[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 94 (Tuesday, July 19, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            HEALTHY MEALS FOR HEALTHY AMERICANS ACT OF 1994

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 8) to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the National 
School Lunch Act to extend certain authorities contained in such Acts 
through the fiscal year 1989, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 H.R. 8

       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 ``Healthy 
     Meals for Healthy Americans Act of 1994''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents is as 
     follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Sense of the Congress.

            TITLE I--AMENDMENTS TO NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT

Sec. 101. Direct Federal expenditures.
Sec. 102. Technical assistance to ensure compliance with nutritional 
              requirements under the school lunch program, the summer 
              food service program for children, and the child and 
              adult care food program.
Sec. 103. Nutritional and other program requirements.
Sec. 104. Special assistance for schools electing to serve all children 
              free lunches or breakfasts.
Sec. 105. Establishment of universal school lunch and breakfast pilot 
              program.
Sec. 106. Miscellaneous provisions and definitions.
Sec. 107. Summer food service program for children.
Sec. 108. Commodity distribution program.
Sec. 109. Child and adult care food program.
Sec. 110. Homeless children nutrition program.
Sec. 111. Pilot projects.
Sec. 112. Reduction of paperwork.
Sec. 113. Extension of Food Service Management Institute.
Sec. 114. Duties of the Secretary of Agriculture relating to 
              nonprocurement debarment under certain child nutrition 
              programs.

          TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO CHILD NUTRITION ACT OF 1966

Sec. 201. School breakfast program.
Sec. 202. State administrative expenses.
Sec. 203. Special supplemental nutrition program.
Sec. 204. Nutrition education and training.

                  TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. Consolidation of school lunch program and school breakfast 
              program into comprehensive meal program.
Sec. 302. Study and report relating to use of private food 
              establishments and caterers under school lunch program 
              and school breakfast program.
Sec. 303. Report relating to unified accountability system under 
              National School Lunch Act.
Sec. 304. Amendment to Commodity Distribution Reform Act and WIC 
              Amendments of 1987.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds that--
       (1) undernutrition along with environmental factors 
     associated with poverty can permanently retard physical 
     growth, brain development, and cognitive functioning of 
     children;
       (2) the longer a child's nutritional, emotional, and 
     educational needs go unmet, the greater the likelihood of 
     cognitive impairment;
       (3) low-income children who attend school hungry score 
     significantly lower on standardized tests than non-hungry 
     low-income children; and
       (4) supplemental nutrition programs under the 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.) can help to 
     offset threats posed to a child's capacity to learn and 
     perform in school which results from inadequate nutrient 
     intake.

     SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) funds should be made available for child nutrition 
     programs to remove barriers to the participation of needy 
     children in the school lunch program, school breakfast 
     program, summer food service program for children, and the 
     child and adult care food program under the 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) the Secretary of Agriculture should take actions to 
     further strengthen the efficiency of child nutrition programs 
     by streamlining administrative requirements to reduce the 
     administrative burden on participating schools and other meal 
     providers; and
       (3) as a part of efforts to continue to serve nutritious 
     meals to youths in the United States and to educate the 
     general public regarding health and nutrition issues, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture should take actions to coordinate 
     the nutrition education efforts of all nutrition programs.
            TITLE I--AMENDMENTS TO NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT

     SEC. 101. DIRECT FEDERAL EXPENDITURES.

       (a) Purchase of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.--Section 6(a) 
     of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755(a)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in the second sentence, by striking ``Any school'' and 
     inserting ``Except as provided in the next two sentences, any 
     school''; and
       (2) by inserting after the second sentence the following 
     new sentences: ``Any school may refuse some or all of the 
     fresh fruits and vegetables offered to such school in any 
     school year and may receive in lieu thereof any other 
     commodities for such school year if (1) such school purchases 
     fresh fruits and vegetables for such school year which are at 
     least equal in value to the fresh fruits and vegetables 
     refused by such school; and (2) the fresh fruits and 
     vegetables purchased under paragraph (1) are in addition to 
     any purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables that would 
     otherwise have been made by such school for such school year. 
     The value of any fresh fruits and vegetables refused by a 
     school under the preceding sentence for a school year shall 
     not be included in the calculation to determine the 20 
     percent of the total value of agricultural commodities and 
     other foods tendered to such school in such school year under 
     the second sentence of this subsection.''.
       (b) Requirement of Minimum Percentage of Commodity 
     Assistance.--Section 6 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1755) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(g)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), in each school year the 
     Secretary shall ensure that not less than 12 percent of the 
     assistance provided under section 4, this section, and 
     section 11 of this Act shall be in the form of commodities 
     provided under this section.
       ``(2) If amounts available to carry out the requirements of 
     the sections described in paragraph (1) are insufficient to 
     meet the requirement contained in such paragraph for a school 
     year, the Secretary shall, to the extent necessary, use the 
     authority provided under section 14(a) of this Act to meet 
     such requirement for such school year.''.

