What does Preamble of Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act do?

This bill, formally titled 'A BILL To require United States foreign assistance commodities to be made available for their intended purposes before they expire,' aims to ensure that foreign assistance commodities are utilized for their intended purposes before their expiration.

What does SHORT TITLE. of Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act do?

This bill is formally titled the "Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act".

What does FINDINGS. of Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act do?

This section outlines findings related to foreign assistance commodities. It states that these commodities provide critical support to individuals recovering from disasters, fleeing conflict, or residing in developing communities. The text highlights that U.S. investments in global health have economic benefits, including job creation and economic activity. Access to vaccines and medications is presented as contributing to global safety. U.S. food assistance is noted to benefit American farmers and address global food insecurity, with U.S. farmers supplying an estimated 40% of international food assistance. Increased access to family planning products and services is linked to potential reductions in maternal and infant mortality. The section concludes that the destruction of foreign assistance commodities is unethical and contrary to U.S. interests.

What does PROHIBITION ON THE DESTRUCTION OF FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PRODUCTS of Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act do?

This section amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to prohibit the destruction of perishable and nonperishable foreign assistance commodities and products unless all efforts have been made to sell, donate, or otherwise make them available to intended beneficiaries. The amendment mandates that these commodities be made available to intended beneficiaries before spoilage or expiration. It defines 'appropriate congressional committees' as including the Senate and House Committees on Foreign Relations and Appropriations. If a foreign assistance implementing partner possesses a commodity, the Secretary of State, Secretary of Agriculture, or USAID Administrator must release funds to ensure delivery or donation before the expiration date. The Secretary of State, in coordination with USAID and the Secretary of Agriculture, must submit an annual report to Congress detailing any commodities that expired, spoiled, or were destroyed without reaching intended beneficiaries. The report must include details on negotiations, reasons for non-delivery, commodity purpose and intended beneficiaries, value, and destruction costs.

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Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act

Last updated: 6/17/2026 · Introduced: 7/10/2025

Author: Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to prohibit the destruction of foreign assistance commodities unless all options for distribution have been exhausted.
The bill requires federal agencies to prioritize delivering or donating foreign assistance commodities to intended beneficiaries before they expire.
Federal agencies must annually report to Congress on any commodities that expired, spoiled, or were destroyed without reaching intended beneficiaries, detailing the circumstances and costs.

119th Congressin committeeHR. 4516(In Committee)Official page

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Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 2 more.

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