Sens. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., and Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., teamed up on a measure that would help U.S. service members on military bases eat healthier, The New York Post reported.
Marshall and Warnock introduced the Commissary Healthy Options and servicemember Wellness (CHOW) Act, which would establish a pilot program for a coupon system that service members could use to purchase food at on-base grocery stores, which is aimed at reducing the consumption of fast-food and other ultra-processed meals.
“Healthy troops are ready troops, and when we talk about military readiness, nutrition is way more important than vaccines and a whole lot of other things we focus on,” Marshall, an Army veteran and physician who chairs the Senate Make America Healthy Again Caucus, said in a statement to The Post.
“This is a critical next step in addressing food access and quality for our military; if this program proves effective in boosting food security and improving our military readiness, Congress should move to expand this program nationwide,” Warnock said in a statement.
Added Marshall: “As you look at the big picture of the military readiness right now, 20% of our troops are obese. 70% are overweight. One of the main reasons for separation from the military is obesity, and they can’t pass their PT [physical training] test.”
Marshall noted that during his recent tours of commissaries he’s seen a wide variety of healthy options at bases in the U.S. and abroad.
“I’ve been really impressed, as I’ve been through several commissaries over the past year, here and overseas,” he said. “They definitely have healthy choices.”
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