HR261 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Oliver Robinson

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Mary MooreLawrence McAdoryRalph HowardDexter GrimsleyAdline ClarkeDavid ColstonPatricia ToddJohn W. RogersNapoleon BracyBarbara Bigsby BoydJames E. Buskey

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Food deserts, Congress urged to eliminate

Summary

Alabama House resolution HR261 urges Congress and the federal government to eliminate food deserts by improving access to healthy food and supporting related financing.

What This Bill Does

The resolution defines what a food desert is, acknowledges the lack of access to fresh, affordable food in many communities, and calls for actions to place supermarkets, farmers markets, healthy fast-food options, and local convenience stores in underserved areas. It requests federal agencies to work with Alabama to eliminate food deserts and to increase funding for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative. It also authorizes the Clerk to transmit copies of the resolution to federal officials and lawmakers.

Who It Affects

• Residents of rural and urban Alabama communities lacking nearby access to fresh, affordable food (who would benefit from improved retail access).
• Federal agencies and lawmakers (including USDA, Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Congress) who would be urged to take action and potentially increase funding to support healthy food access initiatives.

Key Provisions

• Defines food desert using USDA criteria: at least 20% of residents below poverty, and either 33% live more than 1 mile from a supermarket (urban) or more than 10 miles (rural).
• Calls for access to healthy, fresh, affordable food in rural and urban areas to combat obesity and related diseases.
• Demands placement of supermarkets, farmer's markets, healthy fast-food options, and local convenience stores in communities lacking access.
• Requests that USDA, Congress, and other federal agencies work together to eliminate food deserts where low-income residents must travel long distances for fresh produce and proteins.
• Applauds existing actions and asks Congress to increase allocations to the Healthy Food Financing Initiative to attract grocery stores and healthy food retailers to underserved areas.
• Authorizes the Clerk to transmit the resolution to the President, Vice President, members of Congress, and other officials.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Resolutions, Legislative