     SEC. 102. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH 
                   NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE SCHOOL LUNCH 
                   PROGRAM, THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR 
                   CHILDREN, AND THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) School Lunch Program.--Section 9(a)(1) of the National 
     School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(a)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(1) Lunches served by schools'' and 
     inserting ``(1)(A) Lunches served by schools''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to 
     those schools participating in the school lunch program under 
     this Act to assist such schools in complying with the 
     nutritional requirements prescribed by the Secretary pursuant 
     to subparagraph (A). The Secretary shall provide additional 
     technical assistance to those schools that are having 
     difficulty maintaining compliance with such requirements.''.
       (b) Summer Food Service Program for Children.--Section 
     13(f) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(f)) is amended--
       (1) by adding after the first sentence the following new 
     sentences: ``The Secretary shall provide technical assistance 
     to service institutions and private nonprofit organizations 
     participating in the program to assist such institutions and 
     organizations in complying with the nutritional requirements 
     prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to this subparagraph. 
     The Secretary shall provide additional technical assistance 
     to those service institutions and private nonprofit 
     organizations that are having difficulty maintaining 
     compliance with such requirements.''; and
       (2) in the fourth sentence (as amended by paragraph (1)), 
     by striking ``Such meals'' and inserting ``Meals described in 
     the first sentence''.
       (c) Child and Adult Care Food Program.--Section 17(g)(1) of 
     such Act (42 U.S.C. 1766(g)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(1) Meals served by institutions'' and 
     inserting ``(1)(A) Meals served by institutions''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to 
     those institutions participating in the program under this 
     section to assist such institutions and family or group day 
     care home sponsoring organizations in complying with the 
     nutritional requirements prescribed by the Secretary pursuant 
     to subparagraph (A). The Secretary shall provide additional 
     technical assistance to those institutions and family or 
     group day care home sponsoring organizations that are having 
     difficulty maintaining compliance with such requirements.''.

     SEC. 103. NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Minimum Nutritional Requirements Based on Weekly 
     Average of Nutrient Content of School Lunches.--Section 
     9(a)(1)(A) of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1758(a)(1)(A)) (as amended by section 102(a)) is further 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``; except that such minimum nutritional 
     requirements'' and inserting ``, except that--
       ``(i) such minimum nutritional requirements'';
       (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; 
     and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new clause:
       ``(ii) such minimum nutritional requirements shall, at a 
     minimum, be based on the weekly average of the nutrient 
     content of school lunches.''.
       (b) Nutritional Requirements Relating to Provision of 
     Milk.--Section 9(a)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(a)(2)) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(2) Lunches served by schools participating in the school 
     lunch program under this Act--
       ``(A) shall offer students fluid milk; and
       ``(B) shall offer students a variety of fluid milk 
     consistent with prior year demonstrated preferences unless 
     the prior year preference for any such variety of fluid milk 
     is less than 1 percent of the total milk consumed at the 
     school.''.
       (c) Increased Flexibility Relating to Use of Information 
     Submitted To Determine Eligibility Under Programs Under 
     National School Lunch Act and Child Nutrition Act of 1966.--
     Section 9(b)(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(5)) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following new sentences: ``Except as 
     provided in the next sentence, a local agency responsible for 
     administering programs under this Act or the Child Nutrition 
     Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) shall use information 
     submitted for the purpose of receiving benefits under such 
     programs only for the purpose of determining eligibility for 
     such benefits. Such local agency may use such eligibility 
     determination to demonstrate the eligibility for benefits 
     under other Federal, State, or local means-tested nutrition 
     programs with comparable eligibility standards.''.
       (d) Automatic Eligibility of Head Start Participants.--
       (1) In general.--The National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1751 et seq.) is amended--
       (A) in section 9(b)(6)(A) (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(6)(A))--
       (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``a 
     member of'';
       (ii) in clause (i)--

       (I) by inserting ``a member of'' after ``(i)''; and
       (II) by striking ``or'' at the end of the clause;

       (iii) in clause (ii)--

       (I) by inserting ``a member of'' after ``(ii)''; and
       (II) by striking the period at the end of the clause and 
     inserting ``; or''; and

