[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1755 Introduced in Senate (IS)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1755

 To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to provide 
             grants to support farm-to-cafeteria projects.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 17, 2003

Mr. Leahy (for himself and Mr. Specter) introduced the following bill; 
  which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, 
                        Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to provide 
             grants to support farm-to-cafeteria projects.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Farm-to-Cafeteria Projects Act of 
2003''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO SUPPORT FARM-TO-CAFETERIA PROJECTS.

    Section 12 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1760) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(q) Grants To Support Farm-to-Cafeteria Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--To improve access to local foods in 
        schools and institutions receiving funds under this Act and the 
        Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) (other 
        than section 17 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1786)), the Secretary 
        shall provide competitive grants to nonprofit entities and 
        educational institutions to establish and carry out farm-to-
        cafeteria projects that may include the purchase of equipment, 
        the procurement of foods, and the provision of training and 
        education activities.
            ``(2) Preference for certain projects.--In selecting farm-
        to-cafeteria projects to receive assistance under this 
        subsection, the Secretary shall give preference to projects 
        designed to--
                    ``(A) procure local foods from small- and medium-
                sized farms for the provision of foods for school 
                meals;
                    ``(B) support nutrition education activities or 
                curriculum planning that incorporates the participation 
                of school children in farm and agriculture education 
                projects; and
                    ``(C) develop a sustained commitment to farm-to-
                cafeteria projects in the community by linking schools, 
                agricultural producers, parents, and other community 
                stakeholders.
            ``(3) Technical assistance and related information.--
                    ``(A) Technical assistance.--In carrying out this 
                subsection, the Secretary may provide technical 
                assistance regarding farm-to-cafeteria projects, 
                processes, and development to an entity seeking the 
                assistance.
                    ``(B) Sharing of information.--The Secretary may 
                provide for the sharing of information concerning farm-
                to-cafeteria projects and issues among and between 
                government, private for-profit and nonprofit groups, 
                and the public through publications, conferences, and 
                other appropriate means.
            ``(4) Grants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--From amounts made available to 
                carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall make 
                grants to assist private nonprofit entities and 
                educational institutions to establish and carry out 
                farm-to-cafeteria projects.
                    ``(B) Maximum amount.--The maximum amount of a 
                grant provided to an entity under this subsection shall 
                be $100,000.
                    ``(C) Matching funds requirements.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Federal share of the 
                        cost of establishing or carrying out a farm-to-
                        cafeteria project that receives assistance 
                        under this subsection may not exceed 75 percent 
                        of the cost of the project during the term of 
                        the grant, as determined by the Secretary.
                            ``(ii) Form.--In providing the non-Federal 
                        share of the cost of carrying out a farm-to-
                        cafeteria project, the grantee shall provide 
                        the share through a payment in cash or in kind, 
                        fairly evaluated, including facilities, 
                        equipment, or services.
                            ``(iii) Source.--An entity may provide the 
                        non-Federal share through State government, 
                        local government, or private sources.
                    ``(D) Administration.--
                            ``(i) Single grant.--A farm-to-cafeteria 
                        project may be supported by only a single grant 
                        under this subsection.
                            ``(ii) Term.--The term of a grant made 
                        under this subsection may not exceed 3 years.
            ``(5) Evaluation.--Not later than January 30, 2008, the 
        Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) provide for the evaluation of the projects 
                funded under this subsection; and
                    ``(B) submit to the Committee on Education and the 
                Workforce of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
                the Senate a report on the results of the evaluation.
            ``(6) Funding.--
                    ``(A) In general.--On October 1, 2002, and on each 
                October 1 thereafter through October 1, 2007, out of 
                any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
                the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the 
                Secretary of Agriculture to carry out this subsection 
                $10,000,000, to remain available until expended.
                    ``(B) Receipt and acceptance.--The Secretary shall 
                be entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to 
                carry out this subsection the funds transferred under 
                subparagraph (A), without further appropriation.''.
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