[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3136 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 547
114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3136

    To reauthorize child nutrition programs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              July 6, 2016

    Mr. Roberts, from the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
 Forestry, reported the following original bill; which was read twice 
                       and placed on the calendar

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To reauthorize child nutrition programs, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Child 
Nutrition Integrity and Access Act of 2016''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
                 TITLE I--NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM

Sec. 101. Apportionments to States.
Sec. 102. Repeal of nutrition promotion.
Sec. 103. Direct Federal expenditures.
Sec. 104. Payments to States.
Sec. 105. Nutritional and other program requirements.
Sec. 106. Miscellaneous provisions.
Sec. 107. Summer food service program for children.
Sec. 108. Commodity distribution program.
Sec. 109. Child and adult care food program.
Sec. 110. Pilot projects.
Sec. 111. Fresh fruit and vegetable program.
Sec. 112. Training and technical assistance.
Sec. 113. Compliance and accountability.
Sec. 114. Repeal of State childhood hunger challenge grants.
Sec. 115. Duties of the Secretary relating to nonprocurement debarment.
Sec. 116. Improvements to school lunch facilities.
                   TITLE II--SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM

Sec. 201. Special milk program authorization.
Sec. 202. Nutritional and other program requirements.
Sec. 203. State administrative expenses.
Sec. 204. Special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, 
                            and children.
Sec. 205. Team nutrition network.
                        TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 301. Reviews.
Sec. 302. Program delivery.
Sec. 303. Product availability.
Sec. 304. Procurement.
Sec. 305. School Nutrition Advisory Committee.
Sec. 306. Paperwork reduction.
Sec. 307. Technology.
Sec. 308. Program improvement.
Sec. 309. Flexibility in school meal programs.
Sec. 310. Technical corrections.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.

    In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
Agriculture.

                 TITLE I--NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM

SEC. 101. APPORTIONMENTS TO STATES.

    Section 4(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1753(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
        (A), by striking ``to each State educational agency'' and 
        inserting ``to each authorized State agency'';
            (2) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (A);
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (F) 
                as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively;
                    (C) in subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated)--
                            (i) by striking ``Beginning on'' and all 
                        that follows through ``the Secretary'' and 
                        inserting ``The Secretary''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``subparagraph (D)'' and 
                        inserting ``subparagraph (C)'';
                    (D) in clause (i) of subparagraph (B) (as so 
                redesignated), by striking ``subparagraph (D)'' and 
                inserting ``subparagraph (C)'';
                    (E) in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking ``subparagraph (A)(ii)'' and inserting 
                ``section 9(f)'';
                    (F) in subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking ``Beginning on'' and all that follows through 
                ``school food authorities'' and inserting ``School food 
                authorities''; and
                    (G) in clause (iii) of subparagraph (E) (as so 
                redesignated)--
                            (i) in subclause (I), by inserting ``(as in 
                        effect on the day before the date of enactment 
                        of the Improving Child Nutrition Integrity and 
                        Access Act of 2016)'' after ``subparagraph 
                        (A)(ii)''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                                    ``(III) Sunset.--The Secretary 
                                shall return to the general fund of the 
                                Treasury any funds that were--
                                            ``(aa) made available under 
                                        this subparagraph; but
                                            ``(bb) not obligated by a 
                                        State agency as of March 31, 
                                        2016.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Announcements.--With respect to reimbursement rates 
        described in this subsection, the Secretary shall announce the 
        rates and, to the maximum extent practicable, any associated 
        guidance by the February 15 of the school year prior to the 
        school year when the rates and guidance will become 
        effective.''.

SEC. 102. REPEAL OF NUTRITION PROMOTION.

    Section 5 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1754) is repealed.

SEC. 103. DIRECT FEDERAL EXPENDITURES.

    Section 6 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1755) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by striking ``(c)(1)(A) The national average'' 
                and all that follows through ``(D) Among those 
                commodities'' and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Calculation of Total Assistance.--
            ``(1) National average value.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraphs (B) and 
                (C), the national average value of donated foods, or 
                cash payments in lieu thereof, shall be equal to the 
                quotient obtained by dividing, not later than February 
                15 of each year for the upcoming school year--
                            ``(i) the total funds available in the 
                        preceding school year under section 4, this 
                        section, and section 11; by
                            ``(ii) the number of lunches served in the 
                        preceding school year.
                    ``(B) Adjustment.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The value determined 
                        under subparagraph (A) shall be adjusted by the 
                        annual percentage change in a 3-month average 
                        value of the Producer Price Index for Foods 
                        Used in Schools and Institutions for the 
                        preceding September, October, and November.
                            ``(ii) Requirement.--An adjustment under 
                        clause (i) shall be computed to the nearest \1/
                        4\ cent.
                            ``(iii) Index.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The Index shall 
                                be computed using 5 major food 
                                components in the Producer Price Index 
                                of the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
                                (cereal and bakery products, meats, 
                                poultry and fish, dairy products, 
                                processed fruits and vegetables, and 
                                fats and oils).
                                    ``(II) Components.--Each component 
                                described in subclause (I) shall be 
                                weighted using the same relative weight 
                                as determined by the Bureau of Labor 
                                Statistics.
                            ``(iv) Minimum amount of commodity 
                        assistance.--Not less than 12 percent of the 
                        value adjusted in accordance with this 
                        subparagraph shall be provided in the form of 
                        commodity assistance.
                    ``(C) Insufficient amounts.--If amounts available 
                to carry out subparagraphs (A) and (B) are insufficient 
                to meet the requirements of those subparagraphs for a 
                school year, the Secretary shall, to the extent 
                necessary, use the authority provided under section 
                14(a) to meet the requirements for the school year.
                    ``(D) Amount for each state.--For each school year, 
                the total commodity assistance or cash in lieu thereof 
                available to a State for the school lunch program shall 
                be equal to the product obtained by multiplying--
                            ``(i) the number of lunches served in the 
                        most recent school year for which data are 
                        available by February 15; by
                            ``(ii) the rate determined under 
                        subparagraphs (A) and (B).
                    ``(E) Special emphasis.--Among those commodities''; 
                and
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(E) 
                Notwithstanding'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(F) Minimum quantity of donated foods.--
                Notwithstanding'';
            (2) by striking subsection (e); and
            (3) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (e).

SEC. 104. PAYMENTS TO STATES.

    Section 7(a)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1756(a)(1)) is amended in the first sentence by striking 
``State educational agencies'' each place it appears and inserting 
``authorized State agencies''.

SEC. 105. NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1758) is amended--
            (1) by striking the section designation and heading and all 
        that follows through the end of paragraph (1) of subsection (a) 
        and inserting the following:

``SEC. 9. NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) Requirements.--
            ``(1) Technical assistance and training.--The Secretary 
        shall provide--
                    ``(A) technical assistance and training to schools 
                participating in the school lunch program to assist the 
                schools in complying with the nutritional requirements 
                prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (f) 
                and in providing appropriate meals to children with 
                medically certified special dietary needs; and
                    ``(B) additional technical assistance to schools 
                that are having difficulty maintaining compliance with 
                the requirements.'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the 
                following:
                    ``(D) Fluid milk.--
                            ``(i) Varieties available.--In determining 
                        the varieties of fluid milk made available in 
                        school meals and outside of reimbursable school 
                        meals, the Secretary shall--
                                    ``(I) consider the nutrient needs 
                                of children who may be at risk for 
                                inadequate intake of the recommended 
                                daily servings of milk and dairy 
                                products under the most recent Dietary 
                                Guidelines for Americans published 
                                under section 301 of the National 
                                Nutrition Monitoring and Related 
                                Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341) 
                                (referred to in this subparagraph as 
                                the `Dietary Guidelines'); and
                                    ``(II) analyze milk consumption 
                                data and trends for school-aged 
                                children, evaluating such information 
                                in comparison to the recommended 
                                servings of milk and dairy under the 
                                most recent Dietary Guidelines.
                            ``(ii) Review.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Not later than 
                                60 days after the date of enactment of 
                                this subparagraph, the Secretary shall 
                                begin a review to evaluate whether the 
                                current varieties of fluid milk made 
                                available in school meals and outside 
                                of reimbursable school meals--
                                            ``(aa) have increased 
                                        actual milk consumption in 
                                        schools consistent with the 
                                        number of servings recommended 
                                        under the most recent Dietary 
                                        Guidelines;
                                            ``(bb) have led to any 
                                        significant decreases in 
                                        consumption;
                                            ``(cc) align with the 
                                        types, containers and varieties 
                                        of milk most commonly available 
                                        in local, regional, and 
                                        national markets; and
                                            ``(dd) include all types of 
                                        fluid milk that are consistent 
                                        with the most recent Dietary 
                                        Guidelines.
                                    ``(II) Revision.--Not later than 60 
                                days after completing the review 
                                described in subclause (I), the 
                                Secretary--
                                            ``(aa) shall begin updating 
                                        any applicable regulations as 
                                        necessary; and
                                            ``(bb) may issue any 
                                        updates by means of an interim 
                                        rule.'';
                    (B) by striking ``(4) Provision of information'' 
                and all that follows through ``(C) Procurement and 
                processing of food service products and commodities.--
                The Secretary'' and inserting the following:
            ``(4) Procurement and processing of food service products 
        and commodities.--The Secretary''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (4) (as so designated)--
                            (i) by redesignating clauses (i) through 
                        (iii) as subparagraphs (A) through (C), 
                        respectively, and indenting appropriately; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B) (as so 
                        redesignated) by redesignating subclauses (I) 
                        and (II) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, 
                        and indenting appropriately;
            (3) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A), in the first sentence--
                            (i) by striking ``June 1'' and inserting 
                        ``March 31''; and
                            (ii) by adding before the period at the end 
                        the following: `` and, to the maximum extent 
                        practicable, release any associated guidance at 
                        the same time the income guidelines are 
                        prescribed'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), in the first 
                        sentence, by striking ``each State educational 
                        agency'' and inserting ``the authorized State 
                        agency''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), by striking ``, 
                                and shall contain only the family size 
                                income levels for reduced price meal 
                                eligibility with the explanation that 
                                households with incomes less than or 
                                equal to these values would be eligible 
                                for free or reduced price lunches'';
                                    (II) in clause (ii), by inserting 
                                ``or reduced price'' after ``free''; 
                                and
                                    (III) in clause (iii)(I)--
                                            (aa) in item (aa), by 
                                        striking ``and'' at the end;
                                            (bb) in item (bb), by 
                                        striking the period at the end 
                                        and inserting ``; and''; and
                                            (cc) by adding at the end 
                                        the following:
                                            ``(cc) individuals may 
                                        report alleged fraud to a 
                                        specified local or State 
                                        entity, or to the Department of 
                                        Agriculture in a manner 
                                        determined by the Secretary.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking subparagraph (D) and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(D) Verification.--
                            ``(i) Standard verification of 
                        applications.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Each school 
                                year, each local educational agency 
                                shall verify eligibility of the 
                                children in a portion of the household 
                                applications approved for the school 
                                year by the local educational agency, 
                                as of November 1 of the school year, as 
                                determined by the Secretary in 
                                accordance with this subsection.
                                    ``(II) Sample size.--
                                            ``(aa) In general.--Subject 
                                        to subclause (V), the portion 
                                        for a local educational agency 
                                        for a school year shall be 
                                        equal to the lesser of--

                                                    ``(AA) 10,000; or

                                                    ``(BB) 10 percent 
                                                of approved household 
                                                applications.

                                            ``(bb) Calculation.--Not 
                                        later than July 1 of each year, 
                                        the Secretary shall calculate 
                                        the sample size under this 
                                        subparagraph for each local 
                                        educational agency based on 
                                        data from the 2 most recent 
                                        school years for which data are 
                                        available.
                                    ``(III) Sample selection.--Approved 
                                applications shall be selected for 
                                verification by the local educational 
                                agency based on the following:
                                            ``(aa) The household has 
                                        submitted information in 
                                        writing to the local 
                                        educational agency that is 
                                        inconsistent with the 
                                        information on the household 
                                        application.
                                            ``(bb) The information 
                                        provided on the household 
                                        application is consistent with 
                                        a pattern of error or fraud 
                                        documented by the local 
                                        educational agency, the State 
                                        agency, or the Secretary.
                                            ``(cc) For not more than 
                                        \1/4\ of the sample, the 
                                        household application provides 
                                        a case number (in lieu of 
                                        income information) showing 
                                        participation in--

                                                    ``(AA) the 
                                                supplemental nutrition 
                                                assistance program 
                                                established under the 
                                                Food and Nutrition Act 
                                                of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 
                                                et seq.); or

                                                    ``(BB) a State 
                                                program funded under 
                                                the program of block 
                                                grants to States for 
                                                temporary assistance 
                                                for needy families 
                                                established under part 
                                                A of title IV of the 
                                                Social Security Act (42 
                                                U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
                                                that the Secretary 
                                                determines complies 
                                                with standards 
                                                established by the 
                                                Secretary that ensure 
                                                that the standards 
                                                under the State program 
                                                are comparable to or 
                                                more restrictive than 
                                                those in effect on June 
                                                1, 1995.

                                            ``(dd) For not more than 
                                        \1/4\ of the sample, but not 
                                        less than 1 percent of approved 
                                        household applications, the 
                                        income information provided on 
                                        the household application is 
                                        close to the income limit for 
                                        free or reduced price meals, as 
                                        defined by the Secretary.
                                            ``(ee) Such other criteria 
                                        as are determined by the 
                                        Secretary.
                                    ``(IV) Additional verification of 
                                applications.--
                                            ``(aa) In general.--If 
                                        after completing verification 
                                        under subclause (III), the 
                                        number of household 
                                        applications that match the 
                                        criteria described in that 
                                        subclause is insufficient to 
                                        meet the number of applications 
                                        determined under subclause 
                                        (II), the local educational 
                                        agency shall select additional 
                                        applications (including 
                                        students directly certified as 
                                        described in item (bb)) at 
                                        random from all students 
                                        certified for free or reduced 
                                        price meals that have not been 
                                        selected, as determined by the 
                                        Secretary.
                                            ``(bb) Direct 
                                        certification.--For purposes of 
                                        this subclause, a student who 
                                        is directly certified shall be 
                                        considered 1 application.
                                    ``(V) Reduction in sample size.--
                                            ``(aa) Definitions.--In 
                                        this subclause:

                                                    ``(AA) Confirmation 
                                                rate.--The term 
                                                `confirmation rate' 
                                                means the percentage of 
                                                approved household 
                                                applications and 
                                                directly certified 
                                                students selected by 
                                                the local educational 
                                                agency for verification 
                                                under this subparagraph 
                                                that had the level of 
                                                benefits confirmed as a 
                                                result of information 
                                                obtained during the 
                                                verification process, 
                                                including through 
                                                direct verification.

                                                    ``(BB) Nonresponse 
                                                rate.--The term 
                                                `nonresponse rate' 
                                                means the percentage of 
                                                the approved household 
                                                applications and 
                                                directly certified 
                                                students selected by 
                                                the local educational 
                                                agency for verification 
                                                under this subparagraph 
                                                for which verification 
                                                information was not 
                                                obtained.

                                                    ``(CC) Response 
                                                rate.--The term 
                                                `response rate' means 
                                                the percentage of the 
                                                approved household 
                                                applications and 
                                                directly certified 
                                                students selected by 
                                                the local educational 
                                                agency for verification 
                                                under this subparagraph 
                                                for which verification 
                                                information was 
                                                obtained.

                                            ``(bb) Reduction in case of 
                                        high performance.--Subject to 
                                        the limitation described in 
                                        item (ee), the sample under 
                                        subclause (II) shall be reduced 
                                        by not more than the lesser of 
                                        4,000 applications or 4 
                                        percentage points if--

                                                    ``(AA) the 
                                                confirmation rate for 
                                                the preceding school 
                                                year was more than 85 
                                                percent; or

                                                    ``(BB) the State 
                                                agency meets the 
                                                required percentage 
                                                described in paragraph 
                                                (4)(E)(i).

                                            ``(cc) Reduction in case of 
                                        improved performance.--Subject 
                                        to the limitation described in 
                                        item (ee), the sample under 
                                        subclause (II) shall be reduced 
                                        by not more than the lesser of 
                                        2,000 applications or 2 
                                        percentage points for each of 
                                        the following criteria that are 
                                        met by the local educational 
                                        agency:

                                                    ``(AA) Response 
                                                rate.--For the 
                                                preceding school year 
                                                the response rate was 
                                                more than 80 percent.

                                                    ``(BB) Response 
                                                rate improvement.--The 
                                                nonresponse rate was at 
                                                least 10 percent below 
                                                the nonresponse rate 
                                                for the second 
                                                preceding school year.

                                                    ``(CC) Direct 
                                                certification rate.--
                                                The State agency 
                                                achieves a combined 
                                                direct certification 
                                                rate for all methods of 
                                                direct certification of 
                                                more than 90 percent of 
                                                the children in 
                                                households receiving 
                                                assistance under the 
                                                supplemental nutrition 
                                                assistance program 
                                                established under the 
                                                Food and Nutrition Act 
                                                of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 
                                                et seq.), except if the 
                                                local educational 
                                                agency receives a 
                                                reduction for high 
                                                performance under item 
                                                (bb)(BB).

                                                    ``(DD) Confirmation 
                                                rate improvement.--The 
                                                confirmation rate is 
                                                100 percent or has 
                                                increased by at least 5 
                                                percent over the 2 most 
                                                recent school years for 
                                                which data are 
                                                available.