       (iv) by adding at the end the following new clause:
       ``(iii) enrolled as a participant in a Head Start program 
     authorized under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), 
     on the basis of a determination that the child is a member of 
     a family that meets the low-income criteria prescribed under 
     section 645(a)(1)(A) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
     9840(a)(1)(A)).'';
       (B) in section 9(b)(6)(B) (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(6)(B)), by 
     striking ``food stamps or aid to families with dependent 
     children'' and inserting ``food stamps, aid to families with 
     dependent children, or enrollment or participation in the 
     Head Start program on the basis described in subparagraph 
     (A)(iii)''; and
       (C) in section 17(c) (42 U.S.C. 1766(c)), by adding at the 
     end the following new paragraph:
       ``(5) A child shall be considered automatically eligible 
     for benefits under this section without further application 
     or eligibility determination, if the child is enrolled as a 
     participant in a Head Start program authorized under the Head 
     Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), on the basis of a 
     determination that the child is a member of a family that 
     meets the low-income criteria prescribed under section 
     645(a)(1)(A) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
     9840(a)(1)(A)).''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 1995.
       (e) Documentation of Production Plans.--Section 9 of such 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(f)(1) The Secretary shall clarify that the primary need 
     for documentation of production plans is to serve as a basis 
     for ensuring that the meals under the school lunch program 
     meet the nutrient needs of the children to be served under 
     such program. The State shall determine whether existing 
     records are adequate to ensure that the objective of the 
     preceding sentence is met.
       ``(2) The Secretary shall clarify the need for internal 
     controls in developing a claim for reimbursement under the 
     school lunch program.''.
       (f) Seafood Production Requirements.--Section 9 of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1758) (as amended by subsection (e)) is further 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(g)(1) The Secretary shall purchase fish and fish 
     products for distribution under section 14 only if such fish 
     and fish products are--
       ``(A) produced in compliance with the continuous official 
     establishment and product inspection of the National Marine 
     Fisheries Service; or
       ``(B) produced in compliance with the hazard analysis 
     critical control point requirements promulgated by the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services, beginning on the date 
     of the implementation of such requirements.
       ``(2) Beginning on and after the date of the implementation 
     of the requirements described in paragraph (1)(B), the 
     Secretary shall ensure that fish and fish products purchased 
     by schools participating in the school lunch program are 
     produced in compliance with such requirements.''.

     SEC. 104. SPECIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SCHOOLS ELECTING TO SERVE 
                   ALL CHILDREN FREE LUNCHES OR BREAKFASTS.

       Section 11(a)(1) of the National School Lunch Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1759a(a)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(a)(1) Except as provided'' and inserting 
     ``(a)(1)(A) Except as provided'';
       (2) in the second sentence, by striking ``In the case of'' 
     and inserting--
       ``(B) In the case of'';
       (3) in the third sentence--
       (A) by striking ``In the case of'' and inserting--
       ``(C)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), in the case 
     of''; and
       (B) by striking ``(A)'' and inserting ``(I)'' and by 
     striking ``(B)'' and inserting ``(II)'';
       (4) by adding at the end the following new clause:
       ``(ii)(I)(aa) In the case of any school that, on the date 
     of the enactment of this clause, is serving all children in 
     that school free lunches under the school lunch program in 
     accordance with clause (i), special assistance payments shall 
     be paid to the State educational agency with respect to such 
     school for free lunches served to all children in such school 
     during a period of five consecutive years in accordance with 
     such clause.
       ``(bb) Any period of time in the current 3-year period 
     during which the school served free lunches to all children 
     in such school in accordance with clause (i) shall count 
     toward the 5-year period described in division (aa).
       ``(cc) The State may grant an extension to such schools at 
     the end of such 3-year period, only if the State determines, 
     through available socioeconomic data approved by the 
     Secretary, that the income level of the population of the 
     school has remained stable. The State may further use such 
     data in subsequent 5-year periods to ensure that the income 
     level of the population of the school has remained stable.
       ``(II) A school described in subclause (I) may reapply to 
     the State at the end of a 5-year period described in such 
     subclause for the purpose of continuing to receive special 
     assistance payments in accordance with such subclause for 
     additional 5-year periods.''; and
       (5) by further adding at the end the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(D) In the case of any school that (i) elects to serve 
     all children in that school free lunches under the school 
     lunch program during any period of 4 successive years, or in 
     the case of a school that serves both lunches and breakfasts, 
     elects to serve all children in that school free lunches and 
     free breakfasts under the school lunch program and the school 
     breakfast program during any period of 4 successive years and 
     (ii) pays, from sources other than Federal funds, for the 
     costs of serving such lunches or breakfasts, as the case may 
     be, which are in excess of the value of assistance received 
     under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
     1771 et seq.) with respect to the number of lunches or 
     breakfasts served during that period, total Federal cash 
     reimbursements and total commodity assistance shall be 
     provided to the State educational agency with respect to such 
     school at a level equal to the total Federal cash 
     reimbursements and total commodity assistance received by the 
     school in the previous year, adjusted annually for changes in 
     inflation in accordance with paragraph (3)(B) and for changes 
     in enrollment, to carry out the purposes of the school lunch 
     or school breakfast programs. The State may grant a renewal 
     of the authority under the preceding sentence to such schools 
     at the end of such 4-year period, if the State determines, 
     through available socioeconomic data approved by the 
     Secretary, that the income level of the population of the 
     school has remained consistent with the income level of the 
     population of the school in the year upon which the total 
     Federal reimbursement is based.''.

