To amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to establish an Office of Kosher and Halal Foods, and for other purposes.

HR 9980 would create a new Office of Kosher and Halal Foods within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve access to religiously compliant food in USDA programs. The office would advise on procuring kosher and halal food for emergency food assistance (like TEFAP), school meals, and food banks, and work with industry to expand certified options. It would address current gaps - such as TEFAP offering only 8 kosher and 1 halal certified product - by supporting food banks, schools, and processors to meet dietary needs. The bill mandates $1.6 million annually (2025-2029) for this office to conduct research, provide education, and develop distribution networks. This directly affects Jewish and Muslim Americans (7.5 million and 3.45 million respectively) who face food insecurity and cannot access USDA programs without certified kosher or halal options.