[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8728 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8728
To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act to make breakfasts and lunches free for all
children, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 11, 2026
Mr. Gottheimer (for himself, Mr. Soto, and Ms. Pettersen) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education
and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act to make breakfasts and lunches free for all
children, 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 ``Feed Our Kids Act
of 2026''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Effective date.
TITLE I--SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM
Sec. 101. Free school breakfast program.
TITLE II--SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
Sec. 201. Apportionment to States.
Sec. 202. Nutritional and other program requirements.
Sec. 203. Special assistance program.
Sec. 204. Price for a paid lunch.
Sec. 205. Summer food service program for children.
Sec. 206. Child and adult care food program.
Sec. 207. Meals and supplements for children in afterschool care.
Sec. 208. Pilot projects.
Sec. 209. Fresh fruit and vegetable program.
Sec. 210. Training, technical assistance, and Food Service Management
Institute.
Sec. 211. Reimbursement of school meal delinquent debt program.
Sec. 212. Conforming amendments.
TITLE III--REPORT
Sec. 301. Report on free school meal programs.
SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Unless otherwise provided, this Act, and the amendments made by
this Act, shall take effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this
Act.
TITLE I--SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM
SEC. 101. FREE SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 4(a) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966
(42 U.S.C. 1773(a)) is amended, in the first sentence--
(1) by striking ``is hereby'' and inserting ``are''; and
(2) by inserting ``to provide free breakfast to all
children enrolled at those schools'' before ``in accordance''.
(b) Apportionment to States.--Section 4(b) of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking subclause
(II) and inserting the following:
``(II) the national average payment
for free breakfasts, as specified in
subparagraph (B).'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the
following:
``(B) Payment amounts.--
``(i) In general.--The national average
payment for each free breakfast shall be $2.80,
adjusted annually for inflation in accordance
with clause (ii) and rounded in accordance with
clause (iii).
``(ii) Inflation adjustment.--
``(I) In general.--The annual
inflation adjustment under clause (i)
shall reflect changes in the cost of
operating the free breakfast program
under this section, as indicated by the
change in the Consumer Price Index for
food away from home for all urban
consumers.
``(II) Basis.--Each inflation
annual adjustment under clause (i)
shall reflect the changes in the
Consumer Price Index for food away from
home for the most recent 12-month
period for which that data is
available.
``(iii) Rounding.--On July 1, 2026, and
annually thereafter, the national average
payment rate for free breakfast shall be--
``(I) adjusted to the nearest
lower-cent increment; and
``(II) based on the unrounded
amounts for the preceding 12-month
period.'';
(C) by striking subparagraphs (C) and (E); and
(D) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as
subparagraph (C);
(2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3);
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs
(2) and (3), respectively; and
(4) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by striking
``paragraph (3) or (4)'' and inserting ``paragraph (2)''.
(c) State Disbursement to Schools.--Section 4 of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) is amended by striking
subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) State Disbursement to Schools.--Funds apportioned and paid to
any State for the purpose of this section shall be disbursed by the
State educational agency to schools selected by the State educational
agency to assist those schools in operating a breakfast program.''.
(d) No Collection of Debt.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) or any
other provision of law, effective beginning on the date of
enactment of this Act, as a condition of participation in the
breakfast program under section 4 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1773),
a school--
(A) shall not collect any debt owed to the school
for unpaid meal charges; and
(B) shall continue to accrue debt for unpaid meal
charges--
(i) for the purpose of receiving
reimbursement under section 211; and
(ii) until the effective date specified in
section 2.
(2) Child nutrition act of 1966.--
(A) In general.--Section 4 of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) is amended by striking
subsection (d) and inserting the following:
``(d) No Collection of Debt.--A school participating in the free
breakfast program under this section shall not collect any debt owed to
the school for unpaid meal charges.''.
(B) Conforming amendment.--Section 23(a) of the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1793(a)) is
amended by striking ``school in severe need, as
described in section 4(d)(1)'' and inserting the
following: ``school--
``(1) that has a free breakfast program under section 4 or
seeks to initiate a free breakfast program under that section;
and
``(2) of which not less than 40 percent of the students are
economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a
measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)))''.
(e) Nutritional and Other Program Requirements.--Section 4(e) of
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773(e)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), in the second sentence, by
striking ``free or'' and all that follows through the period at
the end and inserting ``free to all children enrolled at a
school participating in the school breakfast program.''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), in the second sentence, by striking
``the full charge to the student for a breakfast meeting the
requirements of this section or''.
