House members, amid busy legislative agenda, set sights on overhaul of chamber's biggest cafeterias

House members, during their busy legislative session, which is focused on budgets and proposed tax breaks, are also taking time to complain about the food at the chamber's cafeterias and possibly make changes. 

"You came to Congress. You’re so excited. I’m in this brand new office. It’s beautiful. I have this amazing staff,” Democratic Texas Rep. Julie Johnson told the news outlet NOTUS, which reported the story Monday. "And I am amazed at how terrible the food is here, given the fact that we’re the most powerful country in the world."

Democratic New York Rep. Joe Morelle expressed similar concerns.

"I would like there to be, frankly, more options for people, healthier options for people," he told NOTUS. "Obviously, one of the things we’re always concerned about is just quality and the cost – to make it affordable for people who work here to be able to access quality food. So yeah, we’ve talked at length about it."

The news outlet didn't specify whether the lawmakers talked about the cafeterias in the Cannon, Longworth or Rayburn office buildings or the members-only dining room.

Morelle is the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, which oversees House restaurants and the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. Thus, he could be responsible for changing food options.

Two other Democrats, not identified by NOTUS, told the news source they bring food from home because they don't like the cafeteria food. 

The lament also appears bipartisan since at least one Republican congressman agreed with his Democratic colleagues.

"The Senate’s probably got the edge on us right now, certainly, so there’s room for improvement," West Virginia GOP Rep. Riley Moore told NOTUS.

The politicians have been complaining about the food on the House side of the Congress for a long time, but the problem was highlighted in 2015 by the New York Times. The same year, Sodexo became the House food provider, replacing Restaurant Associates. 

NOTUS reported that House members and staff are evaluating potential new House vendors, offering the applicants an opportunity to apply only for a specific cafeteria instead of all food spaces.

The House put out a request for proposals to contractors interested in becoming vendors late last year. Morelle declined to name the applicants interested but said there were “a lot” of them.

Sodexo became infamous for its "terrible" food when it replaced Restaurant Associates, receiving multiple complaints, including from Democratic Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

"There has been an explosion of complaints about both the quality of the food and the cost of the food," she said in 2016.

Johnson says the problem wasn't solved because "there are so many pressing issues in the United States Congress that the food we eat does not become high on the list of things to focus on."

However, at least one member liked at least some of the food.

Georgia Republican Rep. Brian Jack says he's a "big fan of the pizza," while acknowledging "many of my New York colleagues would probably disagree."