Free meals for low-income college students

Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769) is amended by inserting before subsection (b) the following:

(a)

Free meals for low-income college students

(1)

Definitions

In this subsection: (A)

Community college

The term community college means— (i)a public institution of higher education at which the highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an associate degree, including Tribal Colleges or Universities receiving grants under section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c) that offer a 2-year program for completion of such degree and State public institutions of higher education that offer such a 2-year program; and (ii)a public postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c))). (B)

Eligible entity

(i)

In general

The term eligible entity means— (I)an eligible institution of higher education that has an on-campus meal program; (II)an institutionally operated food service, contracted prepared-meal provider, mobile meal distribution, food hub, food pantry, food hall, or community-based meal partnership, as determined by the Secretary; or (III)a consortium of eligible institutions of higher education, of which at least 1 eligible institution of higher education— (aa)has an on-campus meal program; and (bb)is geographically accessible to the students of each eligible institution of higher education in the consortium that does not have an on-campus meal program. (ii)

Geographic accessibility

For purposes of clause (i)(III)(bb), geographic accessibility shall be based on the location of, the availability of public transit to, and the meal service hours of each eligible institution of higher education within the consortium. (C)

Eligible institution of higher education

The term eligible institution of higher education means an institution of higher education (as defined in sections 101 and 102(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001, 1002(a)(1)(B))), including a minority-serving institution, in which at least 20 percent of the undergraduate students enrolled are eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant under subpart 1 of part A of title IV of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq.). (D)

Historically black college or university

The term historically Black college or university has the meaning given the term part B institution in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061). (E)

Minority-serving institution

The term minority-serving institution means an institution described in paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)). (F)

On-campus meal program

The term on-campus meal program means a meal program on the campus of an eligible institution of higher education that is provided through an institutionally owned or operated food service or 1 or more third-party food service vendors. (G)

Program

The term program means the program established under paragraph (2)(A). (H)

Tribal college or university

The term Tribal college or university means a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)) that is chartered by the governing body of the applicable Indian Tribe or by the Federal Government. (2)

Establishment

(A)

In general

The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service, shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible institutions of higher education to provide free meals, including snacks, to low-income students. (B)

Duration of grant

The duration of a grant awarded under the program shall not exceed 2 years. (3)

Application

To be eligible to receive a grant under the program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including— (A)a plan for identifying and conducting outreach to low-income students; and (B)an assurance that the eligible entity will— (i)conduct outreach to students with respect to the program, encourage student participation in the program, and inform students of— (I)their potential eligibility for participation in other Federal, State, and local benefit and support programs, including means-tested Federal benefits programs, such as the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); and (II)the processes for obtaining more information, confirming eligibility, and accessing benefits under those programs; (ii)evaluate institutional policies relating to the purchase of meal plans under on-campus meal programs and whether those policies create barriers to enrollment and persistence for low-income students; (iii)identify ways to mitigate any barriers under institutional policies that are found, through the evaluation described in clause (ii), to create barriers described in that clause; and (iv)in the case of an eligible entity that is a consortium of eligible institutions of higher education that includes 1 or more eligible institutions of higher education that do not have an on-campus meal program, provide an explanation with respect to how the eligible entity will ensure that low-income students attending those institutions of higher education that do not have an on-campus meal program will be notified of available free meals provided under the program and available transportation options to be able to easily access those free meals. (4)

Award administration

(A)

In general

In awarding grants under the program, the Secretary shall ensure that the eligible entities receiving grants reflect— (i)varying student body size; (ii)part-time and full-time student enrollment; (iii)diverse geographic locations and regional costs of living, including urban, rural, or suburban campuses; and (iv)diverse residential character, including race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. (B)

Priority

In awarding grants under the program, the Secretary may give priority to eligible entities— (i)with prepared food infrastructure or that can identify an outside source of support to develop that infrastructure; (ii)that are community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions (as defined in section 502(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a))), or other minority-serving institutions or consortia of minority-serving institutions; or (iii)that are located within proximity of a school that elects to receive special assistance payments under section 11(a)(1)(F). (5)

Use of funds

(A)