                                            ``(dd) Reduction in sample 
                                        in case of emergency.--The 
                                        Secretary shall reduce the 
                                        sample of approved applications 
                                        if the Secretary determines, 
                                        after a request from the local 
                                        educational agency, that 
                                        extraordinary circumstances 
                                        warrant administrative relief 
                                        in a manner determined by the 
                                        Secretary.
                                            ``(ee) Limitation.--
                                        Reductions under this subclause 
                                        may not result in a sample of 
                                        less than 3 percent of approved 
                                        applications.
                            ``(ii) Verification for cause.--In addition 
                        to conducting verification of a sample of 
                        applications as described in clause (i), a 
                        local educational agency may verify any 
                        household application at any point in the 
                        school year if the household application meets 
                        the criteria described in item (aa) or (bb) of 
                        clause (i)(III) or such other criteria as are 
                        determined by the Secretary.
                            ``(iii) Compliance.--In conducting 
                        verification under this subparagraph, a State 
                        agency or local educational agency shall not 
                        select applications in a manner that violates 
                        section 12(l)(4)(M).'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (F)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), in the matter 
                                preceding subclause (I), by striking 
                                ``may'' and inserting ``shall''; and
                                    (II) by striking clauses (iv) and 
                                (v) and inserting the following:
                            ``(iv) Direct certification.--If 
                        eligibility for a household application is 
                        confirmed using direct verification, the 
                        children in the household shall be considered 
                        directly certified.'';
                            (iii) in subparagraph (G)(i), in the matter 
                        preceding subclause (I), by striking ``written 
                        notice'' and inserting ``notice in the manner 
                        typically used by the local educational agency 
                        to communicate with families, either written or 
                        by telephone,'';
                            (iv) in subparagraph (H)(i)--
                                    (I) in subclause (I), by striking 
                                ``November'' and inserting 
                                ``December''; and
                                    (II) in subclause (II), by striking 
                                ``December'' and inserting ``January'';
                            (v) in subparagraph (K)(i), in the matter 
                        preceding subclause (I), by striking ``data 
                        mining'' and inserting ``analyses of data''; 
                        and
                            (vi) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(L) Enhanced verification methods.--
                            ``(i) Requirements.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The Secretary 
                                shall direct local educational agencies 
                                to engage in alternative and enhanced 
                                methods of certification and 
                                verification to increase the 
                                effectiveness of the process, reduce 
                                certification errors, and produce more 
                                meaningful management information to 
                                facilitate local educational agency, 
                                State, and Federal oversight with 
                                respect to program integrity in the 
                                school meal programs.
                                    ``(II) Best practices.--The 
                                Secretary shall encourage local 
                                educational agencies to adopt proven 
                                best practices with regard to 
                                certification and verification.
                                    ``(III) Selection for 
                                implementation.--To the extent 
                                necessary to refine alternative 
                                certification or verification methods 
                                or assess the feasibility, impact, or 
                                efficacy of the methods prior to 
                                recommending the methods, the Secretary 
                                shall select local educational agencies 
                                to implement methods subject to clause 
                                (iii).
                            ``(ii) Requirements.--The certification and 
                        verification methods shall--
                                    ``(I) meet such terms and 
                                conditions as the Secretary considers 
                                appropriate; and
                                    ``(II) except as otherwise provided 
                                in this subparagraph, be conducted in 
                                accordance with this subsection.
                            ``(iii) Selection criteria.--In selecting 
                        methods, including methods for implementation 
                        under clause (i)(III), the Secretary shall--
                                    ``(I) consider the degree to which 
                                the method would improve certification 
                                accuracy and program integrity within 
                                the school meal programs;
                                    ``(II) consider whether there is 
                                evidence that the method could be 
                                replicated easily by other local 
                                educational agencies or political 
                                subdivisions;
                                    ``(III) consider whether the method 
                                would increase the efficiency and 
                                effectiveness of the verification 
                                process;
                                    ``(IV) consider whether the local 
                                educational agency or State agency has 
                                a demonstrated capacity to undertake 
                                the method and to produce the data 
                                necessary to support the evaluation; 
                                and
                                    ``(V) ensure the methods 
                                implemented under clause (i)(III) are 
                                implemented across a range of 
                                geographical areas and States, 
                                including rural and urban areas, and, 
                                when considered as a group, allow for 
                                an assessment of a range of strategies 
                                regarding verification sample 
                                selection, obtaining eligibility 
                                documentation, and the entity 
                                conducting verification, including 
                                strategies that--
                                            ``(aa) use analyses of 
                                        data, particularly in large 
                                        local educational agencies, to 
                                        develop algorithms to select 
                                        error-prone applications for 
                                        verification;
                                            ``(bb) use third-party data 
                                        sources, including governmental 
                                        data and private wage data, to 
                                        confirm eligibility prior to 
                                        conducting household 
                                        verification under subparagraph 
                                        (G);
                                            ``(cc) rely on alternative 
                                        methods, including message 
                                        testing, of communicating with 
                                        households to assess which 
                                        methods most effectively result 
                                        in household responses;
                                            ``(dd) rely on agencies or 
                                        organizations other than the 
                                        local educational agency to 
                                        conduct verification, including 
                                        the State agency or a State 
                                        health and human services 
                                        agency; and
                                            ``(ee) could reduce the 
                                        administrative burden of 
                                        conducting verification for a 
                                        consortia of local educational 
                                        agencies, including shared 
                                        online applications and shared 
                                        verification procedures.
                            ``(iv) Report to congress.--Not later than 
                        3 years after the date of enactment of this 
                        subparagraph, the Secretary shall--
                                    ``(I) conduct an evaluation of the 
                                extent to which changes to standard 
                                verification and the alternative 
                                methods--
                                            ``(aa) reduce certification 
                                        error;
                                            ``(bb) result in eligible 
                                        children losing free or reduced 
                                        price meal benefits;
                                            ``(cc) result in obtaining 
                                        eligibility information from a 
                                        greater share of households 
                                        selected for verification;
                                            ``(dd) result in changes to 
                                        the administrative costs 
                                        associated with verification; 
                                        and
                                            ``(ee) would benefit from 
                                        or require Federal or State 
                                        management, such as contracting 
                                        with third-party data already 
                                        obtained and used by the 
                                        Federal Government for 1 or 
                                        more other programs; and
                                    ``(II) submit to Congress a report 
                                describing the progress made in 
                                implementing this subparagraph.
                            ``(v) Expansion.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--If the Secretary 
                                determines that 1 or more methods meet 
                                the criteria described in subclause 
                                (II), the Secretary may require such a 
                                method to be implemented by additional 
                                States or local educational agencies.
                                    ``(II) Criteria.--The criteria 
                                referred to in subclause (I) are that--
                                            ``(aa) the method 
                                        substantially reduces 
                                        certification error without 
                                        impeding access or 
                                        certification of eligible 
                                        children for free or reduced 
                                        price meal benefits; and
                                            ``(bb) the administrative 
                                        cost of the method can be 
                                        absorbed within existing 
                                        Federal reimbursements without 
                                        compromising compliance with 
                                        other Federal requirements.'';
                    (D) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (C)--
                                    (I) by striking ``Subject to 
                                paragraph (6)'' and inserting the 
                                following:
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to paragraph 
                        (6)''; and
                                    (II) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(ii) Data.--The Secretary shall, in 
                        consultation with State agencies, develop and 
                        provide a common format to be used by the State 
                        agency for any data related to direct 
                        certification.'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
                        ``applies to--'' and all that follows through 
                        ``in the case'' in clause (iii) and inserting 
                        ``applies to, in the case'';
                            (iii) by striking subparagraph (E);
                            (iv) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and 
                        (G) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; 
                        and
                            (v) in subparagraph (E) (as so 
                        redesignated)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), by striking 
                                ``means--'' and all that follows 
                                through ``for the school year'' in 
                                subclause (III) and inserting ``means, 
                                for the school year'';
                                    (II) in clause (ii)--
                                            (aa) in subclause (II), by 
                                        striking ``and'' at the end;
                                            (bb) in subclause (III), by 
                                        striking the period at the end 
                                        and inserting ``; and'' and
                                            (cc) by adding at the end 
                                        the following:
                                    ``(IV) include in the report 
                                required under section 4301 of the 
                                Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
                                2008 (42 U.S.C. 1758a), a description 
                                of technical assistance provided to and 
                                progress of States identified under 
                                subclause (I) toward implementing the 
                                measures and meeting the goals 
                                established by the State as required 
                                under clause (iii)(II).''; and
                                    (III) in clause (iii)(II)(bb), by 
                                inserting ``within 3 school years'' 
                                after ``those measures'';
                    (E) in paragraph (15)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking 
                        ``section 9(b)(1)(A) of this Act'' and 
                        inserting ``paragraph (1)(A)''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraphs (C)(ii) and (D), by 
                        striking ``paragraph (4)(G)'' both places it 
                        appears and inserting ``paragraph (4)(F)''; and
                    (F) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(16) Data exchange standards for improved 
        interoperability.--
                    ``(A) Designation.--The Secretary shall, in 
                consultation with an interagency work group established 
                by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, 
                and considering State government perspectives, 
                designate data exchange standards to govern, under this 
                Act--
                            ``(i) necessary categories of information 
                        that State agencies operating related programs 
                        are required under applicable law to 
                        electronically exchange with another State or 
                        local agency; and
                            ``(ii) Federal reporting and data exchange 
                        required under applicable law.
                    ``(B) Requirements.--The data exchange standards 
                required by paragraph (1) shall, to the maximum extent 
                practicable--
                            ``(i) incorporate a widely accepted, 
                        nonproprietary, searchable, computer-readable 
                        format;
                            ``(ii) contain interoperable standards 
                        developed and maintained by intergovernmental 
                        partnerships, such as the National Information 
                        Exchange Model;
                            ``(iii) incorporate interoperable standards 
                        developed and maintained by Federal entities 
                        with authority over contracting and financial 
                        assistance;
                            ``(iv) be consistent with and implement 
                        applicable accounting principles;
                            ``(v) be implemented in a manner that is 
                        cost-effective and improves program efficiency 
                        and effectiveness; and
                            ``(vi) be capable of being continually 
                        upgraded as necessary.
                    ``(C) Rules of construction.--Nothing in this 
                paragraph requires a change to existing data exchange 
                standards for Federal reporting found to be effective 
                and efficient.
                    ``(D) Application date.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 2 years 
                        after the date of enactment of this paragraph, 
                        the Secretary shall issue a proposed rule to 
                        carry out this paragraph.
                            ``(ii) Requirements.--The rule shall--
                                    ``(I) identify federally required 
                                data exchanges;
                                    ``(II) include specification and 
                                timing of exchanges to be standardized;
                                    ``(III) address the factors used in 
                                determining whether and when to 
                                standardize data exchanges;
                                    ``(IV) specify State implementation 
                                options; and
                                    ``(V) describe future 
                                milestones.'';
            (4) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) meet minimum nutritional requirements 
                prescribed by the Secretary on the basis of tested 
                nutritional research, except that the minimum 
                nutritional requirements--
                            ``(i) may not prohibit the substitution of 
                        foods to accommodate the medical or other 
                        special dietary needs of individual students; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) shall, at a minimum, be based on the 
                        weekly average of the nutrient content of 
                        school lunches.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by redesignating 
                        clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and 
                        (II), respectively, and indenting the 
                        subclauses appropriately;
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and 
                        (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and 
                        indenting the clauses appropriately;
                            (iii) by striking ``(2) To assist'' and 
                        inserting the following:
            ``(2) Provision of information to schools.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In accordance with subparagraph 
                (B), to assist''; and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Recommendations for increased consumption.--
                            ``(i) Guidance.--Prior to the beginning of 
                        the school year beginning July 2004, the 
                        Secretary shall issue guidance to States and 
                        school food authorities to increase the 
                        consumption of foods and food ingredients that 
                        are recommended for increased serving 
                        consumption in the most recent Dietary 
                        Guidelines for Americans published under 
                        section 301 of the National Nutrition 
                        Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (7 
                        U.S.C. 5341).
                            ``(ii) Rules.--Not later than 2 years after 
                        the date of enactment of the Child Nutrition 
                        and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 
                        108-265), the Secretary shall promulgate rules, 
                        based on the most recent Dietary Guidelines for 
                        Americans, that reflect specific 
                        recommendations, expressed in serving 
                        recommendations, for increased consumption of 
                        foods and food ingredients offered in school 
                        nutrition programs under this Act and the Child 
                        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et 
                        seq.).''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Regulations.--
                    ``(A) Proposed regulations.--Not later than 18 
                months after the date of enactment of the Healthy, 
                Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-296), the 
                Secretary shall promulgate proposed regulations to 
                update the meal patterns and nutrition standards for 
                the school lunch program authorized under this Act and 
                the school breakfast program established by section 4 
                of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) 
                based on recommendations made by the Food and Nutrition 
                Board of the National Research Council of the National 
                Academy of Sciences.
                    ``(B) Interim or final regulations.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 18 months 
                        after the date of promulgation of the proposed 
                        regulations under subparagraph (A), the 
                        Secretary shall promulgate interim or final 
                        regulations.
                            ``(ii) Date of required compliance.--The 
                        Secretary shall establish in the interim or 
                        final regulations a date by which all school 
                        food authorities participating in the school 
                        lunch program authorized under this Act and the 
                        school breakfast program established by section 
                        4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                        1773) are required to comply with the meal 
                        pattern and nutrition standards established in 
                        the interim or final regulations.
                    ``(C) Report to congress.--Not later than 90 days 
                after the date of enactment of the Healthy, Hunger-Free 
                Kids Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-296), and every 90 
                days thereafter until the date on which the Secretary 
                has promulgated interim or final regulations under 
                subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall 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 quarterly 
                report on progress made toward promulgation of the 
                regulations described in this paragraph.'';
            (5) by striking subsections (g) and (k);
            (6) by redesignating subsections (h), (i), (j), and (l) as 
        subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j), respectively; and
            (7) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``2015'' each place it appears in paragraphs (3) and (4) and 
        inserting ``2020''.

SEC. 106. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

    Section 12 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1760) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (m)(4), by striking ``2015'' and 
        inserting ``2020'';
            (2) in subsection (o)--
                    (A) by striking ``In acquiring'' and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(1) In general.--In acquiring''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Requirement.--A State, State agency, school, or 
        school food authority shall ensure that a procurement contract 
        described in paragraph (1) and any related documents contain a 
        Buy American requirement as described in subsection (n).'';
            (3) by striking subsection (p) and inserting the following:
    ``(p) Non-Federal Revenue.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Base school year.--The term `base school 
                year' means the school year beginning on July 1, 2016, 
                or the first school year in which a new local 
                educational agency operates, and each fifth subsequent 
                school year.
                    ``(B) Paid.--The term `paid', with respect to a 
                breakfast or lunch, means a reimbursable breakfast or 
                lunch served to a student who is not certified to 
                receive free or reduced price meals.
            ``(2) Accounting required.--Beginning on July 1, 2016, each 
        local educational agency shall take the steps necessary to 
        comply with this subsection for the applicable base school 
        year.
            ``(3) Meeting non-federal revenue target.--If the amount of 
        non-Federal revenues contributed to the nonprofit school food 
        service account during the base school year equaled or exceeded 
        the target amount calculated under paragraph (5), no additional 
        non-Federal revenue is required.
            ``(4) Not meeting non-federal revenue target.--If the 
        amount of non-Federal revenues contributed to the nonprofit 
        school food service account during the base school year was 
        less than the target amount calculated under paragraph (5), the 
        local educational agency shall contribute additional non-
        Federal revenues to the nonprofit school food service account 
        in accordance with paragraph (8).
            ``(5) Non-federal revenue target.--The non-Federal revenue 
        target shall be equal to the product obtained by multiplying--
                    ``(A) the number of paid lunches served during the 
                base school year at schools not currently operating a 
                meals program under which all students receive free 
                meals, as determined by the Secretary; and
                    ``(B) an amount equal to the difference between, 
                during the base school year--
                            ``(i) the total Federal reimbursement for a 
                        free lunch; and
                            ``(ii) the total Federal reimbursement for 
                        a paid lunch.
            ``(6) Non-federal revenue criteria.--For the purposes of 
        this subsection, non-Federal revenues include, as determined by 
        the Secretary--
                    ``(A) State or local funds (other than unquantified 
                in-kind contributions) contributed to the nonprofit 
                school food service account to support the provision of 
                paid lunches or breakfasts;
                    ``(B) State or local in-kind contributions that 
                have been converted to direct cash expenditures;
                    ``(C) funds contributed by a foundation or other 
                private entity to the nonprofit school food service 
                account to support the provision of paid lunches or 
                breakfasts;
                    ``(D) the revenue provided by the sale of 
                nonprogram foods if the local educational agency 
                demonstrates that the revenue exceeds the costs 
                associated with obtaining, preparing, and serving 
                nonprogram foods; and
                    ``(E) fees collected from households for paid 
                lunches.
            ``(7) Non-federal revenue gap.--The non-Federal revenue gap 
        equals the amount by which the non-Federal revenue target 
        exceeded the amount of non-Federal revenues contributed to the 
        nonprofit school food service account during the base school 
        year.
            ``(8) Additional non-federal revenues.--Local educational 
        agencies that did not meet the non-Federal revenue target in 
        the base school year shall be required to contribute additional 
        non-Federal revenues to the nonprofit school food service 
        account annually in an amount sufficient to close the non-
        Federal revenue gap by an annual average of 10 percent over a 
        5-year period, as determined by the Secretary.
            ``(9) Implementation.--The Secretary shall establish 
        procedures to carry out this subsection.
            ``(10) Exemptions.--A State agency may exempt a local 
        educational agency from the requirement of paragraph (4) if--
                    ``(A) the local educational agency--
                            ``(i) has been certified for additional 
                        reimbursement under section 4(b)(3)(B); and
                            ``(ii) is able to demonstrate that a 
                        monthly share of the additional contribution 
                        would cause the funds in the nonprofit school 
                        food service account to exceed 3 months of 
                        operating funds; and
                    ``(B) the State agency considers whether there are 
                other necessary or appropriate uses for the funds in 
                the nonprofit school food service account.'';
            (4) by striking subsection (q); and
            (5) by redesignating subsection (r) as subsection (q).

SEC. 107. SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN.

    Section 13 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1761) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (8) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(8) Streamlining.--
                    ``(A) Seamless summer option.--Except as otherwise 
                determined by the Secretary, a service institution that 
                is a public or private nonprofit school food authority 
                may provide summer or school vacation food service in 
                accordance with applicable provisions of law governing 
                the school lunch program established under this Act or 
                the school breakfast program established under the 
                Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.).
                    ``(B) Summer and at-risk transition option.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding 
                        subsections (b)(2) and (c)(1), a service 
                        institution described in paragraph (6) or (7), 
                        other than a public school, may be reimbursed 
                        for--
                                    ``(I) lunch and either breakfast or 
                                a meal supplement served during each 
                                day of operation during the months of 
                                May through September, except--
                                            ``(aa) in the case of a 
                                        service institution that 
                                        operates a food service program 
                                        for children on school 
                                        vacation, at any time under a 
                                        continuous school calendar; and
                                            ``(bb) in the case of a 
                                        service institution that 
                                        provides meal service at a non-
                                        school site to children who are 
                                        not in school for a period 
                                        during the school year due to a 
                                        natural disaster, building 
                                        repair, court order, or similar 
                                        cause, at any time during that 
                                        period; and
                                    ``(II) up to 1 meal and 1 
                                supplement served during each day of 
                                operation outside of school hours, 
                                including after school, weekends, and 
                                school holidays during the regular 
                                school calendar.
                            ``(ii) Reimbursement.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The Secretary 
                                shall reimburse service institutions 
                                seeking reimbursement under this 
                                subparagraph at a rate that is 
                                consistent with subsection (b).
                                    ``(II) Minimum days required.--To 
                                be eligible for reimbursement under 
                                this subparagraph, a service 
                                institution shall be required to 
                                provide meals to eligible children on--
                                            ``(aa) at least 20 days 
                                        during the months of May 
                                        through September; or
                                            ``(bb) at least 20 days 
                                        during school vacations in 
                                        areas that operate under a 
                                        continuous school calendar.
                            ``(iii) Administrative funds.--
                        Administrative funds for State agencies and 
                        sponsors shall be delivered in the manner 
                        described in--
                                    ``(I) for service institutions, 
                                subsection (b)(3)(B)(ii); and
                                    ``(II) for State agencies, 
                                subsection (k)(1).
                            ``(iv) Limitation.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The Secretary 
                                shall limit reimbursement under this 
                                subparagraph to meals served--
                                            ``(aa) beginning on October 
                                        1, 2017, in 7 States;
                                            ``(bb) beginning on October 
                                        1, 2018, in 3 additional 
                                        States;
                                            ``(cc) beginning on October 
                                        1, 2019, in 2 additional 
                                        States; and
                                            ``(dd) beginning on October 
                                        1, 2020, and each fiscal year 
                                        thereafter, in 1 additional 
                                        State.
                                    ``(II) Selection.--In carrying out 
                                subclause (I), the Secretary shall 
                                select States that--
                                            ``(aa) in the case of item 
                                        (aa), have--

                                                    ``(AA) the lowest 
                                                rates of participation 
                                                in the program 
                                                authorized under this 
                                                section; and

                                                    ``(BB) have not yet 
                                                completed 
                                                implementation of an 
                                                electronic benefits 
                                                transfer system under 
                                                section 17(h)(12) of 
                                                the Child Nutrition Act 
                                                of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                                                1786(h)(12)); and

                                            ``(bb) in the case of items 
                                        (bb) through (dd)--

                                                    ``(AA) have the 
                                                lowest rates of 
                                                participation in each 
                                                region in which the 
                                                program is authorized 
                                                under this section; or

                                                    ``(BB) for which 
                                                the State agency 
                                                administering the 
                                                program under this 
                                                section is not the same 
                                                State agency that 
                                                administers the program 
                                                authorized under 
                                                section 17.