     SEC. 105. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIVERSAL SCHOOL LUNCH AND 
                   BREAKFAST PILOT PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1751 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 11 the 
     following new section:

     ``SEC. 11A. UNIVERSAL SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PILOT 
                   PROGRAM.

       ``(a) In General.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations to carry out this section, the Secretary shall 
     establish a universal school lunch and breakfast pilot 
     program (in this section referred to as the `pilot program').
       ``(2) Description.--The pilot program shall consist of 
     school lunch and breakfast service offered without cost to 
     all students in attendance at participating schools that wish 
     to participate in a manner consistent with the requirements 
     otherwise applicable to the school lunch program under this 
     Act and to the school breakfast program under section 4 of 
     the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.
       ``(3) Eligibility.--A school shall be eligible to 
     participate in the pilot program if the school meets the 
     following requirements:
       ``(A) At least 30 percent of all students participating in 
     the school lunch program at the school are students who 
     qualify for free or reduced price lunches.
       ``(B) At least 30 percent of all students participating in 
     the school breakfast program at the school are students who 
     qualify for free or reduced price breakfasts.
       ``(b) Application.--
       ``(1) In general.--A school may participate in the pilot 
     program only if such school submits to the Secretary an 
     application containing such information as the Secretary may 
     reasonably require.
       ``(2) Contents.--Such application shall contain a plan 
     describing--
       ``(A) the additional amount over the most recent prior year 
     reimbursement amount received under the school lunch program 
     and the school breakfast program (adjusted for inflation and 
     enrollment) that the school would need from the Federal 
     government to provide free lunches and breakfasts under the 
     pilot program; and
       ``(B) the funding, if any, the school will receive from 
     non-Federal sources to provide free lunches and breakfasts 
     under the pilot program.
       ``(c) Universal Payment Rate.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), in 
     lieu of receiving the national average payment per lunch 
     determined under section 4 and section 11, and the national 
     average payment per breakfast determined under section 4 of 
     the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, each school participating in 
     the universal program shall receive the universal payment 
     rates determined under paragraph (2) for each lunch and 
     breakfast served under the program.
       ``(2) Establishment.--Subject to paragraph (3), the 
     Secretary shall establish the universal payment rates for 
     purposes of this section. Such rates shall be equal to the 
     national average cost of producing a school lunch, and the 
     national average cost of producing a school breakfast, 
     respectively, as determined by the Secretary. In making the 
     determination required by the preceding sentence, the 
     Secretary shall establish a maximum amount that can be 
     charged to a participating school food service authority for 
     indirect expenses.
       ``(3) Commodities.--(A) Except as provided in subparagraph 
     (B), a school participating in the pilot program shall 
     receive commodities in an amount equal to the amount the 
     school received in the prior year under the school lunch 
     program under this Act and under the school breakfast program 
     under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, adjusted 
     for inflation and fluctuations in enrollment.
       ``(B) Commodities required for the pilot program in excess 
     of the amount of commodities received by the school in the 
     prior year under the school lunch program and the school 
     breakfast program may be funded from amounts appropriated to 
     carry out this section.
       ``(4) Additional requirements.--(A) Except as provided in 
     subparagraph (B), a school participating in the pilot program 
     shall receive a total Federal reimbursement under the school 
     lunch program and school breakfast program in an amount equal 
     to the Federal reimbursement rate for the school in the prior 
     year under each such program (adjusted for inflation and 
     fluctuations in enrollment).
       ``(B) Funds required for the pilot program in excess of the 
     level of reimbursement received by the school in the prior 
     year (adjusted for inflation and fluctuations in enrollment) 
     may be taken from any non-Federal source or from amounts 
     appropriated to carry out this section. If funds required in 
     addition to funds under subparagraph (A) are not available 
     from non-Federal sources and no appropriations are made for 
     the pilot program, schools may not participate in the 
     program.
       ``(d) Competitive Foods Policy.--A school participating in 
     the pilot program may sell competitive foods under 
     regulations issued by the Secretary.
       ``(e) Prohibition of Waiver To Provide Lunch and Breakfast 
     Service Without Cost.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the Secretary may not waive the requirement that the 
     school will provide lunch and breakfast service without cost 
     to all students at the school under the pilot program.
       ``(f) Reports.--
       ``(1) Reports to the secretary.--The Secretary shall 
     require each school participating in the pilot program to 
     submit to the Secretary a report containing the following 
     information:
       ``(A) A comparison of the participation rate of all 
     students at the school in the pilot program to the 
     participation of students under the school lunch program and 
     the school breakfast program.
       ``(B) A comparison of the quality of meals served under the 
     pilot program to the quality of meals served under the school 
     lunch program and the school breakfast program.
       ``(C) An evaluation of the pilot program by students, 
     parents, and administrators.
       ``(D) The participation rate in the pilot program of 
     students who otherwise would be eligible for free and reduced 
     price lunches and breakfasts under the school lunch program 
     or the school breakfast program.
       ``(E) A comparison of the amount of administrative costs 
     under the program with the amount of administrative costs 
     under the school lunch and school breakfast programs.
       ``(F) The reduction in paperwork under the pilot program 
     from the amount of paperwork under the school lunch and 
     school breakfast programs at the school.
       ``(2) Reports to the congress.--
       ``(A) Interim report.--Not later than September 30, 1997, 
     the Secretary shall submit to the Congress an interim report 
     containing--
       ``(i) a compilation of the information received by the 
     Secretary under paragraph (1) as of this date from each 
     school participating in the pilot program; and
       ``(ii) an interim evaluation of the program by the 
     Secretary.
       ``(B) Final report.--Not later than September 30, 1998, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Congress an final report 
     containing--
       ``(i) a compilation of the information received by the 
     Secretary under paragraph (1) as of this date from each 
     school participating in the pilot program; and
       ``(ii) a final evaluation of the program by the Secretary.
       ``(g) Selection Requirement.--To the extent practicable, 
     the Secretary shall select schools to participate in the 
     pilot program in a manner which will provide for an equitable 
     distribution among the following types of schools:
       ``(1) Urban and rural schools.
       ``(2) Elementary, middle, and high schools.
       ``(3) Low-, middle-, and high-income schools.
       ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
     $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 
     1998.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
     issue regulations to carry out section 11A of the National 
     School Lunch Act (as added by subsection (a) of this section) 
     that provide for the implementation of such section not later 
     than July 1, 1995.

