text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Food Sharing Act of 2017''.
  
  SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS.
  
      (a) Assistance for Community Food Projects.--Section 25 of the Food 
  and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2034) is amended--
              (1) in subsection (b)(2)--
                      (A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``and'' at the 
                  end; and
                      (B) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the 
                  following:
                      ``(C) $9,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2015 
                  through 2017; and
                      ``(D) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2018 and each 
                  fiscal year thereafter.''.
      (b) Assistance for Gleaning Projects.--The Food and Nutrition Act 
  of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
  following:
  
  ``SEC. 30. ASSISTANCE FOR GLEANING PROJECTS.
  
      ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
              ``(1) Gleaning project.--The term `gleaning project' means 
          a project in which an entity--
                      ``(A) collects edible, surplus food that would be 
                  thrown away and distributes the food to agencies or 
                  nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry; or
                      ``(B) harvests for free distribution to the needy, 
                  or for donation to agencies or nonprofit organizations 
                  for ultimate distribution to the needy, an agricultural 
                  crop that has been donated by the owner of the crop.
              ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
          public food program service provider, a tribal organization, or 
          a private nonprofit entity that--
                      ``(A) has experience in the area of--
                              ``(i) providing food to individuals in low-
                          income communities; or
                              ``(ii) engaging in efforts to reduce food 
                          insecurity in low-income communities, including 
                          food distribution, improving access to 
                          services, or coordinating services and 
                          programs;
                      ``(B) demonstrates competency to implement a 
                  gleaning project, to provide fiscal accountability, to 
                  collect data, and to prepare reports and other 
                  necessary documentation relating to such project;
                      ``(C) demonstrates a willingness to share 
                  information relating to such project with researchers, 
                  practitioners, and other persons; and
                      ``(D) submits to the Secretary an application that 
                  contains such terms and conditions as the Secretary may 
                  require by rule, including an agreement to provide the 
                  non-Federal cost of such project.
      ``(b) Authority To Provide Assistance.--
              ``(1) Funds.--From amounts made available to carry out this 
          Act, the Secretary may make grants to assist eligible entities 
          to establish and carry out gleaning projects.
              ``(2) Limitation on grants.--The aggregate amount of funds 
          provided as grants made under this section may not exceed 
          $500,000 for fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter.
      ``(c) Preference for Certain Gleaning Projects.--In selecting 
  gleaning projects to receive grants under this section, the Secretary 
  shall give preference to projects designed to develop new resources and 
  strategies to help reduce food insecurity and prevent food insecurity 
  in low-income communities that are the subject of such projects by--
              ``(1) developing creative food resources; or
              ``(2) coordinating food services with park and recreation 
          programs, and other community-based activities, to reduce 
          barriers to access to food.
      ``(d) Cost-Sharing Requirements.--
              ``(1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of 
          carrying out a gleaning project for which a grant is made under 
          this section shall be paid with such grant by the Secretary in 
          such amount as the Secretary determines but may not exceed 50 
          percent of the cost of such project.
              ``(2) Non-federal share.--The recipient of a grant under 
          this section shall provide in cash or in kind, fairly 
          evaluated, including facilities, equipment, or services, from 
          non-Federal sources for the cost of such project that is not 
          paid under paragraph (1).
      ``(e) Term of Grant.--
              ``(1) Single grant.--Only 1 grant may be made under this 
          section for a particular gleaning project.
              ``(2) Term.--The period during which the grant made under 
          this section may be expended may not exceed 5 years.
      ``(f) Technical Assistance and Related Information.--
              ``(1) Technical assistance.--In carrying out this section, 
          the Secretary may provide assistance to an eligible entity 
          regarding gleaning projects, processes, and development.
              ``(2) Sharing information.--
                      ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may share 
                  information concerning gleaning projects and issues 
                  with the public through publications, conferences, and 
                  other appropriate forums.
                      ``(B) Other interested persons.--The Secretary may 
                  share information concerning gleaning projects with 
                  researchers, practitioners, and other interested 
                  persons.
      ``(g) Reports to Congress.--Not later than September 30, 2018, and 
  annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a 
  report that describes with respect to each grant made under this 
  section information that includes--
              ``(1) a description of each activity funded with such 
          grant; and
              ``(2) the degree of success in improving the long-term 
          capacity of the low-income community served by the gleaning 
          project involved to address food and agriculture problems 
          related to hunger or access to healthy food in such 
          community.''.
target: Food Sharing Act of 2017  This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to: (1) reduce from $9 million to $8.5 million the annual limitation on the total amount of grants that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) may provide under the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program, and (2) authorize USDA to establish a separate program to provide up to $500,000 annually for grants to establish and carry out gleaning projects.  In a gleaning project, an eligible entity: (1) collects edible, surplus food that would be thrown away and distributes the food to agencies or nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry; or (2) harvests for free distribution to the needy, or for donation to agencies or nonprofit organizations for ultimate distribution to the needy, an agricultural crop that has been donated by the owner of the crop.  The eligible entities include public food program service providers, tribal organizations, and private nonprofit entities that meet certain requirements for experience, demonstrated competency, cost-sharing, and a willingness to share information regarding the project. 
feat_title: Food Sharing Act of 2017