                                    ``(III) Geographic distribution.--
                                In carrying out subclause (I), the 
                                Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
                                practicable, ensure equitable 
                                geographic distribution of States 
                                selected to participate in the option 
                                authorized under this subparagraph.'';
                    (B) by striking paragraphs (9) and (12);
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (10) and (11) as 
                paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(11) Special elections.--
                    ``(A) Electronic benefit transfer election.--
                            ``(i) Definition of eligible household.--In 
                        this subparagraph, the term `eligible 
                        household' means a household that includes 1 or 
                        more children who are eligible to receive free 
                        or reduced price school meals.
                            ``(ii) Election.--Subject to the limit 
                        described in clause (vii), a State may elect, 
                        beginning in fiscal year 2018, to issue 
                        benefits to eligible households in areas 
                        described in clause (vi) through an electronic 
                        benefit transfer card.
                            ``(iii) Purpose.--The purposes of the 
                        election described in clause (ii) are--
                                    ``(I) to increase program 
                                effectiveness and efficiency;
                                    ``(II) to reduce or eliminate the 
                                food insecurity and hunger of children; 
                                and
                                    ``(III) to improve the nutritional 
                                status of children.
                            ``(iv) Amount.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Subject to 
                                subclauses (II) and (III), the value of 
                                an electronic benefit transfer card 
                                under this subparagraph shall be $30 
                                per month for each child eligible to 
                                receive free or reduced price school 
                                meals in an eligible household.
                                    ``(II) Annual limitation.--No child 
                                may receive more than 3 months of 
                                benefits under this subparagraph in any 
                                12-month period.
                                    ``(III) Adjustment.--Each January 
                                1, the Secretary shall adjust the value 
                                described in subclause (I) by the same 
                                percentage as the adjustment made under 
                                subsection (b)(1)(B).
                            ``(v) Use of benefits.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Benefits issued 
                                through the election described in this 
                                subparagraph may be used only for the 
                                purchase of food--
                                            ``(aa) consistent with 
                                        section 17(f)(11) of the Child 
                                        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
                                        U.S.C. 1786(f)(11)), with 
                                        additions made available as 
                                        determined by the Secretary in 
                                        accordance with subsection 
                                        (f)(1) of this section; and
                                            ``(bb) subject to subclause 
                                        (III), from retail stores 
                                        approved for participation in 
                                        the special supplemental 
                                        nutrition program for women, 
                                        infants, and children 
                                        authorized under that section.
                                    ``(II) Timing.--Benefits issued 
                                through the election described in this 
                                subparagraph may be used only--
                                            ``(aa) when school is out 
                                        of session for the summer 
                                        period; and
                                            ``(bb) in the case of a 
                                        local educational agency 
                                        operating under a continuous 
                                        school calendar, during the 
                                        school vacations occurring in 
                                        the months of May through 
                                        September, as defined by the 
                                        Secretary.
                                    ``(III) Program access.--If there 
                                are an insufficient number of retail 
                                stores described in subclause (I)(bb) 
                                in an area to allow for reasonable 
                                access to the program, the Secretary 
                                shall authorize other similar retail 
                                stores that meet such criteria as may 
                                be determined by the Secretary for the 
                                sole purpose of redeeming benefits 
                                through the election described in this 
                                subparagraph.
                            ``(vi) Administration.--In administering 
                        the election described in this subparagraph, 
                        the Secretary shall ensure that--
                                    ``(I) benefits are issued only to 
                                eligible households that live--
                                            ``(aa) in areas with high 
                                        rates of poverty or long-term 
                                        poverty that--

                                                    ``(AA) are rural 
                                                and have no congregate 
                                                feeding sites; or

                                                    ``(BB) have limited 
                                                access to meals 
                                                otherwise provided 
                                                through the program 
                                                authorized under this 
                                                section; or

                                            ``(bb) outside an area in 
                                        which poor economic conditions 
                                        exist but in an area that has 
                                        limited access to meals 
                                        otherwise provided through the 
                                        program authorized under this 
                                        section;
                                    ``(II) benefits are issued to 
                                households only after that household 
                                has made an oral or written request to 
                                receive benefits through an electronic 
                                benefit transfer;
                                    ``(III) each State documents how 
                                the election will be administered in 
                                the management and administration plan 
                                described in subsection (n), 
                                including--
                                            ``(aa) the process for 
                                        identifying areas in which 
                                        benefits will be issued; and
                                            ``(bb) the process for 
                                        prioritizing the issuance of 
                                        benefits within the limit 
                                        described in clause (vii); and
                                    ``(IV) the election is made only by 
                                a State that is in compliance with 
                                section 17(h)(12)(B) of the Child 
                                Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                                1786(h)(12)(B)).
                            ``(vii) Numbers of children served.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--In issuing 
                                benefits through the election described 
                                in this subparagraph, the Secretary may 
                                not serve--
                                            ``(aa) in fiscal year 2018, 
                                        more than 235,000 children;
                                            ``(bb) in fiscal year 2019, 
                                        more than 260,000 children; and
                                            ``(cc) in fiscal year 2020, 
                                        and each fiscal year 
                                        thereafter, more than 285,000 
                                        children.
                                    ``(II) State allocations.--When 
                                determining allocations among the 
                                States of the numbers of children 
                                served as described in subclause (I), 
                                the Secretary shall--
                                            ``(aa) review the 
                                        management and administration 
                                        plans described in subsection 
                                        (n); and
                                            ``(bb) ensure that the 
                                        total number of children served 
                                        does not exceed the levels 
                                        described in subclause (I).
                            ``(viii) Authorization of appropriations.--
                        In addition to funds otherwise made available 
                        and subject to the availability of 
                        appropriations provided in advance in an 
                        appropriations Act specifically for the purpose 
                        of serving additional children above the limits 
                        described in clause (vii)(I), there is 
                        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
                        subparagraph $50,000,000 for each of fiscal 
                        years 2018 through 2020, to remain available 
                        until expended.
                            ``(ix) Regulations.--Not later than 
                        December 31, 2016, the Secretary shall 
                        promulgate regulations, with an opportunity for 
                        notice and comment, to implement this 
                        subparagraph, including criteria for States to 
                        use in prioritizing the issuance of benefits 
                        within the limit described in clause (vii).
                    ``(B) Off-site consumption election.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Beginning in summer 
                        2017, a State may elect for service 
                        institutions in the State to provide summer 
                        food service program meals for children 
                        eligible to participate in the program to 
                        consume off-site.
                            ``(ii) Availability.--The election 
                        described in clause (i) shall be available only 
                        when the children being served live in--
                                    ``(I) a rural area, as defined by 
                                the Secretary; or
                                    ``(II) an area--
                                            ``(aa) that is not rural; 
                                        and
                                            ``(bb) in which more than 
                                        80 percent of students are 
                                        certified as eligible for free 
                                        or reduced price meals.
                            ``(iii) Administration.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--In administering 
                                this subparagraph, the Secretary 
                                shall--
                                            ``(aa) ensure that--

                                                    ``(AA) the number 
                                                of meals served to each 
                                                child in a single meal 
                                                service is limited to 2 
                                                meals;

                                                    ``(BB) any meal 
                                                served meets the same 
                                                standards for safety 
                                                and quality as a meal 
                                                served at a congregate 
                                                feeding site;

                                                    ``(CC) any meal in 
                                                which a component is 
                                                offered but not served 
                                                is not reimbursed under 
                                                subsection (b); and

                                                    ``(DD) each State 
                                                gives priority to 
                                                children who are living 
                                                in areas in which 
                                                congregate feeding 
                                                sites are not 
                                                accessible, as 
                                                determined by the 
                                                Secretary;

                                            ``(bb) prohibit a State 
                                        from making an election for 
                                        off-site consumption 
                                        simultaneously in the same area 
                                        with an electronic benefit 
                                        transfer election described in 
                                        subparagraph (A) or a 
                                        congregate feeding site; and
                                            ``(cc) permit a State to 
                                        make an election for off-site 
                                        consumption in some or all 
                                        eligible areas in the State.
                                    ``(II) State plan.--Each State 
                                making an election under this 
                                subparagraph shall describe the manner 
                                in which the State plans to operate the 
                                program under the election in the 
                                management and administration plan 
                                described in subsection (n).
                                    ``(III) Regulations.--Not later 
                                than December 31, 2016, the Secretary 
                                shall promulgate regulations, with an 
                                opportunity for notice and comment, to 
                                implement this subparagraph, which 
                                shall include requirements for--
                                            ``(aa) documentation of 
                                        program operation once an 
                                        election has been made in the 
                                        State management and 
                                        administration plan described 
                                        in subsection (n);
                                            ``(bb) selecting eligible 
                                        areas and eligible service 
                                        institutions to most 
                                        effectively deliver summer food 
                                        service program meals under the 
                                        election;
                                            ``(cc) designing mechanisms 
                                        by which households with 
                                        children eligible to 
                                        participate in the program can 
                                        indicate a need for meals to be 
                                        consumed off-site;
                                            ``(dd) developing an 
                                        appropriate maintenance of 
                                        effort requirement for service 
                                        institutions currently 
                                        operating feeding sites; and
                                            ``(ee) implementing 
                                        security measures to ensure 
                                        that when an election for off-
                                        site consumption is made, the 
                                        safety of participants is 
                                        equivalent to security at a 
                                        congregate feeding site.
            ``(12) Allowance for off-site consumption.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Beginning in summer 2016, the 
                Secretary shall grant a request made by a State to 
                allow children participating in the program to consume 
                meals off-site when the program is available to the 
                child at a congregate feeding site but--
                            ``(i) the site is closed due to extreme 
                        weather conditions;
                            ``(ii) violence or other public safety 
                        concerns in the area temporarily prevent 
                        children from traveling safely to the site; or
                            ``(iii) other emergency circumstances, as 
                        defined by the Secretary, prevent access to the 
                        site.
                    ``(B) Limitations.--In granting a request under 
                subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure that--
                            ``(i) allowances are issued by a State only 
                        between the months of May through September; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) once an allowance is issued, any 
                        meal in which a component is offered but not 
                        served is not reimbursed under subsection (b).
                    ``(C) Administration.--
                            ``(i) State plan.--As part of the 
                        management and administration plan described in 
                        subsection (n), a State shall describe--
                                    ``(I) the approval process the 
                                State would undertake to issue an 
                                allowance;
                                    ``(II) standards for what 
                                circumstances merit an allowance, the 
                                duration of an allowance, and when an 
                                allowance may be extended; and
                                    ``(III) how the program would 
                                operate after an allowance is issued.
                            ``(ii) Guidance.--Not later than 45 days 
                        after the date of enactment of this paragraph, 
                        the Secretary shall issue guidance for States 
                        to use in issuing allowances under this 
                        paragraph during the period beginning on May 1, 
                        2016, and ending on September 30, 2016.
                            ``(iii) Regulations.--Not later than 
                        December 31, 2016, the Secretary shall 
                        promulgate regulations, with an opportunity for 
                        notice and comment, to implement this 
                        paragraph.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(2)--
                    (A) by striking ``(A)'' and inserting ``(i)'';
                    (B) by striking ``(B)'' and inserting ``(ii)'';
                    (C) by striking ``(2) Any'' and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(2) Number of meals served.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Pilot project.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to the 
                        availability of appropriations provided in 
                        advance in an appropriations Act specifically 
                        for the purpose of carrying out this section, 
                        the Secretary shall award grants on a 
                        competitive basis to not more than 6 State 
                        agencies to carry out a pilot project to 
                        provide eligible service institutions payments 
                        under the program for serving 3 meals, or 2 
                        meals and 1 supplement, during each day of 
                        operation.
                            ``(ii) Eligible service institution.--A 
                        service institution is eligible to participate 
                        in the pilot project under this subparagraph if 
                        the service institution meets the requirements 
                        of clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A), 
                        but is not a camp and does not serve meals 
                        primarily to migrant children.
                            ``(iii) Priority.--In awarding grants under 
                        this subparagraph, the Secretary shall give 
                        priority to State agencies that have committed 
                        resources or developed a plan to effectively 
                        address childhood food insecurity.
                            ``(iv) Authorization of appropriations.--
                        There is authorized to be appropriated for 
                        additional meals and commodities authorized 
                        under this subparagraph and associated 
                        administrative costs $10,000,000 for the period 
                        of fiscal years 2016 through 2020.'';
            (3) in subsection (k)(3), by striking ``1 percent'' and 
        inserting ``2 percent'';
            (4) by striking subsection (n) and inserting the following:
    ``(n) State Plan.--Each State desiring to participate in the 
program shall--
            ``(1) not later than January 1 of each year, notify the 
        Secretary of the intent of the State to administer the program; 
        and
            ``(2) not later than February 15 of each year, submit for 
        approval a management and administration plan for the program 
        for the fiscal year, which shall include--
                    ``(A) the administrative budget of the State for 
                the fiscal year, and the plans of the State to comply 
                with any standards prescribed by the Secretary under 
                subsection (k); and
                    ``(B) the plans of the State for--
                            ``(i) the use of program funds and funds 
                        from within the State to the maximum extent 
                        practicable to reach needy children;
                            ``(ii) strengthening the congregate feeding 
                        model for program delivery, including the 
                        process for identifying gaps in service and 
                        barriers to access and plans for using the 
                        special elections and allowance described in 
                        subsection (b) to assist service institutions 
                        in reaching needy children;
                            ``(iii) providing technical assistance and 
                        training eligible service institutions;
                            ``(iv) monitoring and inspecting service 
                        institutions, feeding sites, and food service 
                        management companies and ensuring that those 
                        companies do not enter into contracts for more 
                        meals than the companies can provide 
                        effectively and efficiently;
                            ``(v) timely and effective action against 
                        program violators; and
                            ``(vi) ensuring fiscal integrity by 
                        auditing service institutions not subject to 
                        auditing requirements prescribed by the 
                        Secretary.'';
            (5) in subsection (r), by striking ``2015'' and inserting 
        ``2020''; and
            (6) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(s) Research Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations provided in advance in an appropriations Act 
        specifically for the purpose of carrying out this subsection, 
        the Secretary shall carry out research projects in not more 
        than 20 States with the lowest participation rates in the 
        program authorized by this section.
            ``(2) Purpose.--The research projects described in 
        paragraph (1) shall be designed to gather information 
        regarding--
                    ``(A) participation by low-income families and 
                children;
                    ``(B) involvement by nonprofit organizations in the 
                program;
                    ``(C) private investment; and
                    ``(D) social and behavioral change by participants.
            ``(3) Scope.--Research projects conducted under this 
        subsection shall--
                    ``(A) study barriers and factors that enable 
                participation in the program by eligible children;
                    ``(B) test new methods regarding program 
                participation and behavioral change by program 
                participants; and
                    ``(C) measure the changes in program participation 
                and behavior by program participants attributable to 
                the methods described in subparagraph (B).
            ``(4) Cooperative agreements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To carry out the research 
                projects described in paragraph (1), the Secretary 
                shall enter into cooperative agreements with food 
                security and nutrition stakeholders, including--
                            ``(i) nonprofit organizations;
                            ``(ii) institutions of higher education;
                            ``(iii) State agencies;
                            ``(iv) Indian tribal organizations; and
                            ``(v) corporations.
                    ``(B) Duties.--Under the terms of a cooperative 
                agreement entered into under subparagraph (A), a 
                stakeholder shall agree--
                            ``(i) to conduct research on barriers and 
                        factors at the local level that enable 
                        participation in the program, using a variety 
                        of research methods;
                            ``(ii) to disseminate findings from the 
                        research in a manner that will improve the 
                        efficiency and effectiveness of the program; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) if relevant, to disseminate 
                        findings from research in other scientific 
                        literature about methods to increase program 
                        participation and change behavior by program 
                        participants.
                    ``(C) Partnerships.--The Secretary shall ensure 
                that any cooperative agreement includes at least 4 
                different stakeholders described in subparagraph (A).
                    ``(D) Term.--A cooperative agreement entered into 
                under this subsection shall be for a term of--
                            ``(i) not less than 1 year; but
                            ``(ii) not more than 3 years.
            ``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000.''.

SEC. 108. COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM.

    Section 14 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1762a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (f), in the third sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``section 9(a) of this Act'' and 
                inserting ``section 9(f)''; and
                    (B) by striking ``represent the four basic food 
                groups, including'' and inserting ``include''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (h).

SEC. 109. CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (B), in the matter 
                        preceding clause (i), by striking ``if'' and 
                        inserting ``if, during the month preceding the 
                        date of submission of the applicable 
                        application'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (iii) in subparagraph (F), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
                        and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) any public or licensed nonprofit private 
                residential child care institution (as defined in 
                subsection (v)(1)); and
                    ``(H) any boarding school funded by the Bureau of 
                Indian Education.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``subsection 
                (r)'' and inserting ``subsections (r) and (v)''; and
                    (C) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(4) Duration of determination.--With respect to an 
        institution described in paragraph (2)(B), an eligibility 
        determination under this subsection shall remain in effect for 
        a period of, as applicable--
                    ``(A) 60 days; or
                    ``(B) for such an institution in which at least 50 
                percent of the children served meet the income 
                eligibility criteria established under section 9(b) for 
                free or reduced price meals, 180 days.'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``For the fiscal year 
        ending September 30, 1979, and for each subsequent fiscal year, 
        the'' and inserting ``The'';
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3), by adding before the period 
                at the end the following: ``and those payment rates 
                shall be announced by the Secretary by the February 15 
                described in section 4(b)(4)''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``of this Act'' 
                and inserting the following: `` and those guidelines 
                and, to the maximum extent practicable, any associated 
                guidance shall be issued by the Secretary by the 
                February 15 described in section 4(b)(4)'';
            (4) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) by striking ``In consultation'' and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--In consultation''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Reports.--Each sponsoring organization shall 
                submit to the applicable State agency a report, not 
                less frequently than annually, that describes, with 
                respect to the preceding calendar year--
                            ``(i) the expenditures of program funds by 
                        the sponsoring organization; and
                            ``(ii) the amount of meal reimbursements 
                        retained by the sponsoring organization for 
                        administrative costs, if applicable.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5), by adding at the end the 
                following:
                    ``(F) Serious deficiency process.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 1 year 
                        after the date of enactment of this 
                        subparagraph, the Secretary shall review, and 
                        issue guidance regarding, the serious 
                        deficiency process for the program under this 
                        section.
                            ``(ii) Review.--In carrying out clause (i), 
                        the Secretary shall review the processes for--
                                    ``(I) determining when there is a 
                                serious deficiency, including--
                                            ``(aa) what measures 
                                        automatically result in a 
                                        finding of serious deficiency; 
                                        and
                                            ``(bb) how differentiation 
                                        is being made between--

                                                    ``(AA) human error 
                                                and intentional 
                                                noncompliance; and

                                                    ``(BB) if 
                                                applicable, the 
                                                severity of 
                                                noncompliance with 
                                                State-specific 
                                                requirements and 
                                                Federal regulations;