     SEC. 106. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS.

       (a) Technical Amendment To Definition of School.--
       (1) In general.--Section 12(d)(5) of the National School 
     Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(d)(5)) is amended--
       (A) in the first sentence--
       (i) in clause (A), by inserting ``and'' at the end of such 
     clause;
       (ii) in clause (B), by striking ``, and'' and inserting a 
     period; and
       (iii) by striking clause (C); and
       (B) in the second sentence, by striking ``of clauses (A) 
     and (B)''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 1995.
       (b) Reimbursement for Meals, Supplements, and Milk Under 
     Certain Programs Contingent Upon Timely Submission of Claims 
     and Final Program Operations Report.--Section 12 of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1760) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(j)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary 
     may provide reimbursements for final claims for service of 
     meals, supplements, and milk submitted to State agencies by 
     eligible schools, summer camps, family day care homes, 
     institutions, and service institutions only if--
       ``(A) such claims have been submitted to such State 
     agencies not later than 60 days after the last day of the 
     month for which the reimbursement is claimed; and
       ``(B) the final program operations report for such month is 
     submitted to the Secretary not later than 90 days after the 
     last day of such month.
       ``(2) The Secretary may waive the requirements contained in 
     paragraph (1) at the discretion of the Secretary.''.
       (c) Requirement of Negotiated Rulemaking Process in Issuing 
     Regulations Under the National School Lunch Act and the Child 
     Nutrition Act of 1966.--Section 12 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1760) (as amended by subsection (b)) is further amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(k)(1) The Secretary is authorized to issue such 
     regulations as are necessary to reasonably ensure that there 
     is compliance with this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 
     1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.).
       ``(2)(A) Prior to publishing proposed regulations in the 
     Federal Register to carry out this Act and the Child 
     Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) (except the 
     special supplemental nutrition program under section 17 of 
     such Act), the Secretary shall obtain the advice and 
     recommendations of representatives of Federal, State, and 
     local school administrators, school food service 
     administrators, other school food service personnel, parents, 
     teachers, industry representatives, public interest anti-
     hunger organizations, doctors specializing in pediatric 
     nutrition, and nutritionists involved with the implementation 
     and operation of programs under this Act and the Child 
     Nutrition Act of 1966.
       ``(B) Such advice and recommendations may be obtained 
     through such mechanisms as regional meetings and electronic 
     exchanges of information. The Secretary shall take into 
     account such information in the development of proposed 
     regulations and shall publish a summary of such information 
     in the Federal Register together with such proposed 
     regulations.
       ``(C) After obtaining such advice and recommendations, and 
     prior to publishing proposed regulations, the Secretary 
     shall--
       ``(i) establish a negotiated rulemaking process on issues, 
     including--
       ``(I) nutrition requirements and their implementation; and
       ``(II) program compliance and accountability requirements;
       ``(ii) select individuals to participate in such process 
     from among individuals or groups which provided advice and 
     recommendations, with representation from all geographic 
     regions (to the extent possible, the Secretary shall select 
     individuals reflecting the diversity in the program, 
     including representatives of both large and small programs, 
     as well as individuals serving urban and rural areas); and
       ``(iii) prepare a draft of proposed policy options that 
     shall be provided to the individuals selected by the 
     Secretary under clause (ii) not less than 45 days prior to 
     the first meeting under such process.
       ``(D) Such process--
       ``(i) shall be conducted in a timely manner to ensure that 
     final regulations are issued by the Secretary not later than 
     240 days after the date of the enactment of the Healthy Meals 
     for Healthy Americans Act of 1994; and
       ``(ii) shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory 
     Committee Act but shall otherwise follow the provisions of 
     the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990 (5 U.S.C. 561 et seq.).
       ``(E) In an emergency situation in which regulations to 
     carry out this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
     U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) must be issued with a very limited time 
     to assist State and local educational agencies with the 
     operation of the program, the Secretary may issue proposed 
     regulations without following such process but shall, 
     immediately thereafter and prior to issuing final 
     regulations, conduct regional meetings to review such 
     proposed regulations.''.
       (d) Authority of Secretary To Waive Statutory and 
     Regulatory Requirements Under the National School Lunch Act 
     and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.--Section 12 of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1760) (as amended by subsections (b) and (c)) is 
     further amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(l)(1)(A) The Secretary may waive any requirement under 
     this Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 
     et seq.), or any regulation issued under such Acts, for a 
     State or eligible service provider that requests a waiver 
     if--
       ``(i) the Secretary determines that the waiver of such 
     requirement would facilitate the ability of the State or 
     eligible service provider to carry out the purpose of the 
     program;
       ``(ii) a State or eligible service provider has provided 
     notice and information to the public regarding the proposed 
     waiver; and
