HB2883, the “NO TIME TO Waste Act,” would create a new federal framework within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reduce food loss and food waste. The bill establishes an Office of Food Loss and Waste, adds regional coordinators, and directs USDA to expand research, data collection, education, and interagency coordination on food waste prevention, food recovery, and upcycled food products. It also requires annual reporting to Congress on progress toward the federal goal of cutting food loss and waste 50 percent from 2016 levels by 2030.
The bill pairs federal coordination with grant programs for states, tribes, local governments, and nonprofit partnerships. These grants would support data collection on food waste policies, food recovery infrastructure, innovative distribution models, and public-private partnerships with sectors such as grocery, hospitality, restaurants, hospitals, and nursing homes. It also amends the Federal Food Donation Act to require federal contractors to report food waste reduction efforts and donated food, and it prioritizes food loss and waste research in USDA grant programs. In addition, the bill creates a national education and awareness campaign focused on consumer behavior, food safety, date labels, composting, and food recovery options.
If enacted, the bill would expand USDA’s statutory responsibilities and create new offices, reporting duties, grant programs, and coordination mechanisms across federal agencies. It would amend existing law, including the Federal Food Donation Act of 2008 and the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, to broaden food waste reduction efforts, extend eligibility for composting and food waste reduction pilots to tribal governments, and add guidance for smaller and rural applicants. The bill would also authorize new appropriations through fiscal year 2030 for USDA administration, grants, regional coordination, infrastructure support, partnerships, and public education.
The available context shows no committee debate or recorded votes, so there is no documented partisan or procedural opposition in the materials provided. The bill’s structure and sponsorship by Representatives Pingree and Lawler suggest a bipartisan framing around efficiency, food security, and waste reduction. Overall, the measure appears to be presented as a collaborative, technical, and public-benefit initiative rather than a controversial policy change.
The bill’s main points of potential contention are likely to be its new federal spending, expanded USDA administrative role, and reporting/coordination requirements imposed on contractors and agencies. Some stakeholders may question the effectiveness of federal mandates, the need for a new office and regional coordinators, or the burden of data collection and reporting on private entities and contractors. Others may focus on implementation details, such as how grants are distributed, how success is measured, and whether the bill gives sufficient flexibility to states, tribes, rural communities, and smaller producers.