                                    ``(II) appeals and mediation in any 
                                case in which there is a finding of 
                                serious deficiency;
                                    ``(III) determining the 
                                circumstances under which a corrective 
                                action plan is acceptable; and
                                    ``(IV) termination and 
                                disqualification, including maintenance 
                                of the list under subparagraph (E).
                            ``(iii) Guidance.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--After conducting 
                                the review under clause (ii), the 
                                Secretary shall make findings from the 
                                information collected and issue 
                                guidance from the findings that will 
                                assist sponsoring organizations, State 
                                agencies, and the Food and Nutrition 
                                Service in ensuring consistency and 
                                effectiveness in administration of the 
                                serious deficiency process, while 
                                retaining program integrity.
                                    ``(II) Scope.--Guidance under 
                                subclause (I) shall include--
                                            ``(aa) clarity on the 
                                        different measures for 
                                        noncompliance;
                                            ``(bb) parameters for a 
                                        consistent appeals process to 
                                        review a finding of serious 
                                        deficiency or a determination 
                                        that a corrective action plan 
                                        is inadequate; and
                                            ``(cc) adequate timeframes 
                                        under a corrective action plan 
                                        for compliance that are 
                                        consistent for all types of 
                                        institutions participating in 
                                        the program.'';
            (5) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking ``(2)(A) Subject to 
                        subparagraph (B) of this paragraph'' and 
                        inserting the following:
            ``(2) Disbursements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B)'';
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
                        subparagraph (D); and
                            (iii) by striking subparagraph (B) and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Limitation.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (C), no reimbursement may be made to any 
                institution under this paragraph, or to family or group 
                day care home sponsoring organizations under paragraph 
                (3), for more than, as determined by the institution or 
                organization--
                            ``(i) 2 meals and 1 supplement per day per 
                        child; or
                            ``(ii) 1 meal and 2 supplements per day per 
                        child.
                    ``(C) Other.--
                            ``(i) In general.--For each child that is 
                        maintained in a child care setting for 9 hours 
                        or more per day, the limitation described in 
                        subparagraph (B) shall be, as determined by the 
                        institution or organization--
                                    ``(I) 2 meals and 1 supplement per 
                                day per child;
                                    ``(II) 1 meal and 2 supplements per 
                                day per child;
                                    ``(III) 2 meals and 2 supplements 
                                per day per child; or
                                    ``(IV) 1 meal and 3 supplements per 
                                day per child.
                            ``(ii) Effective date.--The limitation 
                        described in clause (i) shall be effective 
                        beginning on--
                                    ``(I) for family or group day care 
                                homes, the later of--
                                            ``(aa) date of 
                                        implementation of the 
                                        regulations described in 
                                        subsection (g)(2)(B)(iii); and
                                            ``(bb) October 1, 2018; and
                                    ``(II) for child care centers, the 
                                later of--
                                            ``(aa) the date of 
                                        implementation of the 
                                        regulations described in 
                                        subsection (g)(2)(B)(iii); and
                                            ``(bb) October 1, 2020.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) in clause (ii)(IV), in the 
                                first sentence, by striking ``each July 
                                1'' and inserting ``each February 15''; 
                                and
                                    (II) in clause (iii)(I)(bb), in the 
                                first sentence, by striking ``each July 
                                1'' and inserting ``each February 15'';
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (C); and
                            (iii) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) 
                        and (E) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), 
                        respectively;
            (6) in subsection (g), by striking paragraph (6) and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(6) Use of donated foods.--To the maximum extent 
        practicable, each institution shall use in its food service 
        foods that are donated by the Secretary.'';
            (7) in subsection (h)(1), by adding at the end the 
        following:
                    ``(E) Engagement with state and local agencies.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        the Secretary, as practicable, shall encourage 
                        institutions participating in the child care 
                        food program to engage with State agencies and 
                        local educational agencies to use existing 
                        infrastructure to enhance the use of, and 
                        increase access to, donated commodities.
                            ``(ii) Effect of subparagraph.--Nothing in 
                        this subparagraph compels a local educational 
                        agency to engage with any institution 
                        participating in the child care food 
                        program.'';
            (8) in subsection (o)(3)(A), in the first sentence, by 
        striking ``Secretary, in'' and all that follows through 
        ``separate guidelines'' and inserting ``Secretary, in 
        consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Aging, shall 
        implement separate guidelines'';
            (9) in subsection (r), by striking paragraph (6) and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(6) Handbook.--For each calendar year, the Secretary 
        shall--
                    ``(A) review guidelines for afterschool meals for 
                at-risk school children; and
                    ``(B) publish a revised handbook reflecting those 
                guidelines and any changes.'';
            (10) in subsection (u)(3)(C)(i), by inserting ``for 
        distribution to participants and families of participants'' 
        after ``nutrition education''; and
            (11) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(v) Participation by Residential Child Care Institutions.--
            ``(1) Definition of residential child care institution.--In 
        this subsection, the term `residential child care institution' 
        means any public or nonprofit private residential child care 
        institution, or distinct part of such an institution, that--
                    ``(A) operates principally for the care of 
                children; and
                    ``(B) if private, is licensed to provide 
                residential child care services under the appropriate 
                licensing code by the State or local agency.
            ``(2) Administration.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
        subsection, a residential child care institution shall be 
        considered eligible for reimbursement for meals or supplements 
        served to eligible children residing at the residential child 
        care institution.
            ``(3) Meal or supplement reimbursement.--
                    ``(A) Limitations.--A residential child care 
                institution may claim reimbursement under this 
                section--
                            ``(i) only for a meal or supplement served 
                        to children residing at the residential child 
                        care institution, if the children are--
                                    ``(I) not more than 18 years of 
                                age; or
                                    ``(II) children with disabilities; 
                                and
                            ``(ii) for not more than--
                                    ``(I) 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, and 1 
                                supplement per child per day; or
                                    ``(II) 1 breakfast, 1 supper, and 1 
                                supplement per child per day.
                    ``(B) Rate.--A meal or supplement eligible for 
                reimbursement under this subsection shall be reimbursed 
                at the rate at which free, reduced price, and paid 
                meals and supplements, respectively, are reimbursed 
                under subsection (c).''.
    (b) Advisory Committee.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and 
        convene an advisory committee--
                    (A) to examine the feasibility of reducing 
                unnecessary or duplicative paperwork resulting from 
                regulations and recordkeeping requirements, including 
                paperwork resulting from additional State requirements, 
                for individuals and entities participating or seeking 
                to participate in the child and adult care food program 
                under section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National 
                School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766) (as amended by 
                subsection (a)), including (within the meaning of that 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.))--
                            (i) State agencies;
                            (ii) family child care homes;
                            (iii) child care centers; and
                            (iv) sponsoring organizations; and
                    (B) to provide recommendations to reduce 
                unnecessary or duplicative paperwork for those program 
                participants while ensuring that proper accountability 
                and program integrity are maintained.
            (2) Representation.--The advisory committee under this 
        subsection shall include 1 representative from each of the 
        following (within the meaning of the Richard B. Russell 
        National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), as 
        applicable):
                    (A) Public and private nonprofit organizations.
                    (B) Home-based day care providers.
                    (C) Head Start centers.
                    (D) For-profit proprietary organizations.
                    (E) Shelters for homeless families.
                    (F) Adult day care centers.
                    (G) State agencies.
                    (H) Sponsor organizations that provide 
                administrative support to multiple providers.
            (3) Considerations.--In developing the recommendations 
        under this subsection, the advisory committee shall take into 
        consideration, as appropriate--
                    (A) any existing information, recommendations, and 
                reports from the paperwork reduction work group 
                convened by the Food and Nutrition Service in response 
                to section 119(i) of the Child Nutrition and WIC 
                Reauthorization Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 1766 note; 118 
                Stat. 755); and
                    (B) the use of technology for electronic 
                recordkeeping.
            (4) Secretarial action.--
                    (A) Guidance or regulations.--
                            (i) Issuance.--Not later than 1 year after 
                        the date of enactment of this Act, the 
                        Secretary shall issue guidance or regulations, 
                        as appropriate, based on the recommendations of 
                        the advisory committee under paragraph (1) 
                        regarding streamlined and consolidated 
                        paperwork and recordkeeping requirements, 
                        including reducing the burden for applications, 
                        monitoring and auditing requirements, and any 
                        other areas recommended by the advisory 
                        committee.
                            (ii) Implementation.--Not later than 2 
                        years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
                        the Secretary shall implement any changes 
                        resulting from the guidance or regulations 
                        described in clause (i).
                    (B) Report.--After issuing any guidance or 
                regulations under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall 
                submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
                Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Education 
                and the Workforce of the House of Representatives a 
                report describing any recommendations for legislative 
                changes to strengthen and streamline the application 
                and monitoring process and reduce administrative burden 
                on grantees, participants, local and State governments, 
                and the Federal Government.

SEC. 110. PILOT PROJECTS.

    Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1769) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (g) and inserting the following:
    ``(g) Access to Local Foods: Farm to School Program.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Agricultural producer.--The term 
                `agricultural producer' means a farmer, rancher, or 
                fisher (including a fisher of farm-raised fish).
                    ``(B) Eligible school.--The term `eligible school' 
                means a school or institution that participates in--
                            ``(i) a program under this Act, including 
                        the summer food service program for children 
                        under section 13 and the early care and 
                        afterschool portions of the child and adult 
                        care food program under section 17; or
                            ``(ii) the school breakfast program 
                        established under section 4 of the Child 
                        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).
            ``(2) Program.--The Secretary shall carry out a program to 
        assist eligible schools, State and local agencies, Indian 
        tribal organizations, agricultural producers or groups of 
        agricultural producers, land-grant colleges and universities, 
        and nonprofit entities through grants, technical assistance, 
        and research to implement farm to school programs that improve 
        access to local foods in eligible schools.
            ``(3) Grants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall award 
                competitive grants under this subsection to be used 
                for--
                            ``(i) training and technical assistance;
                            ``(ii) supporting operations;
                            ``(iii) planning;
                            ``(iv) purchasing equipment;
                            ``(v) developing school gardens;
                            ``(vi) implementing agricultural literacy 
                        and nutrition education;
                            ``(vii) developing partnerships; and
                            ``(viii) implementing farm to school 
                        programs.
                    ``(B) Regional balance.--In making awards under 
                this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the maximum 
                extent practicable, ensure--
                            ``(i) geographical diversity; and
                            ``(ii) equitable treatment of urban, rural, 
                        and tribal communities.
                    ``(C) Improved procurement and distribution.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In awarding grants under 
                        this subsection, the Secretary shall seek to 
                        improve local food procurement and distribution 
                        options for agricultural producers and eligible 
                        schools.
                            ``(ii) Aggregation, processing, 
                        transportation, and distribution.--In advancing 
                        local food procurement options and other farm 
                        to school objectives, the Secretary may provide 
                        funding for projects that include innovative 
                        approaches to aggregation, processing, 
                        transportation, and distribution.
                    ``(D) Awards.--
                            ``(i) Maximum amount.--The total amount 
                        provided to a grant recipient under this 
                        subsection shall not exceed $200,000.
                            ``(ii) Term.--The term of an award shall 
                        not exceed 3 years.
                            ``(iii) Purpose and scope.--In carrying out 
                        this subsection, the Secretary shall seek to 
                        make awards of diverse amounts and duration so 
                        as to best match a variety of purposes, scopes, 
                        and needs of the project proposals.
            ``(4) Federal share.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Federal share of costs for a 
                project funded through a grant awarded under this 
                subsection shall not exceed 75 percent of the total 
                cost of the project.
                    ``(B) Federal matching.--As a condition of 
                receiving a grant under this subsection, a grant 
                recipient shall provide matching support in the form of 
                cash or in-kind contributions, including facilities, 
                equipment, or services provided by State and local 
                governments, nonprofit organizations, and private 
                sources.
            ``(5) Criteria for selection.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To the maximum extent 
                practicable, in providing assistance under this 
                subsection, the Secretary shall give the highest 
                priority to funding projects that--
                            ``(i) make local food products available on 
                        the menu of the eligible school;
                            ``(ii) serve a high proportion of children 
                        who are eligible for free or reduced price 
                        meals;
                            ``(iii) incorporate experiential nutrition 
                        education activities in curriculum planning 
                        that encourage the participation of school 
                        children in farm- and garden-based agricultural 
                        education activities;
                            ``(iv) demonstrate collaboration between 
                        eligible schools, nongovernmental and 
                        community-based organizations, agricultural 
                        producer groups, and other community partners;
                            ``(v) include adequate and participatory 
                        evaluation plans;
                            ``(vi) demonstrate the potential for long-
                        term program sustainability;
                            ``(vii) expand the selection of local 
                        commodities for eligible schools;
                            ``(viii) implement nutrition education and 
                        agricultural literacy programming in addition 
                        to those activities provided under clause 
                        (iii); and
                            ``(ix) meet any other criteria that the 
                        Secretary determines appropriate.
                    ``(B) Tribal community projects.--In the case of 
                projects serving tribal communities, the Secretary 
                shall, to the maximum extent practicable, give highest 
                priority to projects that best use products from tribal 
                agricultural producers, as determined by the Secretary.
            ``(6) Evaluation.--As a condition of receiving a grant 
        under this subsection, each grant recipient shall agree to 
        cooperate in an evaluation by the Secretary of the program 
        carried out using grant funds.
            ``(7) Technical assistance and research.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall provide 
                technical assistance, research, and information to 
                assist eligible schools, State and local agencies, 
                Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers or 
                agricultural producer groups, and nonprofit entities--
                            ``(i) to facilitate the coordination and 
                        sharing of information and resources in the 
                        Department of Agriculture that may be 
                        applicable to the farm to school program;
                            ``(ii) to collect and share information on 
                        best practices;
                            ``(iii) to disseminate research and data on 
                        existing farm to school programs and the 
                        potential for programs in underserved areas; 
                        and
                            ``(iv) to increase awareness of, and 
                        participation in, farm to school programs among 
                        agricultural and aquaculture producers or 
                        agricultural producer groups, including 
                        beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged 
                        farmers and ranchers.
                    ``(B) Review.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 1 year 
                        after the date of enactment of the Improving 
                        Child Nutrition Integrity and Access Act of 
                        2016 and every 3 years thereafter, the 
                        Secretary shall review and submit to the 
                        Committee on Agriculture and 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 that describes the progress 
                        that has been made in identifying and 
                        eliminating regulatory and other barriers 
                        related to developing farm to school programs.
                            ``(ii) Requirements.--In preparing the 
                        report, the Secretary shall examine--
                                    ``(I) the direct and indirect 
                                regulatory compliance costs affecting 
                                the production and marketing of locally 
                                or regionally produced agricultural 
                                food products to school food programs; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) the barriers to local and 
                                regional market access for small-scale 
                                production.
            ``(8) Funding.--
                    ``(A) In general.--On October 1, 2016, and each 
                October 1 thereafter, out of any funds in the Treasury 
                not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the 
                Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary 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.
                    ``(C) Administration.--In addition to other 
                available funds, of the funds made available to the 
                Secretary under subparagraph (A), not more than 5 
                percent may be used to pay administrative costs 
                incurred by the Secretary in carrying out this 
                subsection.
            ``(9) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to the 
        amounts made available under paragraph (8) and subject to the 
        availability of appropriations provided in advance in an 
        appropriations Act specifically for the purpose of carrying out 
        this subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated to 
        carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
        2016 through 2021.'';
            (2) by striking subsections (h), (j), and (k);
            (3) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (h); and
            (4) in paragraph (5) of subsection (h) (as so 
        redesignated), by striking ``2011 through 2015'' and inserting 
        ``2016 through 2020''.

SEC. 111. FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM.

    Section 19 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1769a) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (e) through (i) as 
        subsections (f) through (j), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
    ``(e) Hardship Exemption.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish criteria 
        and a process under which a State agency may grant a hardship 
        exemption to allow schools seeking to participate in the 
        program after the date of enactment of the Improving Child 
        Nutrition Integrity and Access Act of 2016 to serve all forms 
        of fruits and vegetables.
            ``(2) Hardship.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To be eligible for an exemption 
                under this subsection, a school shall demonstrate to 
                the State agency that the school has--
                            ``(i) limited access to quality fresh 
                        fruits and vegetables year-round; or
                            ``(ii) limited space, cold storage, other 
                        facilities, or food service personnel necessary 
                        to store, prepare, or serve fresh fruits and 
                        vegetables.
                    ``(B) Criteria.--The Secretary shall establish 
                criteria for State agencies to use in determining 
                whether a school meets the hardship parameters 
                described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(3) Transition to fresh fruits and vegetables.--
                    ``(A) In general.--When applying for an exemption 
                under this subsection, a school shall submit a 
                transition plan to the State agency under which the 
                school agrees to meet specific transition benchmarks as 
                described in subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Benchmarks.--For a school that is granted an 
                exemption under this subsection--
                            ``(i) in the first year of participation in 
                        the program, up to 100 percent of the fruit and 
                        vegetable snacks served by the school may be 
                        frozen, dried, or canned fruits and vegetables;
                            ``(ii) in the second year of participation 
                        in the program--
                                    ``(I) not more than 60 percent of 
                                the fruit and vegetable snacks served 
                                by the school may be frozen, dried, or 
                                canned fruits and vegetables; and
                                    ``(II) not less than 40 percent of 
                                the fruit and vegetable snacks served 
                                shall be fresh fruits and vegetables;
                            ``(iii) in the third year of participation 
                        in the program--
                                    ``(I) not more than 20 percent of 
                                the fruit and vegetable snacks served 
                                by the school may be frozen, dried, or 
                                canned fruits and vegetables; and
                                    ``(II) not less than 80 percent of 
                                the fruit and vegetable snacks served 
                                shall be fresh fruits and vegetables; 
                                and
                            ``(iv) in the fourth year of participation 
                        in the program and every year thereafter, 100 
                        percent of the fruit and vegetable snacks 
                        served by the school shall be fresh fruits and 
                        vegetables.
                    ``(C) Compliance.--
                            ``(i) Benchmark measurement.--In measuring 
                        compliance with the benchmarks described in 
                        subparagraph (B), the State agency shall 
                        evaluate the percentage of fruits and 
                        vegetables served in either form based on the 
                        total number of days that a snack is served.
                            ``(ii) Documentation.--A school that is 
                        granted an exemption under this subsection 
                        shall document compliance with the benchmarks 
                        described in subparagraph (B) through 
                        reporting, as determined by the Secretary.
                    ``(D) Technical assistance.--A State agency 
                granting an exemption under this subsection shall 
                provide technical assistance to the school receiving an 
                exemption to assist the school with transitioning to 
                serving fresh fruits and vegetables.
            ``(4) Administration.--
                    ``(A) Schools not eligible.--A State agency may not 
                grant or maintain an exemption under this subsection to 
                any school that--
                            ``(i) is participating or has participated 
                        in the program before the date of enactment of 
                        the Improving Child Nutrition Integrity and 
                        Access Act of 2016 and is serving fresh fruits 
                        and vegetables;
                            ``(ii) is granted an exemption but then 
                        fails to meet a transition benchmark as 
                        described in paragraph (3); or
                            ``(iii) has been previously granted an 
                        exemption under this subsection.
                    ``(B) Application selection.--For purposes of this 
                subsection, in selecting applications for participation 
                in the program, a State agency shall--
                            ``(i) ensure that a school applying for an 
                        exemption under this subsection does not 
                        displace a school that is reapplying or 
                        participating in the program before the date of 
                        enactment of the Improving Child Nutrition 
                        Integrity and Access Act of 2016 and serving 
                        fresh fruits and vegetables;
                            ``(ii) give priority to a school applying 
                        to participate in the program and serving fresh 
                        fruits and vegetables that has rates of free 
                        and reduced price meal participation that are 
                        equal to a school applying to participate and 
                        seeking an exemption under this subsection; and
                            ``(iii) subject to clauses (i) and (ii), 
                        apply the priority described in subsection 
                        (d)(1)(B).
                    ``(C) Guidance.--Not later than 180 days after the 
                date of enactment of the Improving Child Nutrition 
                Integrity and Access Act of 2016, the Secretary shall 
                issue guidance to implement this subsection, including 
                the method for schools to use in documenting and 
                reporting compliance with the transition benchmarks 
                described in paragraph (3).
                    ``(D) Report.--Not later than January 1, 2019 and 
                each year thereafter, the Secretary shall 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 that 
                evaluates the impacts of the exemption under this 
                subsection, including the methods for schools to use in 
                documenting and reporting compliance with the 
                transition benchmarks described in paragraph (3).'';
            (3) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``subsection (i)(2)'' 
        and inserting ``subsection (j)(2)''; and
            (4) in paragraph (3) of subsection (j) (as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1)), by striking ``subsection (h)'' and inserting 
        ``subsection (i)''.