       ``(iii) the State or eligible service provider demonstrates 
     to the satisfaction of the Secretary that such waiver will 
     not increase the overall cost of the program to the Federal 
     government, and, if such waiver does increase such overall 
     cost to the Federal government, such cost will be paid from 
     non-Federal funds.
       ``(B) Such notice and information shall be provided in the 
     same manner in which such State or eligible service provider 
     customarily provides similar notices and information to the 
     public.
       ``(2)(A) To request a waiver, a State or eligible service 
     provider shall submit an application to the Secretary that--
       ``(i) identifies the statutory or regulatory requirements 
     that are requested to be waived;
       ``(ii) in the case of a State requesting a waiver, 
     describes actions, if any, that the State has undertaken to 
     remove State statutory or regulatory barriers;
       ``(iii) describes the goal of the waiver to improve 
     services under the program and the expected outcomes if the 
     waiver is granted;
       ``(iv) includes a description of the impediments to the 
     efficient operation and administration of the program;
       ``(v) describes the management goals to be achieved, such 
     as fewer hours devoted to or fewer number of personnel 
     involved in the administration of the program;
       ``(vi) provides a timetable for implementing the waiver; 
     and
       ``(vii) describes the process the State or eligible service 
     provider will use to monitor the progress in implementing the 
     waiver, including the process for monitoring the cost 
     implications of the waiver to the Federal government.
       ``(B) An application described in subparagraph (A) shall be 
     developed by the State or eligible service provider and shall 
     be submitted to the Secretary by the State.
       ``(3)(A) The Secretary shall act promptly on a waiver 
     request contained in an application submitted under paragraph 
     (2) and shall either grant or deny such request. The 
     Secretary shall state in writing the reasons for granting or 
     denying such request.
       ``(B) If the Secretary grants a waiver request, the 
     Secretary shall state in writing the expected outcome of 
     granting such a waiver.
       ``(C) The result of the decision of the Secretary shall be 
     disseminated by the State or eligible service provider to 
     interested parties, including educators, parents, students, 
     advocacy and civil rights organizations, other interested 
     parties, and the public.
       ``(D)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), a waiver 
     granted by the Secretary shall be for a period not to exceed 
     three years.
       ``(ii) The Secretary may extend such period if the 
     Secretary determines that the waiver has been effective in 
     enabling the State or eligible service provider to carry out 
     the purposes of the program.
       ``(4) The Secretary may not grant a waiver under paragraph 
     (3) of any requirement relating to--
       ``(A) the nutritional content of meals served;
       ``(B) Federal reimbursement rates;
       ``(C) the provision of free and reduced price meals;
       ``(D) offer versus serve provisions;
       ``(E) limits on the price charged for a reduced price meal;
       ``(F) maintenance of effort;
       ``(G) equitable participation of children in private 
     schools;
       ``(H) distribution of funds to State and local school food 
     service authorities;
       ``(I) prohibiting the disclosure of information relating to 
     students receiving free or reduced price meals;
       ``(J) prohibiting the operation of a profit producing 
     program;
       ``(K) the sale of competitive foods;
       ``(L) the commodity distribution program under section 14 
     of this Act; and
       ``(M) enforcement of any constitutional or statutory right 
     of an individual, including any right under--
       ``(i) title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964;
       ``(ii) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
       ``(iii) title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972;
       ``(iv) the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; and
       ``(v) the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
       ``(5) The Secretary shall periodically review the 
     performance of any State or eligible service provider for 
     which the Secretary has granted a waiver and shall terminate 
     the waiver if the performance of the State or service 
     provider has been inadequate to justify a continuation of the 
     waiver. The Secretary shall terminate the waiver if, after 
     periodic review, the Secretary determines that the waiver has 
     resulted in increased Federal spending and such increased 
     Federal spending has not been paid for in accordance with 
     paragraph (1)(A)(iii).
       ``(6)(A)(i) An eligible service provider that receives a 
     waiver under this section shall annually submit to the State 
     a report that--
       ``(I) describes the use of such waiver by the eligible 
     service provider; and
       ``(II) evaluates how the waiver contributed to improved 
     services to children served by the program for which the 
     waiver was requested.
       ``(ii) The State shall annually submit to the Secretary a 
     report that summarizes all reports received by the State from 
     eligible service providers.
       ``(B) The Secretary shall annually submit to the Committee 
     on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and 
     the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
     Senate, a report--
       ``(i) summarizing the use of waivers by the State and 
     eligible service providers;
       ``(ii) describing whether such waivers resulted in improved 
     services to children;
       ``(iii) describing the impact of such waivers on providing 
     nutritional meals to participants; and
       ``(iv) describing how such waivers reduced the amount of 
     paperwork necessary to administer the program.
       ``(7) For purposes of this subsection, the term `eligible 
     service provider' means--
       ``(A) a local school food service authority;
       ``(B) a service institution or private nonprofit 
     organization described under section 13 of this Act; or
       ``(C) a family or group day care home sponsoring 
     organization described under section 17 of this Act.''.

