Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Nov 30, 2021

Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021

This bill expands liability protections for the donation of food and grocery products.

Specifically, the bill expands the liability protections to include donations of an apparently fit grocery product or apparently wholesome food for which the recipient is charged a good Samaritan reduced price that is no greater than the cost of handling, administering, and distributing the food or product; or

that is donated directly to a needy individual by a retail grocer, wholesaler, agricultural producer, restaurant, caterer, school food authority, or institution of higher education.

The Department of Agriculture must issue regulations that clarify the quality and labeling standards that food products donated under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act must meet to be eligible for liability protection.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] · D–CT

Committees

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

6 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Nov 30, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Nov 30, 2021
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Nov 30, 2021 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Analyze S.3281 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.3281, 117th Congress: Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3281

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-11-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s3281/BILLS-117s3281is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T11:08:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.3281 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Examine S.3281 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.3281, 117th Congress: Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3281

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-11-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s3281/BILLS-117s3281is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T11:08:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3281 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Examine S.3281 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.3281, 117th Congress: Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3281

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-11-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s3281/BILLS-117s3281is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T11:08:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

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Discuss S.3281, 117th Congress: Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3281

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2021-11-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s3281/BILLS-117s3281is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T11:08:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3281 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.