(f) Prohibition on Breakfast Shaming, Meal Denial.--
(1) In general.--Effective beginning on the date of
enactment of this Act, a school or school food authority--
(A) shall not--
(i) physically segregate for the purpose of
debt shaming or otherwise discriminate against
any child participating in the breakfast
program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773); or
(ii) overtly identify a child described in
clause (i) by a special token or ticket, an
announced or published list of names, or any
other means; and
(B) shall provide the program meal to any child
eligible under the program.
(2) Child nutrition act of 1966.--Section 4 of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(f) Prohibition on Breakfast Shaming.--A school or school food
authority shall not--
``(1) physically segregate for the purpose of debt shaming
or otherwise discriminate against any child participating in
the free breakfast program under this section; or
``(2) overtly identify a child described in paragraph (1)
by a special token or ticket, an announced or published list of
names, or any other means.''.
(g) Department of Defense Overseas Dependents' Schools.--Section
20(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1789(b)) is amended
by striking ``by this section'' and all that follows through the period
at the end and inserting ``by this section.''.
(h) Conforming Amendments.--The Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42
U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by striking ``or reduced price'' each place it appears;
(2) by striking ``and reduced price'' each place it
appears; and
(3) by striking ``a reduced price'' each place it appears.
TITLE II--SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
SEC. 201. APPORTIONMENT TO STATES.
Section 4(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
(42 U.S.C. 1753(b)) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
``(2) Payment amounts.--
``(A) In general.--The national average payment for
each free lunch shall be $4.63, adjusted annually for
inflation in accordance with subparagraph (C) and
rounded in accordance with subparagraph (D).
``(B) Additional payment for local food.--
``(i) Definition of locally-sourced farm
product.--In this subparagraph, the term
`locally-sourced farm product' means a farm
product that--
``(I) is marketed to consumers--
``(aa) directly; or
``(bb) through
intermediated channels (such as
food hubs and cooperatives);
and
``(II) with respect to the school
food authority purchasing the farm
product, is produced and distributed--
``(aa) in the State in
which the school food authority
is located; or
``(bb) not more than 250
miles from the location of the
school food authority.
``(ii) Additional payment eligibility.--
During a school year, a school food authority
shall receive an additional payment described
in clause (iii) if the State certifies that the
school food authority served meals (including
breakfasts, lunches, suppers, and supplements)
during the last school year of which not less
than 25 percent were made with locally sourced
farm products.
``(iii) Payment amount.--
``(I) In general.--The additional
payment amount under this subparagraph
shall be--
``(aa) $0.30 for each free
lunch and supper;
``(bb) $0.21 for each free
breakfast; and
``(cc) $0.08 for each free
supplement.
``(II) Adjustments.--Each
additional payment amount under
subclause (I) shall be adjusted
annually in accordance with
subparagraph (C) and rounded in
accordance with subparagraph (D).
``(iv) Disbursement.--The State agency
shall disburse funds made available under this
clause to school food authorities eligible to
receive additional reimbursement.
``(C) Inflation adjustment.--
``(i) In general.--The annual inflation
adjustment under subparagraphs (A) and (B)(iii)
shall reflect changes in the cost of operating
the free lunch program under this Act, as
indicated by the change in the Consumer Price
Index for food away from home for all urban
consumers.
``(ii) Basis.--Each annual inflation
adjustment under subparagraphs (A) and (B)(iii)
shall reflect the changes in the Consumer Price
Index for food away from home for the most
recent 12-month period for which that data is
available.
``(D) Rounding.--On July 1, 2026, and annually
thereafter, the national average payment rate for free
lunch and the additional payment amount for free
breakfast, lunch, supper, and supplement under
subparagraph (B) shall be--
``(i) adjusted to the nearest lower-cent
increment; and
``(ii) based on the unrounded amounts for
the preceding 12-month period.''; and
(2) by striking paragraph (3).
SEC. 202. NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Elimination of Free Lunch Eligibility Requirements.--
(1) In general.--Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) is amended by
striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Eligibility.--All children enrolled in a school that
participates in the school lunch program under this Act shall be
eligible to receive free lunch under this Act.''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--
(A) Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) is amended--
(i) in subsection (c), in the third
sentence, by striking ``or at a reduced cost'';
and
(ii) in subsection (e), by striking ``,
reduced price,''.
(B) Section 28 of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769i) is amended--
(i) by striking subsection (b); and
(ii) by redesignating subsection (c) as
subsection (b).
(C) Section 17(d)(2)(A) of the Child Nutrition Act
of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(2)(A)) is amended--
(i) by striking clause (i); and
(ii) by redesignating clauses (ii) and
(iii) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively.