     SEC. 107. SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN.

       (a) Priority Requirements for Determining Participation of 
     Certain Eligible Service Institutions.--Section 13(a)(4) of 
     the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(a)(4)) is 
     amended by striking subparagraphs (A) through (F) and 
     inserting the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(A) Local schools.
       ``(B) All other service institutions and private nonprofit 
     organizations eligible under paragraph (7) that have 
     demonstrated successful program performance in a prior year.
       ``(C) Other service institutions and private nonprofit 
     organizations eligible under paragraph (7).''.
       (b) Elimination of 1-Year Waiting Period With Respect to 
     Participation of Private Nonprofit Organizations in Certain 
     Areas Under the Program.--Section 13(a)(7) of such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1761(a)(7)) is amended by striking subparagraph (C) of 
     such section.
       (c) Elimination of Warning in Private Nonprofit 
     Organization Application Relating to Criminal Provisions and 
     Related Matters.--Section 13(q) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1761(q)) is amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (2);
       (2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as 
     paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively; and
       (3) in paragraph (3) (as redesignated), by striking 
     ``paragraphs (1) and (3)'' and inserting ``paragraphs (1) and 
     (2)''.
       (d) Extension of Program.--Section 13(r) of such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1761(r)) is amended by striking ``1994'' and inserting 
     ``1998''.

     SEC. 108. COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM.

       Section 14 of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1762a) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``1994'' and inserting 
     ``1998''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(b)''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(2) The Secretary shall maintain and continue to improve 
     the overall nutritional quality of entitlement commodities 
     provided to schools to assist the schools in improving the 
     nutritional content of meals.
       ``(3) The Secretary shall--
       ``(A) require that nutritional content information labels 
     be placed on packages or shipments of entitlement commodities 
     provided to the schools; or
       ``(B) otherwise provide nutritional content information 
     regarding the commodities provided to the schools.''.

     SEC. 109. CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM.

       (a) Automatic Eligibility of Certain Even Start 
     Participants.--Section 17(c) of the National School Lunch Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1766(c)) (as amended by section 103(d)(1)(C)) is 
     further amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(6)(A) A child who has not yet entered kindergarten shall 
     be considered automatically eligible for benefits under this 
     section without further application or eligibility 
     determination if the child is enrolled as a participant in 
     the Even Start program under part B of chapter 1 of title I 
     of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 2741 et seq.).
       ``(B) Subparagraph (A) shall apply only with respect to the 
     provision of benefits under this section for fiscal years 
     1996 through 1998.''.
       (b) Reapplication for Assistance at 3-Year Intervals.--
     Section 17(d)(2)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1766(d)(2)(A)) is 
     amended by striking ``2-year intervals'' and inserting ``3-
     year intervals''.
       (c) Use of Administrative Funds to Conduct Outreach and 
     Recruitment to Unlicensed Day Care Homes.--Section 
     17(f)(3)(C) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1766(f)(3)(C)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``(C) Reimbursement for administrative 
     expenses'' and inserting ``(C)(i) Reimbursement for 
     administrative expenses''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new clause:
       ``(ii) Funds for administrative expenses may be used by 
     family or group day care home sponsoring organizations to 
     conduct outreach and recruitment to unlicensed family or 
     group day care homes so that such day care homes may become 
     licensed.''.
       (d) Information and Training Concerning Child Health and 
     Development.--Section 17(k) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1766(k)) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) The Secretary shall encourage family or group day 
     care sponsoring organizations to provide information and 
     training concerning child health and development to family or 
     group day care homes participating in the program under such 
     organizations.''.
       (e) Extension of Statewide Demonstration Projects.--Section 
     17(p) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1766(p)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``1992'' and inserting 
     ``1998''; and
       (2) in paragraph (5), by striking ``1994'' and inserting 
     ``1998''.

