardening;
              ``(2) projects located in varied geographic regions; and
              ``(3) selecting a balance of urban and rural projects.''.
      (c) Authorization.--Section 501(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5081(a)) 
  is amended by--
              (1) redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
              (2) inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
              ``(3) Community garden pilot program.--There are authorized 
          to be appropriated to carry out section 110 of part A of title 
          I $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and such sums shall remain 
          available until expended.''.
      (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
  such Act (42 U.S.C. 4950) is amended by adding after the item relating 
  to section 109 the following new item:
  
  ``Sec. 110. Community Garden Pilot Program.''.
  
  SEC. 4. REPORT.
  
      Not later than 90 days after the completion of the Community Garden 
  Pilot Program established under section 110(a) of the Domestic 
  Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4951(a)), the Assistant 
  Director appointed pursuant to section 194(d)(1)(A) of the National and 
  Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12651e(d)(1)(A)), shall submit 
  to Congress a report containing--
              (1) a description of the projects and volunteer placements 
          under the Program;
              (2) results and analysis of completed projects under the 
          Program; and
              (3) any recommendations for continuation of the Program.
target: Community Gardening and Nutrition Act of 2014 - Amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to require the Director of the Corporation for National and Community Service to establish a Community Garden Pilot Program under the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program. Requires the Program to address the health and nutrition of individuals in low-income and underserved communities through activities that include:  creating new community gardens and supporting and expanding existing community gardens; recruiting local community members to actively engage in community gardens and gardening projects; transforming vacant places into community garden plots; increasing community members' access to healthy foods and local foods while also encouraging them to stay active; expanding anti-poverty efforts by teaching basic nutrition and self-reliance through community gardening; and developing initiatives that increase the community's access to healthy, locally grown foods.  Requires the Director to carry out at least 40 projects under the Program. Requires the Director to give priority to: (1) volunteers with experience in health, nutrition, and gardening; (2) projects located in varied geographic regions; and (3) selecting a balance of urban and rural projects.  
feat_title: Community Gardening and Nutrition Act of 2014