(D) Section 1902(a) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396a(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (7)
and inserting the following:
``(7) provide safeguards which restrict the use or
disclosure of information concerning applicants and recipients
to purposes directly connected with the administration of the
plan;''.
(E) Section 1154(a)(2)(A)(i) of title 10, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``in accordance
with section 9(b)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(1))''.
(F) Section 4301 of the Food, Conservation, and
Energy Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 1758a) is repealed.
(b) No Collection of Debt.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et
seq.) or any other provision of law, effective beginning on the
date of enactment of this Act, as a condition of participation
in the school lunch program under that Act, a school--
(A) shall not collect any debt owed to the school
for unpaid meal charges; and
(B) shall continue to accrue debt for unpaid meal
charges--
(i) for the purpose of receiving
reimbursement under section 211; and
(ii) until the effective date specified in
section 2.
(2) National school lunch act.--Section 9 of the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) is amended
by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
``(d) No Collection of Debt.--A school participating in the school
lunch program under this Act shall not collect any debt owed to the
school for unpaid meal charges.''.
(c) Prohibition on Lunch Shaming.--Section 9 of the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(m) Prohibition on Lunch Shaming.--A school participating in the
school lunch program under this Act shall not--
``(1) physically segregate for the purpose of debt shaming
or otherwise discriminate against any child participating in
the school lunch program under this Act; or
``(2) overtly identify a child described in paragraph (1)
by a special token or ticket, an announced or published list of
names, or any other means.''.
SEC. 203. SPECIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 11 of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a) is repealed.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 6 of the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``sections 11
and 13'' and inserting ``section 13''; and
(B) in subsection (e)(1), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``section 4, this
section, and section 11'' and inserting ``this section
and section 4''.
(2) Section 7(d) of the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1756(d)) is amended by striking ``or 11''.
(3) Section 8(g) of the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1757(g)) is amended by striking ``and
under section 11 of this Act''.
(4) Section 12(f) of the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(f)) is amended by striking ``11,''.
(5) Section 7(a) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42
U.S.C. 1766(a)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``4, 11, and
17'' and inserting ``4 and 17''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``sections 4
and 11'' and inserting ``section 4''.
(6) Section 1101(j)(3) of the Families First Coronavirus
Response Act (7 U.S.C. 2011 note; Public Law 116-127) is
amended--
(A) by striking ``or served under section 11(a)(1)
of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. 1760(d), 1759(a)(1))'' and inserting ``of the
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.
1760(d))''; and
(B) by striking ``or reduced price''.
SEC. 204. PRICE FOR A PAID LUNCH.
Section 12 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. 1760) is amended--
(1) in subsection (l)(4)--
(A) by striking subparagraph (D); and
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (M)
as subparagraphs (D) through (L), respectively;
(2) by striking subsection (p); and
(3) by redesignating subsections (q) and (r) as subsections
(p) and (q), respectively.
SEC. 205. 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) in paragraph (1)(A)(i)--
(i) in subclause (I), by striking ``have
been determined eligible for free or reduced
price school meals under this Act and the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et
seq.)'' and inserting ``are economically
disadvantaged students (as identified under a
measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)))'';
(ii) in subclause (II), by striking ``are
eligible for free or reduced price school meals
under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of
1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.)'' and inserting
``are economically disadvantaged students (as
identified under a measure described in section
1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6313(a)(5)))'';
(iii) in subclause (III)(bb), by striking
``meet the income standards for free or reduced
price school meals under this Act and the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et
seq.)'' and inserting ``are economically
disadvantaged students (as identified under a
measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)))'';
(iv) in subclause (IV), by striking ``are
eligible for free or reduced price school meals
under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of
1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.)'' and inserting
``are economically disadvantaged students (as
identified under a measure described in section
1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6313(a)(5)))''; and
(v) in subclause (V), by striking ``are
eligible for free or reduced price school meals
under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of
1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.)'' and inserting
``are economically disadvantaged students (as
identified under a measure described in section
1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6313(a)(5)))'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) Waiver.--If the Secretary determines that a
program requirement under this section limits the
access of children to meals served under this section,
the Secretary may waive that program requirement.