SEC. 112. TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    Section 21 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1769b-1) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (i); and
            (2) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:
    ``(f) Administrative Training and Technical Assistance.--
            ``(1) Best practices.--The Secretary shall provide training 
        and technical assistance material that is representative of the 
        best management and administrative practices for administration 
        of school meals authorized under this Act and the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.).
            ``(2) Support for school food authorities.--
                    ``(A) School meals.--The Secretary shall provide 
                technical assistance for school food authorities to 
                promote meals that meet nutritional requirements and 
                student acceptability.
                    ``(B) Communication.--The Secretary shall ensure 
                that State agencies contact local educational agencies 
                in the intervening years between the years in which 
                audits or reviews are required under section 22(b).
            ``(3) Collaboration.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall collaborate with--
                    ``(A) State agencies;
                    ``(B) local educational agencies;
                    ``(C) school food authorities of varying sizes;
                    ``(D) the food service management institute 
                authorized under subsection (a)(2); and
                    ``(E) other related entities, as determined by the 
                Secretary.
    ``(g) Training and Technical Assistance Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants, on a 
        competitive basis, to eligible entities described in paragraph 
        (3) to develop and administer training and technical assistance 
        for school food service personnel.
            ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of a grant awarded under 
        paragraph (1) shall be--
                    ``(A) to support school food service personnel in 
                meeting nutrition standards under section 9(f)(5); and
                    ``(B) to improve efficacy and efficiency of the 
                school lunch program under this Act and the school 
                breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child 
                Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).
            ``(3) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this subsection, an entity shall meet eligibility criteria to 
        be established by the Secretary, including--
                    ``(A) demonstrated capacity to administer effective 
                and cost-efficient training and technical assistance 
                programming for school food service personnel; and
                    ``(B) experience in--
                            ``(i) training and technical assistance 
                        programming or applied research activities 
                        involving school food service administrators or 
                        directors; and
                            ``(ii) developing relevant training tools 
                        or course materials, including curricula on 
                        school nutrition.
            ``(4) Administration.--
                    ``(A) Requirement.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
                any training or technical assistance funded through a 
                grant awarded under this subsection is--
                            ``(i) conducted--
                                    ``(I) at 1 or more training sites 
                                located within a proximate geographical 
                                distance to a school, central kitchen, 
                                or other worksite; or
                                    ``(II) through an online 
                                application that does not require in-
                                person attendance; and
                            ``(ii) provided free or at minimal cost for 
                        school food service personnel.
                    ``(B) Grantee assistance.--To the maximum extent 
                practicable, the Secretary shall assist an entity 
                receiving a grant under this subsection in 
                disseminating any materials and tools created through 
                funds provided by the grant.
                    ``(C) Oversight.--The Secretary shall establish 
                procedures--
                            ``(i) to oversee the administration of 
                        training and technical assistance funded 
                        through grants awarded under this subsection; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) to ensure that any activities funded 
                        through the grants are consistent with the 
                        goals and requirements of this Act.
            ``(5) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        enactment of the Improving Child Nutrition Integrity and Access 
        Act of 2016, and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall 
        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 status of 
        training and technical assistance funded under this subsection, 
        including--
                    ``(A) funding awarded;
                    ``(B) project results; and
                    ``(C) dissemination of any materials and tools.
            ``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
                appropriations provided in advance in an appropriations 
                Act specifically for the purpose of carrying out this 
                subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated 
                $5,000,000 to carry out this subsection for fiscal year 
                2016 and each subsequent fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Technical assistance.--The Secretary may use 
                not more than 5 percent of the amount made available 
                under subparagraph (A) for each fiscal year to provide 
                technical assistance.
    ``(h) Study.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a study on 
        the use of State administrative expense funds by State 
        agencies, including--
                    ``(A) the manner in which State administrative 
                expense funds are being used effectively for school 
                nutrition workforce training and technical assistance, 
                with particular emphasis on--
                            ``(i) training and technical assistance for 
                        the administration of school meals authorized 
                        under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 
                        1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.); and
                            ``(ii) any related provisions, as 
                        determined by the Secretary; and
                    ``(B) any factors that limit the ability of a State 
                agency to use State administrative expense funds 
                effectively.
            ``(2) Best practices.--In conducting the study under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall identify and document best 
        practices from State agencies that are using State 
        administrative expense funds to implement innovative, 
        effective, and replicable policies, training, and technical 
        assistance methods.
            ``(3) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        enactment of the Improving Child Nutrition Integrity and Access 
        Act of 2016, the Secretary shall 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 that describes--
                    ``(A) a summary of the study under paragraph (1), 
                including any findings and recommendations made; and
                    ``(B) a plan for disseminating the best practices 
                identified pursuant to paragraph (2).''.

SEC. 113. COMPLIANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

    Section 22 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1769c) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``(1) In general.--There shall be'' 
                and inserting ``There shall be'';
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
                paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, and indenting 
                appropriately;
                    (C) in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking ``and'' at the end;
                    (D) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; 
                and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) the Buy American requirement described in section 
        12(n).'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``nutritional'' and all that follows through 
                        ``paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``requirements 
                        described in subsection (a)''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking 
                        ``3-year cycle'' and inserting ``5-year 
                        cycle''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(3) Error reduction plans.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each State agency shall work 
                with the local educational agencies that have the 
                highest national rates of certification errors to 
                develop an error reduction plan and monitor 
                implementation of the plan over the remainder of the 
                review cycle.
                    ``(B) Plan components.--Each error reduction plan 
                may include--
                            ``(i) specific measures that the local 
                        educational agency shall take to reduce 
                        certification errors, including--
                                    ``(I) improving the application;
                                    ``(II) using technology to minimize 
                                opportunities for error;
                                    ``(III) enhancing training and 
                                oversight of staff involved in the 
                                certification and verification process;
                                    ``(IV) conducting a preliminary 
                                review of denied applications to 
                                correct erroneous denials; and
                                    ``(V) for not more than 50 percent 
                                of the local educational agencies with 
                                error reduction plans, increasing the 
                                standard verification sample size to an 
                                amount that is not more than 50 percent 
                                more than the number of applications 
                                described in section 
                                9(b)(3)(D)(i)(II)(aa);
                            ``(ii) a timeline for the local educational 
                        agency to implement those measures within the 
                        review cycle;
                            ``(iii) annual goals for reductions in 
                        certification errors; and
                            ``(iv) technical assistance to be provided 
                        by the State agency.
                    ``(C) State agency responsibilities.--Each State 
                agency shall--
                            ``(i) assist the local educational agencies 
                        identified under subparagraph (D) with 
                        developing an error reduction plan that 
                        complies with subparagraph (B);
                            ``(ii) provide technical assistance as 
                        described in the error reduction plan under 
                        subparagraph (B)(iv);
                            ``(iii) conduct annual reviews focused on 
                        the direct certification, application, 
                        certification, verification, meal counting, and 
                        meal claiming processes; and
                            ``(iv) submit to the Secretary annually 
                        reports on the progress of local educational 
                        agencies with error reduction plans toward 
                        implementing the measures and achieving the 
                        goals identified under subparagraph (B).
                    ``(D) Selection of local educational agencies.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Each State agency shall 
                        identify the local educational agencies that 
                        meet criteria determined by the Secretary to 
                        develop an error reduction plan.
                            ``(ii) Limitations.--
                                    ``(I) Small agencies.--Small local 
                                educational agencies, as determined by 
                                the Secretary, shall make up not more 
                                than \1/2\ of the selected agencies.
                                    ``(II) Small sample size.--Local 
                                educational agencies with small sample 
                                sizes, as determined by the Secretary, 
                                shall be exempt from developing an 
                                error reduction plan under this 
                                paragraph.
                            ``(iii) Assessment of certification 
                        error.--In selecting local educational agencies 
                        under this subparagraph, certification error 
                        shall be assessed based on a measure determined 
                        by the Secretary that, to the maximum extent 
                        practicable, applies to 10 percent of local 
                        educational agencies at any 1 time and 
                        considers--
                                    ``(I) the results of the reviews 
                                conducted under paragraph (1); and
                                    ``(II) the percentage of household 
                                applications verified under section 
                                9(b)(3)(D)(i) that had the level of 
                                benefits changed as a result of 
                                information obtained during the 
                                verification process, excluding benefit 
                                terminations resulting from not 
                                obtaining information during household 
                                verification conducted under section 
                                9(b)(3)(G).''; and
            (3) in subsection (d), by striking ``2015'' and inserting 
        ``2020''.

SEC. 114. REPEAL OF STATE CHILDHOOD HUNGER CHALLENGE GRANTS.

    Section 24 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1769e) is repealed.

SEC. 115. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY RELATING TO NONPROCUREMENT DEBARMENT.

    Section 25 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1769f) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
    ``(g) Fines.--
            ``(1) In general.--In a situation in which a contractor is 
        found guilty in any criminal proceeding or found liable in any 
        civil or administrative proceeding, of any activity described 
        in paragraph (2), in connection with the supplying, providing, 
        or selling of goods or services to any local agency in 
        connection with a child nutrition program, the Secretary shall 
        impose a civil penalty of not more than $100,000,000, as the 
        Secretary determines to be appropriate, to be used by the 
        Secretary to provide restitution to the program for harm done 
        to the program.
            ``(2) Included activities.--The activities referred to in 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    ``(A) an anticompetitive activity, including bid-
                rigging, price-fixing, the allocation of customers 
                between competitors, or another violation of Federal or 
                State antitrust laws;
                    ``(B) fraud, bribery, theft, forgery, or 
                embezzlement;
                    ``(C) knowingly receiving stolen property;
                    ``(D) making a false claim or statement; or
                    ``(E) any other obstruction of justice.
            ``(3) Use of funds.--Any funds collected under this 
        subsection shall be credited to the child nutrition programs 
        appropriations account for the fiscal year in which the 
        collection occurs.''.

SEC. 116. IMPROVEMENTS TO SCHOOL LUNCH FACILITIES.

    The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is amended by 
inserting after section 26 (42 U.S.C. 1769g) the following:

``SEC. 27. IMPROVEMENTS TO SCHOOL LUNCH FACILITIES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Durable equipment.--The term `durable equipment' 
        means durable food preparation, handling, cooking, serving, and 
        storage equipment greater than $500 in value.
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a local educational agency or a school food 
                authority administering or operating a school lunch 
                program under this Act;
                    ``(B) a tribal organization; or
                    ``(C) a consortium that includes a local 
                educational agency or school food authority described 
                in subparagraph (A), a tribal organization, or both.
            ``(3) Infrastructure.--The term `infrastructure' means a 
        food storage facility, kitchen, food service facility, 
        cafeteria, dining room, or food preparation facility.
            ``(4) Local educational agency.--The term `local 
        educational agency' has the meaning given the term in section 
        9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 7801).
            ``(5) School food authority.--The term `school food 
        authority' has the meaning given the term in section 210.2 of 
        title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor 
        regulation).
            ``(6) Tribal organization.--The term `tribal organization' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
    ``(b) Loan Guarantees.--
            ``(1) Authority.--The Secretary shall issue a loan 
        guarantee to an eligible lender for purposes of financing the 
        construction, remodeling, or expansion of infrastructure or the 
        purchase of durable equipment that will assist the eligible 
        entity in providing healthy meals through the school lunch 
        program authorized under this Act.
            ``(2) Preference.--In issuing a loan guarantee under this 
        subsection, the Secretary shall give a preference to an 
        eligible entity that, as compared with other eligible entities 
        seeking a loan guarantee under this subsection, demonstrates 
        substantial or disproportionate--
                    ``(A) need for infrastructure improvement or 
                durable equipment; or
                    ``(B) impairment in durable equipment.
            ``(3) Oversight.--The Secretary, acting through the Under 
        Secretary for Rural Development, shall establish procedures to 
        oversee any project or purchase for which a loan guarantee is 
        issued under this subsection.
            ``(4) Guarantee amount.--A loan guarantee issued under this 
        subsection may not guarantee more than 80 percent of the 
        principal amount of the loan.
            ``(5) Fees and costs.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish 
                fees for loan guarantees under this subsection that 
                are, to the maximum extent practicable, equal to all 
                costs of the loan guarantees as determined under the 
                Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et. 
                seq.), as determined by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Fee shortfall.--To the extent that the 
                Secretary determines that fees described in 
                subparagraph (A) are not sufficient to pay for all of 
                the costs for the loan guarantees pursuant to the 
                Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et. 
                seq.), the Secretary may use funds described in 
                paragraph (6) to pay for the costs of loan guarantees 
                not paid for by the fees.
            ``(6) Funding.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations provided in advance in an appropriations Act 
        specifically for the purpose of carrying out this subsection, 
        there is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter.
    ``(c) Grants.--
            ``(1) Authority.--Beginning in fiscal year 2016 and subject 
        to the availability of appropriations provided in advance in an 
        appropriations Act specifically for the purpose of carrying out 
        this subsection, the Secretary shall make grants, on a 
        competitive basis, to eligible entities for the purchase of 
        durable equipment and infrastructure needed to serve healthier 
        meals and improve food safety.
            ``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subsection, 
        the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--
                    ``(A) are located in States that have enacted 
                comparable statutory grant funding mechanisms or that 
                have otherwise appropriated funds for the purpose 
                described in paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) have identified and are reasonably expected 
                to meet an unmet local or community need--
                            ``(i) through a public-private partnership 
                        or partnership with a food pantry or other low-
                        income assistance agency; or
                            ``(ii) by allowing related community 
                        organizations to use kitchen or cafeteria 
                        space.
            ``(3) Federal share.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Federal share of costs for 
                assistance funded through a grant awarded under this 
                subsection shall not exceed 80 percent of the total 
                cost of the durable equipment or infrastructure.
                    ``(B) Matching.--To receive a grant under this 
                subsection, an eligible entity shall provide matching 
                support in the form of cash or in-kind contributions.
                    ``(C) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive or vary the 
                requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) if the 
                Secretary determines that undue hardship or effective 
                exclusion from participation would otherwise result.
            ``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--There is authorized to be 
                appropriated $30,000,000 to carry out this subsection 
                for fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter.
                    ``(B) Limit.--The Secretary may use not more than 5 
                percent of the funds made available under subparagraph 
                (A) to provide technical assistance.
    ``(d) Salad Bars.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of the Improving Child Nutrition Integrity and Access 
        Act of 2016, the Secretary shall review or revise any guidance 
        in existence on that date of enactment so as to ensure that 
        school food authorities have flexibility in the establishment 
        and implementation of salad bars.
            ``(2) Planning.--The Secretary shall develop and implement 
        a plan to encourage the use of salad bars in schools 
        participating in the school lunch program authorized under this 
        Act.
            ``(3) Training and technical assistance.--In carrying out 
        the plan described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall 
        provide training and technical assistance to eligible entities 
        to assist in establishing salad bars in schools.
    ``(e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which funds 
are made available to carry out this section, and annually thereafter, 
the Secretary shall 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 that 
describes--
            ``(1) the implementation of this section; and
            ``(2) the impact the purchase of new equipment is having on 
        the ability of school food authorities to meet the purposes of 
        the school lunch program authorized under this Act.''.

                   TITLE II--SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM

SEC. 201. SPECIAL MILK PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION.

    Section 3(a)(7) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1772(a)(7)) is amended by striking ``on an annual basis each'' and 
inserting ``annually by February 15 for the upcoming''.

SEC. 202. NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 4(e)(1)(B) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1773(e)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``, including technical'' and all 
that follows through ``established under this section,''.

SEC. 203. STATE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

    Section 7 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1776) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3), in the second sentence, by 
                striking ``except as provided in paragraph (5)'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (5); and
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (9) as 
                paragraphs (5) through (8), respectively;
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``expenses, for administrative'' 
                and inserting the following: ``expenses, for--
            ``(1) administrative'';
                    (B) by striking ``for support'' and all that 
                follows through ``for staff'' and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(2) support services;
            ``(3) office equipment;
            ``(4) State-operated purchasing programs; and
            ``(5) staff'';
            (3) in subsection (e)(2), by adding at the end the 
        following:
                    ``(C) State administrative expenses formula.--
                            ``(i) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
                        study to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
                        amount and allocation of State administrative 
                        expenses determined pursuant to the formula 
                        established under this subsection.
                            ``(ii) Report to congress.--Not later than 
                        September 30, 2019, the Secretary shall submit 
                        to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
                        report describing the results of the study 
                        under clause (i).'';
            (4) in subsection (g)(2)(B)--
                    (A) in clause (iii), by striking subclause (I) and 
                inserting the following:
                                    ``(I) basic nutrition education, 
                                and the knowledge and skills needed for 
                                local food service personnel to perform 
                                their duties more effectively, 
                                including--
                                            ``(aa) cooking from scratch 
                                        using raw, unprocessed, or 
                                        minimally processed 
                                        ingredients;
                                            ``(bb) using software 
                                        programs including nutrient 
                                        analysis and point of sale 
                                        programs;
                                            ``(cc) marketing of school 
                                        meal programs to increase 
                                        participation and satisfaction;
                                            ``(dd) incorporating farm-
                                        to-school programs in the State 
                                        into the school meal programs; 
                                        and
                                            ``(ee) planning and 
                                        preparing meals that meet meal 
                                        pattern requirements for the 
                                        school meal programs;''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iv) Availability and form of training.--
                        To the maximum extent practicable, a training 
                        program carried out under this subparagraph 
                        shall--
                                    ``(I) be provided at no cost to 
                                local food service personnel;
                                    ``(II) be scheduled--
                                            ``(aa) during regular, paid 
                                        working hours; or
                                            ``(bb) if scheduled outside 
                                        of regular, paid working hours, 
                                        at a time that is minimally 
                                        disruptive to the local food 
                                        service personnel; and
                                    ``(III) incorporate hands on 
                                training techniques;
                            ``(v) Relationship to other laws.--Nothing 
                        in this subparagraph supersedes or otherwise 
                        modifies any Federal, State, or local law or 
                        legal obligation governing the relationship 
                        between an employee and employer.'';
            (5) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and 
                        for the purposes described in section 749(h) of 
                        the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
                        Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
                        Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111-80; 
                        123 Stat. 2133)'' before the period at the end; 
                        and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Requirement.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
                any technology or information management system 
                purchased or developed by a State using funds received 
                under subparagraph (A) is compatible with systems 
                already being used by local educational agencies, 
                school food authorities, and schools in that State.
                    ``(D) Report.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 180 days 
                        after the date of enactment of this 
                        subparagraph, the Secretary shall 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 that describes ways in which 
                        the Secretary is improving the rate of direct 
                        certification of children in households 
                        participating in the program established 
                        pursuant to section 4(b) of the Food and 
                        Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)).
                            ``(ii) Requirements.--The report described 
                        in clause (i) shall include ways in which the 
                        Secretary uses technology or information 
                        management systems to provide assistance to 
                        tribal organizations administering the food 
                        distribution program on Indian reservations.''; 
                        and
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``2015'' and 
                inserting ``2020'';
            (6) in subsection (j), by striking ``2015'' and inserting 
        ``2020'';
            (7) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k); and
            (8) by inserting after subsection (i) the following:
    ``(j) Centralized Exchange Network.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        centralized exchange network to facilitate State exchange of 
        information and best practices, for programs authorized under 
        this Act or the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).
            ``(2) Network topics.--State exchanges of information and 
        best practices described in paragraph (1) may include research 
        methods and data related to--
                    ``(A) improved efficiency in the delivery of 
                benefits;
                    ``(B) improved compliance in the programs; and
                    ``(C) reduction of fraud, waste, and abuse in the 
                programs.''.

SEC. 204. SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, 
              AND CHILDREN.

    (a) In General.--Section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
U.S.C. 1786) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), in the second sentence, by striking 
        ``breastfeeding promotion'' and inserting ``breastfeeding 
        counseling, promotion,'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(14), by striking the paragraph 
        designation and all that follows through ``means those foods'' 
        and inserting the following:
            ``(14) Supplemental food.--The term `supplemental food' 
        means any food'';
            (3) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) in the matter preceding clause 
                                (i), by striking ``may choose to'' and 
                                inserting ``shall'';
                                    (II) in clause (i)(II), by striking 
                                ``and'' at the end;
                                    (III) in clause (ii)--
                                            (aa) by striking ``section 
                                        405 of title 37'' and inserting 
                                        ``section 475 of title 37''; 
                                        and
                                            (bb) by striking the period 
                                        at the end and inserting ``; 
                                        and''; and
                                    (IV) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(iii) any basic allowance for subsistence 
                        provided under section 402 of title 37, United 
                        States Code, to a member of a uniformed 
                        service.''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) Child support payments.--For the purpose of 
                determining income eligibility under this section, a 
                State agency shall exclude from income any child 
                support payment for an applicant who is legally 
                obligated to pay child support for any noncustodial 
                child, as determined by the Secretary.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) in clause (iii)--
                                            (aa) by striking ``A 
                                        State'' and inserting the 
                                        following:
                                    ``(I) In general.--A State''; and
                                            (bb) by adding at the end 
                                        the following:
                                    ``(II) 5-year-old children.--
                                            ``(aa) In general.--A State 
                                        may elect to certify 
                                        participant children who have 
                                        had their fifth birthday but 
                                        have not yet attained their 
                                        sixth birthday, during a period 
                                        that ends on the earlier of--

                                                    ``(AA) the sixth 
                                                birthday of the 
                                                children; or

                                                    ``(BB) when the 
                                                children attend full 
                                                day kindergarten.

