Delivering for Rural Seniors Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill, introduced by Senator Kelly, creates a test program to help low-income seniors get food delivered directly to their homes. It focuses on people already enrolled in a federal program that provides healthy USDA food packages to the elderly.
• The program would prioritize seniors living in rural areas who may have a hard time traveling to food banks or distribution centers. By bringing the food to their doorsteps, the policy aims to make sure no senior goes hungry just because they live far away or have trouble leaving the house.
• The government would provide $10 million each year from 2027 through 2029 to fund these delivery services. State agencies can apply for grants up to $4 million to pay for delivery drivers, staff to manage the program, and outreach to find seniors who need help.
• State agencies that receive the money must track how many people they help and how much each delivery costs. This information will be used to report back to the Secretary of Agriculture to see if home delivery is an effective way to improve food access for seniors in the long run.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.