``(D) Eligibility.--All children shall be eligible
to participate in the program under this section.'';
(C) in paragraph (5), by striking ``only for'' and
all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``for meals served to all children.''; and
(D) in paragraph (13)--
(i) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking
``eligible for a free or reduced price lunch
under this Act or a free or reduced price
breakfast under section 4 of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773)'' and
inserting ``an economically disadvantaged
student (as identified under a measure
described in section 1113(a)(5) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)))''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking
``eligible for free or reduced price lunch
under this Act or free or reduced price
breakfast under section 4 of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773)'' and
inserting ``economically disadvantaged students
(as identified under a measure described in
section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6313(a)(5)))'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``may only serve''
and all that follows through ``migrant children'';
(3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) Payments.--
``(1) In general.--Payments shall be made to service
institutions for meals served--
``(A) during the months of May through September;
``(B) during school vacation at any time during an
academic school year;
``(C) during a teacher in-service day; and
``(D) on days that school is closed due to a
natural disaster, building repair, court order, or
similar cause, as determined by the Secretary.
``(2) Limitation on payments.--A service institution shall
receive payments under this section for not more than 3 meals
and 1 supplement per child per day.''; and
(4) in subsection (f)(3), by striking ``, except that'' and
all that follows through ``section''.
SEC. 206. CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM.
Section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. 1766) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking subparagraph (B) and
inserting the following:
``(B) any other private organization providing
nonresidential child care or day care outside school
hours for school children;'';
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) Free Meals.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law--
``(1) all meals and supplements served under the program
authorized under this section shall be provided for free to
participants of the program; and
``(2) an institution that serves those meals and
supplements shall be reimbursed--
``(A) in the case of breakfast, at the rate
established for free breakfast under section
4(b)(1)(B)(i) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42
U.S.C. 1773(b)(1)(B)(i));
``(B) in the case of lunch, at the rate established
for free lunch under section 4(b)(2)(A); and
``(C) in the case of a supplemental meal, $1.20,
adjusted for inflation in accordance with section
4(b)(2)(C).'';
(3) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (B)
and inserting the following:
``(B) Limitation to reimbursements.--An institution
may claim reimbursement under this paragraph for not
more than 3 meals and 1 supplement per day per
child.'';
(B) by striking paragraph (3); and
(C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph
(3);
(4) in subsection (o)--
(A) by striking paragraph (4); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as
paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and
(5) in subsection (r)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Program for At-risk School Children'' and inserting
``Afterschool Meal and Snack Program'';
(B) by striking ``at-risk school'' each place it
appears and inserting ``eligible'';
(C) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by striking
``at-risk school'' and inserting ``eligible'';
and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``operated'' and all that follows through the
period at the end and inserting a period; and
(D) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``only for''
and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting the following: ``for--
``(i) not more than 1 meal and 1 supplement
per child per day served on a regular school
day; and
``(ii) not more than 3 meals and 1
supplement per child per day served on any day
other than a regular school day.''.
SEC. 207. MEALS AND SUPPLEMENTS FOR CHILDREN IN AFTERSCHOOL CARE.
(a) In General.--Section 17A of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766a) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``meal
supplements'' and inserting ``meals and supplements'';
(2) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``meal supplements''
and inserting ``free meals and supplements'';
(3) in subsection (b), by inserting ``meals and'' before
``supplements'';
(4) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) Reimbursement.--
``(1) In general.--
``(A) Meals.--A free meal provided under this
section to a child shall be reimbursed at a rate of
$4.63, adjusted annually for inflation in accordance
with paragraph (3)(A) and rounded in accordance with
paragraph (3)(B).
``(B) Supplements.--A free supplement provided
under this section to a child shall be reimbursed at
the rate at which free supplements are reimbursed under
section 17(c)(2)(C).
``(2) Limitation to reimbursements.--An institution may
claim reimbursement under this section for not more than 1 meal
and 1 supplement per day per child served on a regular school
day.
``(3) Inflation; rounding.--
``(A) Inflation adjustment.--
``(i) In general.--The annual inflation
adjustment under paragraph (1)(A) shall reflect
changes in the cost of operating the program
under this section, as indicated by the change
in the Consumer Price Index for food away from
home for all urban consumers.
``(ii) Basis.--Each inflation annual
adjustment under paragraph (1)(A) shall reflect
the changes in the Consumer Price Index for
food away from home for the most recent 12-
month period for which that data is available.
``(B) Rounding.--On July 1, 2026, and annually
thereafter, the reimbursement rate for a free meal
under this section shall be--
``(i) adjusted to the nearest lower-cent
increment; and
``(ii) based on the unrounded amounts for
the preceding 12-month period.''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Prohibition on Meal Shaming.--A school participating in the
program under this section shall not--
``(1) physically segregate for the purpose of debt shaming
or otherwise discriminate against any child participating in
the program under this section; or
``(2) overtly identify a child described in paragraph (1)
by a special token or ticket, an announced or published list of
names, or any other means.''.