                                            ``(bb) Requirements.--Each 
                                        State that elects to certify 
                                        children under item (aa) 
                                        shall--

                                                    ``(AA) ensure that 
                                                participant children 
                                                receive required health 
                                                and nutrition 
                                                assessments; and

                                                    ``(BB) establish a 
                                                system to determine 
                                                when a participant 
                                                child attends full day 
                                                kindergarten.''; and

                                    (II) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(iv) Infants.--A State may elect to 
                        certify infants for a period of not more than 2 
                        years, subject to the conditions that--
                                    ``(I) the State shall ensure that 
                                the participant infants receive all 
                                required health and nutrition 
                                assessments; and
                                    ``(II) the local agency shall have 
                                at least 1 contact with each certified 
                                household every 12 months to confirm 
                                income eligibility.''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) Data exchange standards for improved 
                interoperability.--
                            ``(i) Designation.--The Secretary, in 
                        consultation with an interagency work group 
                        established by the Office of Management and 
                        Budget, and taking into consideration State 
                        government perspectives, shall designate data 
                        exchange standards to govern, under this Act--
                                    ``(I) necessary categories of 
                                information that State agencies in a 
                                State operating related programs are 
                                required under applicable law to 
                                electronically exchange with another 
                                State agency; and
                                    ``(II) Federal reporting and data 
                                exchange required under applicable law.
                            ``(ii) Requirements.--The data exchange 
                        standards required by clause (i) shall, to the 
                        maximum extent practicable--
                                    ``(I) incorporate a widely 
                                accepted, nonproprietary, searchable, 
                                computer-readable format;
                                    ``(II) contain interoperable 
                                standards developed and maintained by 
                                intergovernmental partnerships, such as 
                                the National Information Exchange 
                                Model;
                                    ``(III) incorporate interoperable 
                                standards developed and maintained by 
                                Federal entities with authority 
                                regarding contracting and financial 
                                assistance;
                                    ``(IV) be consistent with, and 
                                implement, applicable accounting 
                                principles;
                                    ``(V) be implemented in a manner 
                                that--
                                            ``(aa) is cost-effective; 
                                        and
                                            ``(bb) improves program 
                                        efficiency and effectiveness; 
                                        and
                                    ``(VI) be capable of being 
                                continually upgraded as necessary.
                            ``(iii) Effect of subparagraph.--Nothing in 
                        this subparagraph requires any change to an 
                        existing data exchange standard for Federal 
                        reporting that is determined to be effective 
                        and efficient.
                            ``(iv) Implementation.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Not later than 2 
                                years after the date of enactment of 
                                this subparagraph, the Secretary shall 
                                issue a proposed rule to implement this 
                                subparagraph.
                                    ``(II) Requirements.--The proposed 
                                rule under this clause shall--
                                            ``(aa) identify all 
                                        federally required data 
                                        exchanges;
                                            ``(bb) include 
                                        specification and timing for 
                                        the exchanges to be 
                                        standardized;
                                            ``(cc) address the factors 
                                        used in determining whether and 
                                        when to standardize data 
                                        exchanges;
                                            ``(dd) specify State 
                                        implementation options; and
                                            ``(ee) describe future 
                                        milestones.'';
            (4) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) by striking the subsection designation and all 
                that follows through ``The State agency shall'' in the 
                first sentence of paragraph (1) and inserting the 
                following:
    ``(e) Nutrition and Drug Abuse Education.--
            ``(1) Education.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A State agency shall'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1) (as amended by subparagraph 
                (A)), by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Disposal of certain infant formula.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The State agency, in 
                        conjunction with the Food and Drug 
                        Administration, shall ensure that all 
                        participants in the program receiving infant 
                        formula under this section (including parents 
                        or caretakers of infant participants in the 
                        program) are provided education regarding 
                        proper disposal of unused or excess infant 
                        formula purchased with WIC food instruments.
                            ``(ii) Inclusions.--The education under 
                        this subparagraph shall include information 
                        regarding--
                                    ``(I) the safety hazards of 
                                purchasing infant formula outside 
                                normal commercial channels; and
                                    ``(II) the penalties associated 
                                with the gifting, trading, sale, or 
                                resale of infant formula or other 
                                supplemental foods purchased with WIC 
                                food instruments, in accordance with 
                                subsection (o).''; and
                    (C) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(3) Nutrition education materials.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary, after submitting 
                proposed nutrition education materials to the Secretary 
                of Health and Human Services for comment, shall issue 
                the materials for use in the program under this 
                section.
                    ``(B) Sharing of materials with child and adult 
                care food program.--A State agency may allow the local 
                agencies or clinics operating under the State agency to 
                share nutrition educational materials with institutions 
                participating in the child and adult care food program 
                established under section 17 of the Richard B. Russell 
                National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766) at no cost 
                to that program, if a written materials-sharing 
                agreement exists between the relevant agencies.'';
            (5) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) by striking ``(f)(1)(A) Each State agency'' and 
                all that follows through the end of paragraph (1)(A) 
                and inserting the following:
    ``(f) Plan of Operation and Administration by State Agency.--
            ``(1) Requirements.--
                    ``(A) Submission.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Each State agency shall 
                        submit to the Secretary a plan of operation and 
                        administration of the program authorized under 
                        this section.
                            ``(ii) Deadlines.--Each State agency shall 
                        submit--
                                    ``(I) an initial plan not later 
                                than such date as is specified by the 
                                Secretary; and
                                    ``(II) a subsequent plan every 3 
                                years thereafter or whenever the State 
                                agency seeks approval of a substantive 
                                change to the plan.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``plan 
                        submitted for'' and inserting ``plan submitted 
                        covering''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C)--
                                    (I) in clause (x), by striking 
                                ``and'' at the end;
                                    (II) by redesignating clause (xi) 
                                as clause (xiii); and
                                    (III) by inserting after clause (x) 
                                the following:
                            ``(xi) a plan to allow for the substitution 
                        of products approved for redemption with 
                        benefits in times of emergency and disaster;
                            ``(xii) a plan detailing the methods to be 
                        used by all local agencies to ensure compliance 
                        with subsection (d)(2); and'';
                    (C) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) by striking ``(5) State and local'' and 
                        inserting the following:
            ``(5) Accounts, records, and review.--
                    ``(A) In general.--State and local''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Review.--The Secretary shall periodically 
                review State and local agency compliance with the 
                approved plan of operation and administration of the 
                applicable State.'';
                    (D) in paragraph (10)--
                            (i) by striking ``(10) The Secretary'' and 
                        inserting the following:
            ``(10) Standards for administration.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Notification.--
                            ``(i) In general.--If a State agency 
                        determines there is a need to temporarily halt 
                        approving new vendors to address deficiencies 
                        or changes in program administration, the State 
                        agency shall notify the Secretary not later 
                        than 45 days prior to the implementation date.
                            ``(ii) Requirements.--Notification under 
                        clause (i) shall include--
                                    ``(I) a justification for the 
                                moratorium;
                                    ``(II) a timeframe under which the 
                                moratorium will be issued, including 
                                any renewal or lifting of the 
                                moratorium;
                                    ``(III) a process to approve 
                                vendors needed for participant access 
                                (as defined by the State agency) to 
                                supplemental foods.''; and
                    (E) in paragraph (11)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking 
                        ``and cultural eating patterns'' and inserting 
                        ``cultural eating patterns, commercial 
                        availability, and participant demand''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) Cash value vouchers.--In adjusting cash value 
                vouchers annually for food cost inflation in the food 
                package under this paragraph, the Secretary shall round 
                to the nearest dollar increment.'';
            (6) in subsection (g)(1)(A), by striking ``2015'' and 
        inserting ``2020'';
            (7) in subsection (h)--
                    (A) in paragraph (8)(A)--
                            (i) in clause (vi)--
                                    (I) by striking ``Effective 
                                beginning'' and inserting the 
                                following:
                                    ``(I) In general.--Effective 
                                beginning''; and
                                    (II) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                                    ``(II) Infant formula.--Effective 
                                beginning on the date of enactment of 
                                this subclause, a State agency that has 
                                fully implemented electronic benefits 
                                transfer systems throughout the State 
                                shall have in effect a system to ensure 
                                that infant formula rebate invoices, 
                                under competitive bidding, provide an 
                                actual count of the number of units 
                                sold to participants in the program 
                                under this section.''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(xi) Contract duration.--The contracts 
                        awarded under clause (iii) shall specify that--
                                    ``(I) if the income eligibility 
                                limit under title XIX of the Social 
                                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) 
                                for pregnant women or infants is 
                                increased, which the Secretary 
                                determines will increase the demand for 
                                infant formula under the contract by a 
                                substantial amount, as determined by 
                                the Secretary, the contractor may 
                                terminate the existing contract 
                                effective on the later of--
                                            ``(aa) the date that is 1 
                                        year after the date on which 
                                        the State decision to increase 
                                        the eligibility limit by 
                                        amending the State plan is made 
                                        by--

                                                    ``(AA) adopting 
                                                State legislation;

                                                    ``(BB) issuing a 
                                                State executive order 
                                                or administrative rule; 
                                                or

                                                    ``(CC) any other 
                                                applicable State 
                                                process, as determined 
                                                by the Secretary; and

                                            ``(bb) the first day of the 
                                        month during which the increase 
                                        takes effect; and
                                    ``(II) if a contractor elects to 
                                terminate a contract pursuant to 
                                subclause (I), the contractor shall 
                                notify the State agency by not later 
                                than the date that is 1 year before the 
                                proposed date of termination.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (9)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) in clause (i)--
                                            (aa) in subclause (I), by 
                                        striking ``and'' at the end; 
                                        and
                                            (bb) by adding at the end 
                                        the following:
                                    ``(III) limit the total term of any 
                                contract (including any extension or 
                                renewal period) to a maximum of 5 
                                years, and require that any additional 
                                extensions shall be approved only on 
                                mutual consent of the contractor and 
                                the State agency;
                                    ``(IV) agree to provide, by not 
                                later than 180 days before exercising 
                                any termination for convenience clause, 
                                a written notice to each contractor;
                                    ``(V) agree--
                                            ``(aa) to receive an annual 
                                        audit of infant formula rebate 
                                        invoices by a contractor; and
                                            ``(bb) to provide to each 
                                        contractor accurate monthly 
                                        redemption files; and
                                    ``(VI) agree, in evaluating bids, 
                                not to provide any State preference 
                                based on the connection the bidder has 
                                to a State;'';
                                    (II) in clause (iii), by striking 
                                ``and'' at the end;
                                    (III) in clause (iv)--
                                            (aa) by striking ``30'' and 
                                        inserting ``45''; and
                                            (bb) by striking the period 
                                        at the end and inserting a 
                                        semicolon;
                                    (IV) by redesignating clauses (iii) 
                                and (iv) as clauses (iv) and (v), 
                                respectively;
                                    (V) by inserting after clause (ii) 
                                the following:
                            ``(iii) for any State agency that has fully 
                        implemented electronic benefits transfer 
                        systems throughout the State, have a system to 
                        ensure that rebate invoices under competitive 
                        bidding provide an actual count of the number 
                        of units sold to participants in the program 
                        under this section;''; and
                                    (VI) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(vi) provide an opportunity to negotiate 
                        the amount of funds to be returned to the 
                        contractor by the State agency, and the method 
                        of return, on determining and verifying that 
                        rebates were paid on any food, including infant 
                        formula, sold under fraudulent means;
                            ``(vii) open bids and enter into a contract 
                        under paragraph (8)(A)(iii) only after making a 
                        reasonable effort to confirm in writing, via 
                        email or other means, that the manufacturers on 
                        the list the State agency maintains under 
                        paragraph (8)(A)(ix) received the initial 
                        request for proposals or other bid solicitation 
                        document by not later than the date that is 45 
                        days before the date on which the bids are due;
                            ``(viii) agree to provide to contractors 
                        supporting documentation for monthly invoices, 
                        subject to the participant and vendor 
                        confidentiality protections under program 
                        rules; and
                            ``(ix) not later than the date that is 90 
                        days after the date for opening bids, submit to 
                        the Secretary a copy of the bid solicitation 
                        and any other contract documents.''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) Certain food for infants.--Before any State 
                agency enters into a contract for infant fruits, 
                vegetables, or meat under a competitive bidding system, 
                the State agency shall--
                            ``(i) consider--
                                    ``(I) the impact of the contract 
                                on--
                                            ``(aa) participation or 
                                        redemption rates;
                                            ``(bb) costs to the State 
                                        agency for infant fruits, 
                                        vegetables, or meat, including 
                                        product, administrative, and 
                                        procurement costs; and
                                            ``(cc) the ability of the 
                                        State agency--

                                                    ``(AA) to achieve 
                                                the purpose described 
                                                in subsection (a);

                                                    ``(BB) to provide 
                                                infants with a variety 
                                                of developmentally 
                                                appropriate infant 
                                                fruits, vegetables, or 
                                                meat; and

                                                    ``(CC) to serve the 
                                                nutritional needs of 
                                                program participants;

                                    ``(II) whether the contract is 
                                compatible with--
                                            ``(aa) the management 
                                        information and food instrument 
                                        system of the State agency; and
                                            ``(bb) the capacity of the 
                                        manufacturer to meet technical 
                                        specifications; and
                            ``(ii) provide to the Secretary a written 
                        explanation of how the considerations described 
                        in clause (i) affected the decision of the 
                        State agency to enter into the contract.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (10)(A), by striking ``2015'' and 
                inserting ``2020'';
                    (D) by striking paragraph (11) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(11) Vendor management.--
                    ``(A) Cost containment.--
                            ``(i) Peer groups.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The State agency 
                                shall--
                                            ``(aa) establish a vendor 
                                        peer group system;
                                            ``(bb) in accordance with 
                                        clauses (ii) and (iii), 
                                        establish competitive price 
                                        criteria and allowable 
                                        reimbursement levels for each 
                                        vendor peer group; and
                                            ``(cc) if the State agency 
                                        elects to authorize any types 
                                        of vendors described in clause 
                                        (iv)(II)(aa)--

                                                    ``(AA) distinguish 
                                                between vendors 
                                                described in clause 
                                                (iv)(II)(aa) and other 
                                                vendors by establishing 
                                                separate peer groups 
                                                for vendors described 
                                                in clause (iv)(II)(aa) 
                                                or by establishing 
                                                distinct competitive 
                                                price criteria and 
                                                allowable reimbursement 
                                                levels for vendors 
                                                described in clause 
                                                (iv)(II)(aa) within a 
                                                peer group that 
                                                contains both vendors 
                                                described in clause 
                                                (iv)(II)(aa) and other 
                                                vendors; and

                                                    ``(BB) establish 
                                                competitive price 
                                                criteria and allowable 
                                                reimbursement levels 
                                                that comply with 
                                                clauses (ii) and (iii), 
                                                respectively, and that 
                                                do not result in higher 
                                                food costs if program 
                                                participants redeem 
                                                supplemental food 
                                                vouchers at vendors 
                                                described in clause 
                                                (iv)(II)(aa) rather 
                                                than at vendors other 
                                                than vendors described 
                                                in clause (iv)(II)(aa).

                                    ``(II) Exemptions.--The Secretary 
                                may exempt from the requirements of 
                                subclause (I)--
                                            ``(aa) a State agency that 
                                        elects not to authorize any 
                                        types of vendors described in 
                                        clause (iv)(II)(aa) and that 
                                        demonstrates to the Secretary 
                                        that--

                                                    ``(AA) compliance 
                                                with subclause (I) 
                                                would be inconsistent 
                                                with efficient and 
                                                effective operation of 
                                                the program 
                                                administered by the 
                                                State under this 
                                                section; or

                                                    ``(BB) an 
                                                alternative cost-
                                                containment system 
                                                would be as effective 
                                                as a vendor peer group 
                                                system; or

                                            ``(bb) a State agency--

                                                    ``(AA) in which the 
                                                sale of supplemental 
                                                foods that are obtained 
                                                with food instruments 
                                                from vendors described 
                                                in clause (iv)(II)(aa) 
                                                constituted less than 5 
                                                percent of total sales 
                                                of supplemental foods 
                                                that were obtained with 
                                                food instruments in the 
                                                State in the year 
                                                preceding a year in 
                                                which the exemption is 
                                                effective; and

                                                    ``(BB) that 
                                                demonstrates to the 
                                                Secretary that an 
                                                alternative cost-
                                                containment system 
                                                would be as effective 
                                                as the vendor peer 
                                                group system and would 
                                                not result in higher 
                                                food costs if program 
                                                participants redeem 
                                                supplemental food 
                                                vouchers at vendors 
                                                described in clause 
                                                (iv)(II)(aa) rather 
                                                than at vendors other 
                                                than vendors described 
                                                in clause (iv)(II)(aa).

                            ``(ii) Competitive pricing.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The State agency 
                                shall establish competitive price 
                                criteria for each peer group for the 
                                selection of vendors for participation 
                                in the program that--
                                            ``(aa) ensure that the 
                                        retail prices charged by vendor 
                                        applicants for the program are 
                                        competitive with the prices 
                                        charged by other vendors; and
                                            ``(bb) consider--

                                                    ``(AA) the shelf 
                                                prices of the vendor 
                                                for all buyers; or

                                                    ``(BB) the prices 
                                                that the vendor bid for 
                                                supplemental foods, 
                                                which shall not exceed 
                                                the shelf prices of the 
                                                vendor for all buyers.

                                    ``(II) Participant access.--In 
                                establishing competitive price 
                                criteria, the State agency shall 
                                consider participant access by 
                                geographical area.
                                    ``(III) Subsequent price 
                                increases.--The State agency shall 
                                establish procedures to ensure that a 
                                retail store selected for participation 
                                in the program does not, subsequent to 
                                selection, increase prices to levels 
                                that would make the store ineligible 
                                for selection to participate in the 
                                program.
                            ``(iii) Allowable reimbursement levels.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The State agency 
                                shall establish allowable reimbursement 
                                levels for supplemental foods for each 
                                vendor peer group that ensure that--
                                            ``(aa) payments to vendors 
                                        in the vendor peer group 
                                        reflect competitive retail 
                                        prices; and
                                            ``(bb) the State agency 
                                        does not reimburse a vendor for 
                                        supplemental foods at a level 
                                        that would make the vendor 
                                        ineligible for authorization 
                                        under the criteria established 
                                        under clause (ii).
                                    ``(II) Price fluctuations.--The 
                                allowable reimbursement levels may 
                                include a factor to reflect 
                                fluctuations in wholesale prices.
                                    ``(III) Participant access.--In 
                                establishing allowable reimbursement 
                                levels, the State agency shall consider 
                                participant access in a geographical 
                                area.
                            ``(iv) Exemptions.--The State agency may 
                        exempt from competitive price criteria and 
                        allowable reimbursement levels established 
                        under this subparagraph--
                                    ``(I) pharmacy vendors that supply 
                                only exempt infant formula or medical 
                                foods that are eligible under the 
                                program; and
                                    ``(II) vendors--
                                            ``(aa)(AA) for which more 
                                        than 50 percent of the annual 
                                        revenue of the vendor from the 
                                        sale of food items consists of 
                                        revenue from the sale of 
                                        supplemental foods that are 
                                        obtained with food instruments; 
                                        or
                                            ``(BB) who are new 
                                        applicants likely to meet the 
                                        criteria of subitem (AA) under 
                                        criteria approved by the 
                                        Secretary; and
                                            ``(bb) that are nonprofit.
                            ``(v) Cost neutrality.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--If a State 
                                agency elects to authorize any types of 
                                vendors described in clause 
                                (iv)(II)(aa), the State agency shall 
                                demonstrate to the Secretary, and the 
                                Secretary shall certify, that the 
                                competitive price criteria and 
                                allowable reimbursement levels 
                                established under this paragraph for 
                                vendors described in clause 
                                (iv)(II)(aa) do not result in average 
                                payments per voucher to vendors 
                                described in clause (iv)(II)(aa) that 
                                are higher than average payments per 
                                voucher to comparable vendors other 
                                than vendors described in clause 
                                (iv)(II)(aa).
                                    ``(II) Requirement.--Effective on 
                                the date that is 120 days after the 
                                date of enactment of this subclause, in 
                                calculating the allowable reimbursement 
                                levels established under this paragraph 
                                for vendors described in clause 
                                (iv)(II)(aa), a State agency that does 
                                not use electronic benefit transfer 
                                shall exclude food instruments not 
                                fully redeemed, based on a calculation 
                                of the minimum full redemption value 
                                for each food instrument type or food 
                                item, by individual vendor.
                            ``(vi) Limitation on private rights of 
                        action.--Nothing in this paragraph creates a 
                        private right of action.
                            ``(vii) Limitation regarding food costs.--
                        Nothing in this subparagraph compels a State 
                        agency to achieve lower food costs if program 
                        participants redeem supplemental food vouchers 
                        at vendors described in clause (iv)(II)(aa) 
                        rather than at vendors other than vendors 
                        described in clause (iv)(II)(aa).
                            ``(viii) Implementation.--A State agency 
                        shall comply with this subparagraph not later 
                        than 18 months after the date of enactment of 
                        this clause.
                    ``(B) Application review.--
                            ``(i) Review and regulations.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Not later than 
                                180 days after the date of enactment of 
                                the Improving Child Nutrition Integrity 
                                and Access Act of 2016, the Secretary 
                                shall review the current processes used 
                                by State agencies to approve vendors 
                                for the program authorized under this 
                                section.
                                    ``(II) Objective.--In conducting 
                                the review described in subclause (I), 
                                the Secretary shall examine ways to 
                                reduce duplication in site visit 
                                requirements and application paperwork 
                                while preserving the unique aspects of 
                                vendor participation in the program 
                                authorized under this section.
                                    ``(III) Regulations.--Not later 
                                than 180 days after completing the 
                                review described in subclause (I), the 
                                Secretary shall update regulations as 
                                necessary to revise the current 
                                application process--
                                            ``(aa) to coordinate vendor 
                                        authorization, where 
                                        applicable, for the program 
                                        authorized under this section 
                                        and the supplemental nutrition 
                                        assistance program authorized 
                                        under the Food and Nutrition 
                                        Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et 
                                        seq.); and
                                            ``(bb) to consolidate, to 
                                        the maximum extent 
                                        practicable--

                                                    ``(AA) applications 
                                                to reduce duplicative 
                                                reporting of 
                                                information; and

                                                    ``(BB) on-site 
                                                review requirements.

