Montana Sen. Tim Sheehy introduced two pieces of legislation in recent weeks — one bipartisan bill to strengthen Buy American requirements for school meals and one to extend nationwide concealed carry privileges to elite special operations veterans.
On July 30, Sheehy and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced the American Food for American Schools Act, with companion legislation in the House from Reps. James Gallagher (R-Calif.) and John Garamendi (D-Calif.). The bill would tighten the “Buy American” requirement that has governed the National School Lunch Program since 1988 but has, according to its sponsors, been undermined by limited oversight and inconsistent reporting.
“It doesn’t make sense for American schools to purchase imported food when the very best beef and agricultural products are produced right here at home, including in my home state of Montana,” Sheehy said. “The American Food for American Schools Act strengthens the ‘Buy American’ requirement for schools to build a more secure domestic food chain and ensures federal policies back the producers who feed our nation, not foreign competitors.”
Under the legislation, school food authorities would be required to obtain a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture before purchasing most foreign food products. The bill would also expand Buy American requirements beyond school lunches and breakfasts to cover the Summer Food Service Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Special Milk Program. It would further require annual public reporting and a database of waivers and supplier noncompliance. The bill drew support from the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Montana Farm Bureau Federation and Seneca Foods, among other agricultural organizations.
Earlier in the month, Sheehy introduced the Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act, extending nationwide concealed carry privileges to qualified special operations veterans under the same federal framework that currently applies to retired law enforcement officers under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004. Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) introduced companion legislation in the House in April 2026.
“Our Special Operations Forces spend their careers protecting the American people with unmatched discipline, judgment, and professionalism,” Sheehy said. “This bill honors that reality by giving qualified special operators the same nationwide concealed carry privileges already afforded to retired law enforcement officers.”
The bill would amend federal law to extend carry authority to former special operations members who meet ongoing eligibility requirements, including an honorable discharge, annual state-standard firearms qualification at the individual’s expense, completion of a Department of Justice-certified use-of-force course, continued federal firearm eligibility and sobriety. Carry authority would end immediately if any condition lapsed. The legislation would also require the Defense Department and the VA to create a joint photo identification program within 180 days and would direct the attorney general to ensure law enforcement agencies accept qualifying documents within 90 days.