(b) No Collection of Debt.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et
seq.) or any other provision of law, effective beginning on the
date of enactment of this Act, as a condition of participation
in the program under section 17A of that Act, a school--
(A) shall not collect any debt owed to the school
for unpaid meal supplement charges; and
(B) shall continue to accrue debt for unpaid meal
supplement charges--
(i) for the purpose of receiving
reimbursement under section 211; and
(ii) until the effective date specified in
section 2.
(2) National school lunch act.--Section 17A of the Richard
B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766a) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) No Collection of Debt.--A school participating in the program
under this section shall not collect any debt owed to the school for
unpaid meal or meal supplement charges.''.
SEC. 208. PILOT PROJECTS.
Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. 1769) is amended--
(1) in subsection (g)(5), by striking subparagraph (B) and
inserting the following:
``(B) serve a high proportion of economically
disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure
described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6313(a)(5)));'';
(2) in subsection (h)(1)(A)(ii), by striking ``eligible for
free or reduced price meals under this Act'' and inserting
``economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a
measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)))'';
(3) by striking subsection (j); and
(4) by redesignating subsection (k) as subsection (j).
SEC. 209. FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM.
Section 19(d) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
(42 U.S.C. 1769a(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``paragraph (2) of this subsection and'';
(B) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding
clause (i), by striking ``school--'' and all that
follows through ``submits'' in clause (ii) and
inserting ``school that submits'';
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``schools''
and all that follows through ``Act'' and inserting
``high-need schools (as defined in section 2211(b) of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6631(b)))''; and
(D) in subparagraph (D)--
(i) by striking clause (i); and
(ii) by redesignating clauses (ii) through
(iv) as clauses (i) through (iii),
respectively; and
(2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the
following:
``(2) Outreach to high-need schools.--Prior to making
decisions regarding school participation in the program, a
State agency shall inform high-need schools (as defined in
section 2211(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6631(b))), including Tribal schools, of the
eligibility of the schools for the program.''.
SEC. 210. TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT
INSTITUTE.
Section 21(a)(1)(B) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch
Act (42 U.S.C. 1769b-1(a)(1)(B)) is amended in the matter preceding
clause (i) by striking ``certified to receive free or reduced price
meals'' and inserting ``who are economically disadvantaged students (as
identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6313(a)(5)))''.
SEC. 211. REIMBURSEMENT OF SCHOOL MEAL DELINQUENT DEBT PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Delinquent debt.--The term ``delinquent debt'' means
the debt owed by a parent or guardian of a child to a school--
(A) as of the effective date specified in section
2; and
(B) for meals or meal supplements served by the
school under--
(i) the school breakfast program under
section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966
(42 U.S.C. 1773);
(ii) the school lunch program established
under the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.); or
(iii) the program established under section
17A of the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766a).
(2) Program.--The term ``program'' means the program
established under subsection (b)(1).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(b) Reimbursement Program.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the
effective date specified in section 2, the Secretary shall
establish a program under which the Secretary shall reimburse
each school participating in a program described in clause (i),
(ii), or (iii) of subsection (a)(1)(B) for all delinquent debt.
(2) Form for reimbursement.--To carry out the program, the
Secretary shall design and distribute a form to State agencies
to collect data on all delinquent debt in applicable schools in
the State, grouped by school food authority.
(3) Completion date.--The Secretary shall provide all
reimbursements under the program not later than 180 days after
the effective date specified in section 2.
(c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the effective date
specified in section 2, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report that
describes the successes and challenges of the program.
SEC. 212. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et
seq.) is amended--
(1) by striking ``or reduced price'' each place it appears;
(2) by striking ``or a reduced price'' each place it
appears;
(3) by striking ``and reduced price'' each place it
appears; and
(4) by striking ``a reduced price'' each place it appears.
TITLE III--REPORT
SEC. 301. REPORT ON FREE SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS.
Not later than 1 year after the effective date of this Act, the
Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service shall submit to
Congress a report on how the school lunch program under the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the
school breakfast program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of
1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) impact students who participate in such programs,
including--
(1) whether the amendments made by this Act to such
programs have resulted in any measurable positive academic
outcomes for such students, including any increase in test
scores or graduation rates;
(2) whether such programs increase student access to
nutritional meals and locally sourced farm products (as such
term is defined in section 4(b)(2)(B) of the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act, as amended by this Act); and
(3) any recommendations for additional legislative or
administrative actions to increase the use of locally sourced
farm products in meals provided under such programs.
<all>