                            ``(ii) Selection criteria.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Subject to 
                                subclause (II), each State agency shall 
                                establish a requirement that, prior to 
                                authorization or reauthorization for 
                                purposes of the program authorized 
                                under this section, a vendor shall be 
                                an authorized retailer under the 
                                supplemental nutrition assistance 
                                program under the Food and Nutrition 
                                Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
                                    ``(II) Certain vendors.--A State 
                                agency shall have discretion regarding 
                                whether subclause (I) shall apply to a 
                                vendor described in subparagraph 
                                (A)(iv)(II)(aa)(AA) that sells only 
                                WIC-eligible foods (as defined by the 
                                State agency).
                                    ``(III) Timing.--A State agency 
                                shall permit a vendor to apply 
                                simultaneously for approval to 
                                participate in the program authorized 
                                under this section and the supplemental 
                                nutrition assistance program authorized 
                                under the Food and Nutrition Act of 
                                2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).'';
                    (E) in paragraph (12)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking 
                        ``food delivery system that provides'' and 
                        inserting ``method to deliver''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(H) Regulations.--As State agencies transition to 
                electronic benefit transfer for the program, the 
                Secretary shall update regulations to account for the 
                fact that State agencies--
                            ``(i) are receiving transaction pricing 
                        more frequently than twice a year from vendors; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) should adjust vendor reimbursement 
                        levels more frequently to reflect program food 
                        price changes in the marketplace.
                    ``(I) Authorization of appropriations.--
                            ``(i) In general.--There is authorized to 
                        be appropriated to carry out this paragraph 
                        $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 
                        through 2020.
                            ``(ii) Use.--The Secretary shall allocate 
                        the funds made available under this 
                        subparagraph to States for purposes of 
                        enhancing and accelerating the implementation 
                        of electronic benefit transfer systems.
                    ``(J) Penalty for noncompliance.--For any State 
                agency that fails to comply with subparagraph (B), 
                including a State agency receiving an exemption under 
                subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall--
                            ``(i) withhold such amounts otherwise 
                        required to be allocated to the State agency 
                        for nutrition services and administration as 
                        the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and
                            ``(ii) direct the amounts withheld for use 
                        by the State agency solely for achieving 
                        compliance with subparagraph (B).''; and
                    (F) in paragraph (13), by adding at the end the 
                following:
                    ``(C) Access.--The Secretary shall make available 
                on request the national universal product code database 
                information to vendors approved for participation in 
                the special supplemental food program established under 
                this section.'';
            (8) by striking subsection (k);
            (9) by redesignating subsections (l) through (q) as 
        subsections (k) through (p), respectively;
            (10) in subsection (l)(9)(A) (as so redesignated), by 
        striking ``2015'' and inserting ``2020'';
            (11) in subsection (o) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in paragraphs (1) and (2)(B), by striking 
                ``subsection (o)(1)(A)'' each place it appears and 
                inserting ``subsection (n)(1)(A)'';
                    (B) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) fifth, to reimburse any WIC infant formula 
                manufacturer for any rebate provided to the State 
                agency on WIC infant formula unlawfully trafficked 
                under a provision of law described in paragraph (2), 
                subject to the condition that the funds are recovered 
                by the State.''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Notice of investigation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For any investigation into the 
                trafficking of WIC infant formula pursuant to this 
                subsection, to the maximum extent practicable, the 
                Secretary shall provide notice of resolution of the 
                disposition of an unlawful action resulting from the 
                investigation to all contracted manufacturers of the 
                trafficked infant formula.
                    ``(B) Estimates.--Not later than 90 days after the 
                date on which notice is provided under subparagraph 
                (A), the State shall submit to the contracted 
                manufacturer an estimate of--
                            ``(i) the number of units, if any, for 
                        which rebates may have been issued as a result 
                        of the violation; and
                            ``(ii) the total dollar amount of the 
                        rebates.''; and
            (12) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(q) State Advisory Councils and Boards.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall encourage any 
        advisory council or board operated by a State agency to include 
        adequate representation of all appropriate program 
        stakeholders, including--
                    ``(A) vendors approved for participation in the 
                special supplemental food program established under 
                this section;
                    ``(B) program beneficiaries;
                    ``(C) community representatives; and
                    ``(D) representatives of organizations intended to 
                reduce hunger and improve the health and well-being of 
                program participants.
            ``(2) Meetings.--The Secretary shall encourage the meetings 
        of an advisory council or board described in paragraph (1) to 
        provide for--
                    ``(A) participation by means other than in-person; 
                and
                    ``(B) public availability or dissemination of a 
                description of--
                            ``(i) the activities of the advisory 
                        council or board;
                            ``(ii) the proceedings of the advisory 
                        council or board; and
                            ``(iii) the meeting minutes of the advisory 
                        council or board.
    ``(r) Fraud and Safety Review.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall review 
        current guidance, regulations, and practices regarding fraud 
        and safety for purposes of this section.
            ``(2) Inclusions.--The review under paragraph (1) shall 
        include a review of issues relating to--
                    ``(A) excess and unused infant formula;
                    ``(B) invoices pertaining to products subject to 
                rebate;
                    ``(C) the sale of infant formula by unauthorized 
                entities; and
                    ``(D) the purchase of infant formula from 
                unauthorized entities.
            ``(3) Updates.--Based on the findings of the review under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall update current regulations 
        and guidance and issue additional regulations and guidance, as 
        necessary--
                    ``(A) to minimize fraud; and
                    ``(B) to ensure the safety of participants.
    ``(s) Cooperation With Law Enforcement Agencies.--Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, State agencies and law enforcement agencies 
shall share WIC vendor information relating to investigations or 
prosecutions under the program under this section, as determined by the 
Secretary.
    ``(t) Pilot Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
        may conduct pilot projects to test alternative certification, 
        food delivery procedures, service delivery methods, and 
        mechanisms for providing additional food assistance under this 
        section.
            ``(2) Prohibition.--In conducting pilot projects under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary may not waive or modify the 
        application of program eligibility, supplemental foods, or cost 
        containment requirements.
            ``(3) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall evaluate each pilot 
        project carried out under this subsection after the pilot 
        project has been in operation for 3 years.''.
    (b) Review of Adjunctive Eligibility for WIC.--
            (1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    (A) Adjunctively eligible.--The term ``adjunctively 
                eligible'', with respect to an individual, means an 
                individual who is eligible for WIC under section 
                17(d)(2)(A)(iii) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
                U.S.C. 1786(d)(2)(A)(iii).
                    (B) Comptroller general.--The term ``Comptroller 
                General'' means the Comptroller General of the United 
                States.
                    (C) Medicaid.--The term ``Medicaid'' means the 
                Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
                    (D) Poverty line.--The term ``poverty line'' means 
                the most recent annual Federal Poverty Income 
                Guidelines published by the Department of Health and 
                Human Services.
                    (E) WIC.--The term ``WIC'' means the special 
                supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and 
                children established by section 17 of the Child 
                Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786).
            (2) Study.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study 
        to examine the impact of adjunctive eligibility on WIC 
        participation, including the administrative burden, number of 
        participants in WIC, and other impacts on the participants.
            (3) Adjunctive eligibility and income of wic 
        participants.--
                    (A) In general.--In conducting the study described 
                in paragraph (2), the Comptroller General shall examine 
                the extent to which individuals certified as 
                adjunctively eligible to receive supplemental foods and 
                services through WIC have incomes above 185 percent of 
                the poverty line.
                    (B) Data.--
                            (i) Data collection.--The Comptroller 
                        General shall collect data to determine--
                                    (I) the total number of pregnant 
                                women, postpartum women, breastfeeding 
                                women, infants, and children 
                                participating in WIC;
                                    (II) an estimate of the share of 
                                individuals described in subclause (I) 
                                who are certified as adjunctively 
                                eligible; and
                                    (III) an estimate of the share of 
                                individuals described in subclause (II) 
                                for whom income (for purposes of 
                                Medicaid eligibility) is above 185 
                                percent of the poverty line, above 250 
                                percent of the poverty line, above 300 
                                percent of the poverty line, and above 
                                any other demarcation thresholds as 
                                determined by the Comptroller General.
                            (ii) Sources.--The Comptroller General 
                        shall collect the information described in 
                        clause (i) from--
                                    (I) for subclause (I) and (II) of 
                                that clause, WIC program data; and
                                    (II) for subclause (III) of that 
                                clause, a review of the income of a 
                                representative sample of WIC 
                                participants (for purposes of Medicaid 
                                eligibility) at the time of WIC 
                                certification.
                            (iii) Other.--The estimate developed under 
                        clause (i)(III) shall be based on data 
                        collected in selected States in which the 
                        income eligibility limit for infants under 1 
                        year of age for Medicaid is at or above 185 
                        percent of the poverty line.
            (4) Use of income data to inform medicaid adjunctive 
        eligibility determinations.--
                    (A) In general.--Following collection of the data 
                described in paragraph (3), the Comptroller General 
                shall assess the feasibility, benefits, and costs of 
                requiring that WIC use an automated process to document 
                that only applicants with income below a specified 
                threshold may be certified as adjunctively eligible 
                based solely on Medicaid receipt.
                    (B) Scope.--The assessment described in 
                subparagraph (A) shall include an evaluation of the 
                capacity of the management information systems for both 
                WIC and Medicaid, including the ability of the systems 
                to exchange data.
                    (C) WIC management information systems.--The 
                Comptroller General shall assess--
                            (i) which State agencies and tribal 
                        organizations operating WIC use management 
                        information systems with the capacity, via an 
                        automated process, for local WIC clinics to 
                        document--
                                    (I) income as a share of the 
                                poverty level for purposes of Medicaid 
                                eligibility; or
                                    (II) Medicaid enrollment and income 
                                below a specified level;
                            (ii) the steps necessary to prepare all 
                        local WIC clinics to obtain and to access that 
                        income information as a part of the WIC 
                        application process as well as part of the 
                        associated costs of modifying WIC automated 
                        systems and training staff; and
                            (iii) other information determined relevant 
                        by the Comptroller General, such as the impact 
                        of the identified steps on administrative 
                        costs, clinical services, and waiting times for 
                        appointments.
                    (D) Medicaid management information systems.--The 
                Comptroller General shall assess--
                            (i) whether the mechanized claims 
                        processing and information retrieval systems of 
                        States under section 1903(a)(3)(A)(i) of the 
                        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
                        1396b(a)(3)(A)(i)) have the capacity to 
                        provide, at the time of WIC certification and 
                        via an automated process, data to an agency or 
                        tribal organization operating WIC regarding--
                                    (I) income as a share of the 
                                poverty level for purposes of Medicaid 
                                eligibility; or
                                    (II) whether a Medicaid recipient 
                                has income below a specified level;
                            (ii) the steps necessary to ensure that 
                        mechanized claims processing and information 
                        retrieval systems in States for which the 
                        income eligibility limit for infants under 1 
                        year of age under Medicaid is above 185 percent 
                        of the poverty line have the capacity to 
                        provide the information described in clause (i) 
                        to local WIC clinics for the purpose of 
                        documenting adjunctive eligibility under an 
                        option that would limit that eligibility to 
                        individuals with income below a specific 
                        threshold; and
                            (iii) other information determined relevant 
                        by the Comptroller General and the Secretary of 
                        Health and Human Services, including the impact 
                        of the identified steps on administrative 
                        costs.
            (5) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 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 describing--
                    (A) the data collected under paragraph (3);
                    (B) the assessments made under paragraph (4); and
                    (C) the feasibility, costs, benefits, and effects 
                on participants of a new requirement that would only 
                permit adjunctive eligibility for individuals with 
                household income below a specified level.

SEC. 205. TEAM NUTRITION NETWORK.

    Section 19 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1788) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting ``evidence-based'' before 
                        ``team nutrition messages''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``developed by the 
                        Secretary'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``under this Act 
                and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.)'' before the semicolon at the 
                end;
                    (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``purposes; and'' 
                and inserting the following: ``purposes, including if 
                appropriate--
                    ``(A) State and local nutrition education programs, 
                health and wellness policies, nutrition education or 
                curriculum content, and other State resources; and
                    ``(B) Federal nutrition education efforts, 
                including those programs under this Act and the Richard 
                B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et 
                seq.); and''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) by striking ``helping children to 
                        maintain a healthy weight by''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``in and out of school'' 
                        before the period at the end;
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``(b)'' and all that 
        follows through ``In this section, the term'' and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Nutrition education.--The term `nutrition education' 
        means the provision of individual or group learning 
        opportunities and materials that emphasize the relationship 
        among nutrition, physical activity, and health with a goal of 
        improving long-term dietary and physical health and increasing 
        food security.
            ``(2) Team nutrition network.--The term'';
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by striking the subsection designation and 
                heading and inserting the following:
    ``(c) State Network Grants.--''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Allocation.--Subject to the availability of funds for 
        use in carrying out this subsection, the total amount of funds 
        made available for a fiscal year for grants under this 
        subsection shall be in an amount equal to not more than the sum 
        of--
                    ``(A) the product obtained by multiplying--
                            ``(i) \1/2\ cent; by
                            ``(ii) the number of lunches reimbursed 
                        through food service programs under the Richard 
                        B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
                        1751 et seq.) during the second preceding 
                        fiscal year in schools, institutions, and 
                        service institutions that participate in the 
                        food service programs; and
                    ``(B) the total value of funds received by the 
                Secretary in support of this subsection from 
                nongovernmental sources.
            ``(5) Requirements for state participation.--To be eligible 
        to receive a grant under this subsection, a State agency shall 
        submit to the Secretary a plan that--
                    ``(A) is subject to approval by the Secretary; and
                    ``(B) is submitted at such time and in such manner, 
                and contains such information, as the Secretary may 
                require, including--
                            ``(i) a description of the goals and 
                        proposed State plan for addressing the health 
                        and other consequences of children who are at 
                        risk of becoming overweight or obese;
                            ``(ii) an analysis of the means by which 
                        the State agency will use and disseminate the 
                        team nutrition messages and material to 
                        children and, if appropriate, the families of 
                        the children;
                            ``(iii) an explanation of the ways in which 
                        the State agency will use the funds from the 
                        grant--
                                    ``(I) to work toward the goals 
                                required under clause (i); and
                                    ``(II) to promote healthy eating 
                                and physical activity and fitness in 
                                schools throughout the State;
                            ``(iv) a description of the ways in which 
                        the State team nutrition network messages and 
                        activities will be coordinated at the State 
                        level with other health promotion and education 
                        activities;
                            ``(v) a description of the consultative 
                        process that the State agency employed in the 
                        development of the model nutrition and physical 
                        activity programs, including consultations with 
                        individuals and organizations with expertise in 
                        promoting public health, nutrition, or physical 
                        activity;
                            ``(vi) a description of how the State 
                        agency will evaluate the effectiveness of each 
                        program developed by the State agency;
                            ``(vii) an annual summary of the team 
                        nutrition network activities;
                            ``(viii) a description of the ways in which 
                        the total school environment will support 
                        healthy eating and physical activity; and
                            ``(ix) a description of how all 
                        communications to parents and legal guardians 
                        of students who are members of a household 
                        receiving information under the program shall 
                        be made--
                                    ``(I) in an understandable and 
                                uniform format; and
                                    ``(II) to the maximum extent 
                                practicable, in a language that parents 
                                and legal guardians can understand.
            ``(6) State coordinator.--Each State that receives a grant 
        under this subsection shall appoint a team nutrition network 
        coordinator, who shall--
                    ``(A) administer and coordinate the team nutrition 
                network within and across schools, school food 
                authorities, families, and other child nutrition 
                program providers in the State; and
                    ``(B) coordinate activities of the Secretary, 
                acting through the Food and Nutrition Service, and 
                State agencies responsible for other children's health, 
                education, and wellness programs to implement a 
                comprehensive, coordinated team nutrition network 
                program and educational programming.
            ``(7) Authorized activities.--A State agency that receives 
        a grant under this section may use funds from the grant--
                    ``(A) to identify the programs and services 
                available to meet the needs of children and youth in 
                the State who are overweight, physically inactive, or 
                otherwise suffering from nutrition-related deficiencies 
                or disease conditions;
                    ``(B) to implement model elementary and secondary 
                education curricula using team nutrition network 
                messages and material to create a comprehensive, 
                coordinated nutrition and physical fitness awareness 
                and obesity prevention program;
                    ``(C) to implement pilot projects in schools to 
                promote physical activity and to enhance the 
                nutritional status of students;
                    ``(D) to improve access to local foods through 
                coordinating with farm to school grant activities that 
                include the provision of nutrition education;
                    ``(E) to implement State guidelines in health 
                (including nutrition education and physical education 
                guidelines) and to emphasize regular physical activity 
                during school hours;
                    ``(F) to establish healthy eating and lifestyle 
                policies in schools;
                    ``(G) to provide training and technical assistance 
                to teachers and school food service professionals 
                consistent with the purposes of this subsection; or
                    ``(H) to collaborate with public and private 
                organizations, including community-based organizations, 
                State medical, pediatric, and dietetic associations, 
                and public health groups, to develop and implement 
                nutrition and physical education programs targeting 
                lower-income children, ethnic minorities, and youth at 
                a greater risk for obesity.'';
            (4) by striking subsections (d) through (g) and (k);
            (5) by redesignating subsections (h) through (j) and (l) as 
        subsections (d) through (f) and (g), respectively;
            (6) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting 
                ``Education'' after ``Nutrition''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), by striking 
                                ``and'' at the end; and
                                    (II) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(iii) incorporate nutrition education 
                        into academic instruction (including science, 
                        English, and math), physical and health 
                        education, and afterschool programs, including 
                        athletics; and''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) by striking clause (iv);
                                    (II) in clause (vii), by striking 
                                ``a variety of healthy foods'' and all 
                                that follows through ``fruit bars'' and 
                                inserting ``a variety of healthy foods 
                                through new initiatives to creatively 
                                market such foods'';
                                    (III) in clause (viii), by striking 
                                ``low-fat and nutrient dense'' and 
                                inserting ``healthy''; and
                                    (IV) by redesignating clauses (v) 
                                through (ix) as clauses (iv) through 
                                (viii), respectively;
            (7) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``may provide for technical assistance and grants'' and 
        inserting ``shall provide for technical assistance''; and
            (8) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Review.--
            ``(1) Study.--The Secretary shall select, through a 
        competitive process, and offer to enter into an agreement with 
        an independent entity in the private sector that has recognized 
        credentials and expertise in nutrition education--
                    ``(A) to conduct a study on the effectiveness and 
                level of coordination between nutrition education in 
                the child nutrition programs and other programs 
                implemented by the Federal Government that include 
                nutrition education; and
                    ``(B) to develop recommendations to encourage 
                innovative partnerships and community initiatives to 
                identify creative ways to deliver nutrition education 
                in Federal nutrition assistance programs in order to 
                enhance the impact of the programs.
            ``(2) Report to congress.--Not later than 2 years after the 
        date of enactment of the Improving Child Nutrition Integrity 
        and Access Act of 2016, the Secretary shall 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 that describes--
                    ``(A) a summary of the study conducted under 
                paragraph (1);
                    ``(B) any findings and recommendations made as part 
                of the study;
                    ``(C) a plan for disseminating best practices for 
                nutrition education delivery to State agencies; and
                    ``(D) any policy recommendations, and corresponding 
                legislative recommendations if needed, to maximize the 
                coordination and effectiveness of Federal programs that 
                include nutrition education.''.