In general

An eligible entity that receives a grant under the program shall use the grant— (i)to establish a program to provide free meals, including snacks, to low-income students, subject to the condition that the eligible entity shall provide not fewer than 1 and not more than 10 free meals per week per student; (ii)to conduct outreach to students to encourage participation in the program; (iii)to prepare meals to be provided for free under the program; (iv)to purchase meals from vendors to be provided for free under the program; (v)to provide information to students regarding potential eligibility for assistance under Federal, State, and local benefit and support programs and the processes for obtaining more information, as described in paragraph (3)(B)(i); (vi)to conduct evaluations of institutional policies described in paragraph (3)(B)(ii); (vii)to identify ways to mitigate barriers described in paragraph (3)(B)(iii); and (viii)to provide an explanation described in paragraph (3)(B)(iv). (B)

Priority

In selecting low-income students to participate in the program established by the eligible entity under subparagraph (A)(i), an eligible entity shall give priority to low-income students who— (i)receive a Federal Pell Grant under subpart 1 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq.); (ii)indicate that they are experiencing or at risk of experiencing food insecurity, housing insecurity, homelessness, or other insecurity with respect to basic needs; or (iii)participate in a State or federally financed work-study program during the regular school year, as determined by the eligible institution of higher education. (C)

Limitation on purchase of equipment

An eligible entity that receives a grant under the program may use not more than 20 percent of the grant to purchase equipment. (D)

Eligibility for SNAP

Receipt of a meal under the program shall not be considered for the purposes of determining eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.). (6)

Requirement

Meals served by an eligible entity using a grant under the program shall meet the nutritional requirements developed under paragraph (9)(C). (7)

Report

Each eligible entity that receives a grant under the program shall, not later than 1 year after the end of the grant term, submit to the Secretary a report containing— (A)a description of the prevalence of food insecurity among students enrolled in the eligible entity; (B)an evaluation of the use of the grant funds by the eligible entity, including— (i)in addressing challenges with food insecurity; and (ii)with respect to the degree completion rates of students served by the eligible entity; and (C)information on the population of students served by the grant funds, disaggregated by— (i)part-time or full-time status; (ii)eligibility to receive the Federal Pell Grant under subpart 1 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq.); (iii)estimates of eligibility to receive benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); and (iv)dependency status. (8)

Duties of the Secretary

(A)

Consultation

In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall consult with eligible entities and State social service agencies. (B)

Technical assistance

(i)

In general

Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of the Food for Thought Act of 2026, the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service, and the Secretary of Education shall enter into a memorandum of understanding that— (I)authorizes the regular sharing of Department of Education data and resources to assist with identifying eligible institutions of higher education and low-income students; (II)contains a plan to assist State social services agencies and State higher education agencies in improving outreach to students eligible to enroll in the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); and (III)requires the development of an annual plan for the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service and the Secretary of Education to provide technical assistance, as applicable, to eligible entities— (aa)to develop prepared-meal infrastructure; (bb)to carry out the activities described in paragraph (5)(A), including training the employees of the eligible entity to carry out those activities; and (cc)to develop outreach to students who are likely to be eligible for benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.). (ii)

Data privacy

Data sharing pursuant to the memorandum of understanding under clause (i) shall— (I)comply with all applicable Federal privacy protections, including section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g) (commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974); and (II)be used only for the purpose of assisting eligible institutions of higher education in conducting outreach to low-income students. (C)

Nutritional requirements

Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of the Food for Thought Act of 2026, the Secretary shall develop nutritional requirements for meals served pursuant to grants under the program that are consistent with the goals 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). (D)

Report

(i)

In general

The Secretary shall submit to Congress— (I)not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Food for Thought Act of 2026, a report evaluating the program, including— (aa)how the program addressed food insecurity; and (bb)recommendations with respect to expanding the program; and (II)not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of the Food for Thought Act of 2026, a report on the effect of the program on retention and completion rates for low-income students served by the program. (ii)

Disaggregation

Information contained in the reports submitted under clause (i) shall be disaggregated, where possible, by— (I)sectors and types of institutions of higher education, including whether an institution of higher education is a minority-serving institution; (II)the number of eligible students who— (aa)are part-time, half-time, or full-time; (bb)are eligible to receive the Federal Pell Grant under subpart 1 of part A of title IV of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq.); (cc)are eligible to receive benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); (dd)have indicated that the student or a member of the family of the student previously received benefits under— (AA)the program described in item (cc); or (BB)the temporary assistance for needy families program established under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); (ee) (AA)reside in an institution or boarding house; or (BB)live with other individuals and pay compensation to those individuals for meals; and (ff)are first-generation college students; and (III)whether an institution of higher education has an open admissions policy. (9)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032.