                        TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 301. REVIEWS.

    (a) Tribal Foods.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall review--
                    (A) the barriers to including tribally produced, 
                traditional, and culturally appropriate foods in child 
                nutrition programs (as defined in subparagraphs (A) 
                through (E) of section 25(b)(1) of the Richard B. 
                Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
                1769f(b)(1)) within all forms of tribal schools; and
                    (B) the means of encouraging and assisting enhanced 
                inclusion of foods described in subparagraph (A) in 
                child nutrition programs.
            (2) Scope.--In carrying out the review described in 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                    (A) survey and compile resources of the Department 
                of Agriculture on the issue described in paragraph 
                (1)(A);
                    (B) clarify relevant Federal regulations governing 
                schools and tribal producers, including regulations 
                relating to procurement, reimbursement, and food 
                safety;
                    (C) involve all relevant agencies, including the 
                Food and Nutrition Service and Office of Tribal 
                Relations of the Department of Agriculture; and
                    (D) submit to Congress a report describing the 
                results of the review.
    (b) Use of Program Data.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary, jointly with the Secretary 
        of Education, shall--
                    (A) review information regarding available 
                alternative data sets for use in programs that are 
                using free and reduced price meals data; and
                    (B) determine the appropriateness of using such 
                alternative data sets in place of free and reduced 
                price meal program data by other programs to reduce the 
                burden on local school food authorities.
            (2) Report to congress.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall 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 that describes the results 
        of the review and any recommendations of the Secretaries.
    (c) Crediting and Labeling Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall review and update the 
        system of crediting and the voluntary child nutrition labeling 
        program used in administering--
                    (A) the school lunch program established under the 
                Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
                1751 et seq.); and
                    (B) the school breakfast program established by 
                section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                1773).
            (2) Scope.--The review described in paragraph (1) shall 
        include--
                    (A) the treatment of food products within 
                previously established food categories and new products 
                that have entered the commercial marketplace since the 
                system of crediting and the voluntary child nutrition 
                labeling program were developed; and
                    (B) the timeliness in which applications for labels 
                under the voluntary child nutrition labeling program 
                are reviewed and are granted or denied.
            (3) Report to congress.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 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 that describes the results 
        of the review and any recommendations of the Secretary.
    (d) Nutritional Analysis.--The Secretary shall--
            (1) review the practicability and feasibility of--
                    (A) conducting a nutritional analysis, using 
                publicly and commercially available nutritional 
                information, of food products that are voluntarily 
                submitted for use in child nutrition programs, outside 
                of the reimbursable school meal; and
                    (B) aggregating and making publicly available the 
                information obtained through that nutritional analysis 
                for use by school food authorities, food manufacturers, 
                and other interested parties; and
            (2) if found practicable and feasible, proceed with the 
        analysis, aggregation, and public availability.
    (e) Unlawful Activity.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall review--
                    (A) the number of instances and types of unlawful 
                activity that have occurred in the past 3 years, 
                including instances of fraud, bid-rigging, and any 
                other anticompetitive activities carried out in 
                connection with supplying, providing, or selling goods 
                or services for a program under the Richard B. Russell 
                National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) or 
                the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et 
                seq.); and
                    (B) the practices and procedures currently used by 
                the Department of Agriculture to prevent unlawful 
                activity described in subparagraph (A).
            (2) Secretarial response.--Following completion of the 
        review described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall respond, 
        if appropriate, by taking action to reduce such unlawful 
        activity, including--
                    (A) revising any relevant guidance and regulations;
                    (B) issuing fines authorized under subsection (g) 
                of section 25 of the Richard B. Russell National School 
                Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769f) (as amended by section 
                115); and
                    (C) submitting to the Committee on Education and 
                the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
                the Senate recommendations for any legislative changes 
                needed to enhance program oversight.
            (3) Scope.--The actions described in paragraph (2) shall be 
        designed to reduce--
                    (A) anticompetitive activities, including bid-
                rigging, price-fixing, the allocation of customers 
                between competitors, or other violation of Federal or 
                State antitrust laws;
                    (B) fraud, bribery, theft, forgery, or 
                embezzlement;
                    (C) knowingly receiving stolen property;
                    (D) making a false claim or statement; or
                    (E) any other obstruction of justice.
    (f) Review of Existing Research and Recommendation for Future 
Program Evaluation.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall collect and review 
        any existing research and scientific literature that provides 
        an assessment of the effects that the school lunch program 
        established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school breakfast program 
        established by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
        U.S.C. 1773) are having on reducing food insecurity and 
        increasing positive health outcomes.
            (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the review described in 
        paragraph (1) shall be to evaluate the current state of 
        credible information and accompanying data regarding the 
        collective impact that the programs described in that paragraph 
        are having on the food security and health of program 
        participants.
            (3) Report.--Not later than 60 days after completing the 
        review described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 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) a report that describes the results of the 
                review, including any gaps in research; and
                    (B) after consulting with stakeholders, a 
                recommendation for what legislative action and 
                additional resources are necessary for a comprehensive 
                evaluation of--
                            (i) whether the programs described in 
                        paragraph (1) are reducing food insecurity and 
                        increasing positive health outcomes; and
                            (ii) what research is needed to make policy 
                        recommendations that will enable the programs 
                        to better meet the stated purpose of the 
                        programs.
    (g) Lactation Resources.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary 
shall--
            (1) review the current use of certified lactation 
        consultants in local agencies operating the special 
        supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children 
        established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
        (42 U.S.C. 1786); and
            (2) encourage the additional use of certified lactation 
        consultants in local agencies wherever possible.
    (h) Infant Formula.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
            (1) review the current regulations regarding caloric 
        density standards for infant formula made available in the 
        special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and 
        children established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act 
        of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786); and
            (2) as appropriate, update the regulations based on the 
        most recent scientific knowledge available.
    (i) Fluid Milk.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall incorporate into the 
        review conducted under section 17(f)(11)(C) of the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(f)(11)(C)), an 
        examination of criteria relating to fluid milk, in 
        consideration of the most recent Dietary Guidelines for 
        Americans published under section 301 of the National Nutrition 
        Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341).
            (2) Rates.--The review shall include examination of the 
        consumption and redemption rates since May 5, 2014.

SEC. 302. PROGRAM DELIVERY.

    (a) Program Administration.--The Secretary shall work with States 
participating in programs authorized under the Richard B. Russell 
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the Child 
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) to encourage--
            (1) streamlining of program administration at the State 
        level;
            (2) communication among State agencies administering the 
        programs; and
            (3) coordination of administration of Federal benefits at 
        the State level to ensure efficiency and improved access to 
        participants.
    (b) School Food Authorities.--Nothing in this Act, the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), or the 
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) precludes the 
ability of a State agency to approve an otherwise eligible and 
participating charter school or a group of charter schools as a school 
food authority.

SEC. 303. PRODUCT AVAILABILITY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, 
make available lactose-free milk with an extended shelf life for use in 
the commodity distribution program authorized under section 14 of the 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1762a).
    (b) Size and Form.--The milk described in subsection (a) shall, to 
the extent practicable, be made available in a size and form acceptable 
for and conducive to consumption by school-aged children.

SEC. 304. PROCUREMENT.

    In administering the summer food service program for children 
established under section 13 of the Richard B. Russell National School 
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761) and the child and adult care food program 
established under section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School 
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766), the Secretary shall ensure that--
            (1) service institutions participating in the programs have 
        flexibility in determining the frequency of procurement and 
        food items included in each solicitation; and
            (2) any procurement procedure implemented by a State agency 
        is cost effective and efficient in meeting the relevant meal 
        pattern requirements.

SEC. 305. SCHOOL NUTRITION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a School Nutrition 
Advisory Committee (referred to in this section as the ``Committee'') 
to provide input in administration of the school lunch program 
authorized under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school breakfast program established by 
section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) (referred 
to in this section as ``child nutrition programs'').
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Composition.--The Committee shall include members 
        appointed by the Secretary from each of the following 
        stakeholder interests:
                    (A) An organization that advocates for consumers on 
                issues relating to health and nutrition.
                    (B) An organization that conducts research and 
                advocates on issues relating to child nutrition.
                    (C) An organization that advocates for cardiac 
                health.
                    (D) A professional organization representing 
                pediatricians.
                    (E) A professional organization representing 
                dietitians.
                    (F) A trade association representing fruit and 
                vegetable growers.
                    (G) A coalition of large urban school food 
                authorities.
                    (H) 2 representatives from State agencies that 
                administer the child nutrition programs.
                    (I) A professional organization representing school 
                food service directors.
                    (J) A professional organization representing school 
                board members.
                    (K) A council representing large school districts.
                    (L) A professional association representing school 
                administrators.
                    (M) An entity that processes and manufactures meat 
                products.
                    (N) An entity that processes and manufactures dairy 
                products.
                    (O) An entity that processes and manufactures grain 
                products.
                    (P) An entity that assists suppliers and school 
                food authorities in selling and obtaining food 
                products.
                    (Q) A school food authority located in each of the 
                7 regions established for activities of the Food and 
                Nutrition Service, including--
                            (i) 3 representatives from districts 
                        located in rural areas;
                            (ii) 2 representatives from districts 
                        located in urban areas; and
                            (iii) 2 representatives from districts 
                        located in urban cluster areas, as defined by 
                        census tract data.
                    (R) A council representing public officials who 
                head departments of elementary and secondary education.
                    (S) 2 representatives from the technology sector.
            (2) Terms.--The Secretary shall appoint members to serve on 
        the Committee for staggered terms, each of 4 years duration.
    (c) Function.--
            (1) In general.--The Committee shall--
                    (A) provide a venue for communication between 
                stakeholders and the Department of Agriculture 
                regarding child nutrition programs;
                    (B) give insight into child nutrition program 
                implementation;
                    (C) review and make recommendations to the 
                Secretary on proposed regulations, guidance, and policy 
                development involving child nutrition programs; and
                    (D) evaluate methods for program and administration 
                improvement of child nutrition programs.
            (2) Report.--The Committee shall submit to the Secretary, 
        the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of 
        Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
        and Forestry of the Senate, an annual report that describes the 
        activities of the Committee during the previous year.
    (d) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet quarterly.
    (e) Staffing.--The Secretary shall provide such personnel as may be 
required to assist the Committee in carrying out the duties of the 
Committee.
    (f) Termination.--The authority of the Committee shall terminate on 
September 30, 2025.

SEC. 306. PAPERWORK REDUCTION.

    (a) In General.--For any program authorized under the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) or the Child 
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), the Secretary shall--
            (1) periodically review regulations, guidance, and other 
        requirements to evaluate the volume of information required to 
        be reported to the Department of Agriculture by program 
        participants; and
            (2) if appropriate, streamline or otherwise reduce any 
        unnecessary or duplicative paperwork, reporting requirements, 
        and other administrative burdens while maintaining program 
        integrity.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary shall 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 that describes any action the Secretary 
has taken under subsection (a) during the preceding 3 calendar years.

SEC. 307. TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) Use of Technology.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
            (1) review the current use of technology in the school 
        lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National 
        School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school 
        breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773);
            (2) identify opportunities in which enhanced use of 
        technology would reduce the rate of errors in administration of 
        the programs by State agencies and local educational agencies; 
        and
            (3) encourage State agencies and local educational agencies 
        to use technology in the areas identified under paragraph (2).
    (b) Identification.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
            (1) review the feasibility and evaluate the benefits of 
        using a unique student identifier in the school lunch program 
        established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school breakfast program 
        established by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
        U.S.C. 1773);
            (2) 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 
        describing the results of the review under paragraph (1); and
            (3) initiate implementation of a system for using a unique 
        student identifier, unless implementation is not in the best 
        interest of the programs described in paragraph (1).

SEC. 308. PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT.

    (a) Standardization.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall review current 
        practice and standardize the process (including forms) for 
        administrative reviews, applications (including online 
        applications), and claim reimbursement for the school lunch 
        program established under the Richard B. Russell National 
        School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school 
        breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).
            (2) Application forms.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall--
                    (A) review the most current application forms, 
                including paper and online forms, used to apply for 
                participation in the school lunch program and school 
                breakfast program;
                    (B) provide guidance to States relating to best 
                practices, including a standard paper and online 
                application form for use by local educational agencies; 
                and
                    (C) provide guidance to States relating to how to 
                improve applications to ensure families understand the 
                process for enrollment in the school lunch program and 
                the school breakfast program.
    (b) Software Approval.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a process to 
        review and approve software used by local educational agencies 
        relating to free and reduced price meal applications and claim 
        reimbursement for the school lunch program established under 
        the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1751 et seq.) and the school breakfast program established by 
        section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).
            (2) Scope.--In carrying out the process described in 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                    (A) develop and publish standards that software 
                must meet to gain the approval of the Secretary, taking 
                into consideration existing software being used by 
                States and local educational agencies; and
                    (B) ensure that any standards developed will 
                promote--
                            (i) consistency in reporting processes; and
                            (ii) data compatibility and transferability 
                        between States and local educational agencies.

SEC. 309. FLEXIBILITY IN SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS.

    (a) Review.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than July 1, 2019, the Secretary 
        shall contract with a qualified independent entity to conduct a 
        review of the nutrition standards for sodium in the final rule 
        of the Secretary entitled ``Nutrition Standards in the National 
        School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs'' (77 Fed. Reg. 4088 
        (January 26, 2012)).
            (2) Scope.--The review described in paragraph (1) shall 
        include an assessment of--
                    (A) the impact of the rule on--
                            (i) student participation rates in the 
                        school lunch program established under the 
                        Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
                        (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school 
                        breakfast program established by section 4 of 
                        the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                        1773);
                            (ii) food costs;
                            (iii) food safety;
                            (iv) food service operations; and
                            (v) marketplace availability of products 
                        that meet the nutrition standards specified in 
                        the rule; and
                    (B) whether the latest scientific research 
                indicates that further reduction in sodium is necessary 
                to safeguard the health of children.
            (3) Completion date.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        review described in paragraph (1) is completed not later than 
        July 1, 2020.
            (4) Progress report.--Not later than January 1, 2020, the 
        Secretary shall 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 status of the review described in paragraph (1), including 
        preliminary results from the review.
    (b) Regulations.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall update regulations 
        regarding nutrition standards for whole grains and sodium in 
        the school lunch program established under the Richard B. 
        Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and 
        the school breakfast program established by section 4 of the 
        Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) to improve program 
        administration.
            (2) Procedure.--The update described in paragraph (1) shall 
        be made without regard to--
                    (A) the notice and comment provisions of section 
                553 of title 5, United States Code; and
                    (B) chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code 
                (commonly known as the ``Paperwork Reduction Act'').
    (c) Interagency Cooperation.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an 
        interagency working group to issue guidance regarding the safe 
        and effective provision of fruits and vegetables in the school 
        meal programs authorized under the Richard B. Russell National 
        School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.).
            (2) Membership.--The interagency working group described in 
        paragraph (1) shall include representatives of--
                    (A) the Department of Agriculture; and
                    (B) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    (d) Advisory Panel.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an 
        advisory panel to consider issues and develop policy 
        recommendations for the sale of foods outside of the 
        reimbursable meals in the school meal programs authorized under 
        the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1751 et seq.) and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
        1771 et seq.).
            (2) Membership.--The advisory panel described in paragraph 
        (1) shall include representation from--
                    (A) an organization that conducts advocacy on 
                issues relating to health and nutrition;
                    (B) a professional organization that represents 
                school food service directors;
                    (C) entities that process or manufacture products 
                for use in the school meal programs; and
                    (D) an organization that conducts research and 
                advocacy on issues related to child nutrition.
            (3) Nonapplicability.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act 
        (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the panel described in 
        paragraph (1).
            (4) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which 
        members are appointed to the panel, the panel shall submit to 
        the Secretary, 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 describing the 
        recommendations described in paragraph (1).

SEC. 310. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

    (a) Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.--
            (1) The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is 
        amended in sections 4, 9, 9A, 12, 19, 23, 24, and 25 (42 U.S.C. 
        1753, 1758,1758b, 1760, 1796a, 1769d, 1769e, 1769f) by striking 
        ``Committee on Education and Labor'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``Committee on Education and the Workforce''.
            (2) Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School 
        Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``foster child'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``foster youth''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b)(5)(B), by striking ``(42 
                U.S.C. 11434a(2))'' and inserting ``(42 U.S.C. 
                11434a(2)))''.
            (3) Section 11(a)(3) of the Richard B. Russell National 
        School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(3)) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding 
                clause (i) by striking ``July 1, 1982, and on each 
                subsequent July 1'' and inserting ``February 15 of the 
                prior school year''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by striking ``each 
                subsequent July 1'' and inserting ``each subsequent 
                February 15''.
            (4) Section 12 of the Richard B. Russell National School 
        Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ``U.S.C'' and 
                inserting ``U.S.C.'';
                    (B) in subsection (m)(2), in the paragraph heading, 
                by striking ``american'' and inserting ``American''; 
                and
                    (C) in subsection (n)--
                            (i) in paragraph (3), in the paragraph 
                        heading, by striking ``hawaii'' and inserting 
                        ``Hawaii''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (4), in the paragraph 
                        heading, by striking ``puerto rico'' and 
                        inserting ``Puerto rico''.
            (5) Section 14(c) of the Richard B. Russell National School 
        Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1762a(c)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``section 311(a)(4) of the Older 
                Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030(a)(4))'' and 
                inserting ``section 311(c)(4) of the Older Americans 
                Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030a(c)(4))''; and
                    (B) by striking ``(42 U.S.C. 3030(b)(1))'' and 
                inserting ``(42 U.S.C. 3030a(b)(1))''.
            (6) Section 17(f)(3)(A)(ii) of the Richard B. Russell 
        National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766(f)(3)(A)(ii)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in the clause heading, by striking ``Tier i'' 
                and inserting ``Tier i''; and
                    (B) in subclause (I), in the subclause heading, by 
                striking ``tier i'' and inserting ``tier i''.
    (b) Child Nutrition Act of 1966.--
            (1) The Child Nutrition Act of 1966 is amended in sections 
        10 and 17 (42 U.S.C. 1779, 1786) by striking ``Committee on 
        Education and Labor'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``Committee on Education and the Workforce''.
            (2) Section 7(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Child Nutrition Act of 
        1966 (42 U.S.C. 1776(a)(2)(B)(i)) is amended by striking 
        ``clause (ii)'' and inserting ``clause (ii))''.
            (3) Section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
        U.S.C. 1786) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (b)(21), in the paragraph 
                heading, by striking ``indian or native'' and inserting 
                ``Indian or native'';
                    (B) in subsection (h)--
                            (i) in paragraph (4)--
                                    (I) in subparagraph (A)(vi), by 
                                striking ``and'' at the end; and
                                    (II) in subparagraph (C)(iv), by 
                                striking ``; and'' at the end and 
                                inserting a period;
                            (ii) in paragraph (5)(D), in the 
                        subparagraph heading, by striking ``indian or 
                        native'' and inserting ``Indian or native''; 
                        and
                            (iii) in paragraph (8)(A)(iv)--
                                    (I) in the clause heading, by 
                                striking ``state'' and inserting 
                                ``State''; and
                                    (II) in subclause (III), in the 
                                subclause heading, by striking ``state 
                                agencies and indian state agencies'' 
                                and inserting ``State agencies and 
                                indian state agencies''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (6)(C)(iv) of subsection (l) (as 
                redesignated by section 204(a)(9)), by striking 
                ``(G)(i)'' each place it appears and inserting 
                ``(F)(i)''.
                                                       Calendar No. 547

114th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 3136

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

    To reauthorize child nutrition programs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                              July 6, 2016

                 Read twice and placed on the calendar