     SEC. 110. HOMELESS CHILDREN NUTRITION PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1751 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 17A the 
     following new section:

     ``SEC. 17B. HOMELESS CHILDREN NUTRITION PROGRAM.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct projects 
     designed to provide food service throughout the year to 
     homeless children under the age of 6 in emergency shelters.
       ``(b) Agreements To Participate in Projects.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into 
     agreements with State, city, local, or county governments, 
     other public entities, or private nonprofit organizations to 
     participate in the projects under this section.
       ``(2) Eligibility requirements.--The Secretary shall 
     establish eligibility requirements for the entities described 
     in paragraph (1) that desire to participate in the projects 
     under this section. Such requirements shall include the 
     following:
       ``(A) Each private nonprofit organization shall operate not 
     more than 5 food service sites under the project and shall 
     serve not more than 300 homeless children at each such site.
       ``(B) Each site operated by each such organization shall 
     meet applicable State and local health, safety, and 
     sanitation standards.
       ``(c) Project Requirements.--
       ``(1) In general.--A project conducted under this 
     subsection shall--
       ``(A) use the same meal patterns and receive reimbursement 
     payments for meals and supplements at the same rates provided 
     to child care centers participating in the child care food 
     program under section 17 for free meals and supplements; and
       ``(B) receive reimbursement payments for meals and 
     supplements served on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, at 
     the request of the sponsor of any such project.
       ``(2) Modification.--The Secretary may modify the meal 
     pattern requirements to take into account the needs of 
     infants.
       ``(3) Homeless children eligible for free meals without 
     application.--Homeless children under the age of 6 in 
     emergency shelters shall be considered eligible for free 
     meals without application.
       ``(d) Notice.--The Secretary shall advise each State of the 
     availability of the projects established under this 
     subsection for States, cities, counties, local governments 
     and other public entities, and shall advise each State of the 
     procedures for applying to participate in the project.
       ``(e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the 
     date of the enactment of the Healthy Meals for Healthy 
     Children Act of 1994, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of the Congress a report that 
     includes--
       ``(1) an explanation of the actions the Secretary has taken 
     to carry out subsection (d);
       ``(2) an estimate, if practicable, of the number of 
     children living in homeless shelters who are not served by 
     projects conducted under this section; and
       ``(3) a detailed plan for expanding the projects so that 
     more eligible children may participate in such projects.
       ``(f) Plan to Allow Participation in the Child and Adult 
     Care Food Program.--Not later than September 30, 1996, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of the 
     Congress a plan describing how emergency shelters and 
     homeless children who have not attained the age of 6 and who 
     are served by such shelters under the program might 
     participate in the child and adult care food program 
     authorized under section 17 by September 30, 1998.
       ``(g) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the 
     following definitions apply:
       ``(1) Appropriate committees of the congress.--The term 
     `appropriate committees of the Congress' means the Committee 
     on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and 
     the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
     Senate.
       ``(2) Emergency shelter.--The term `emergency shelter' has 
     the meaning given such term in section 321(2) of the Stewart 
     B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act.
       ``(h) Funding.--
       ``(1) In general.--In addition to any amounts made 
     available under section 7(a)(5)(B)(i)(I) of the Child 
     Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1776(a)(5)(B)(i)(I)), the 
     Secretary shall, except as provided in paragraph (2), expend 
     to carry out this section from amounts appropriated for 
     purposes of carrying out this Act $3,000,000 for fiscal year 
     1995 and each succeeding fiscal year.
       ``(2) Exception.--The Secretary may expend less than the 
     amount required under paragraph (1) if there is an 
     insufficient number of suitable applicants.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) National school lunch act.--Section 18 of the National 
     School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769) is amended--
       (A) by striking subsection (c); and
       (B) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c).
       (2) Child nutrition act of 1966.--Section 7(a)(5)(B)(i)(I) 
     of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
     1776(a)(5)(B)(i)(I)) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``projects under section 18(c) of the 
     National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769(c))'' and inserting 
     ``projects under section 17B of the National School Lunch 
     Act''; and
       (B) by striking ``1993 and 1994'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``1995 through 1998''.

     SEC. 111. PILOT PROJECTS.

       (a) Commodity Letter of Credit (CLOC) Programs.--Section 
     18(b)(1) of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1769(b)(1)) is amended in the 1st sentence by striking ``, 
     and ending September 30, 1994''.
       (b) Demonstration Program To Provide Meals and Supplements 
     Outside of School Hours.--Section 18 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1769) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(d)(1)(A) The Secretary shall establish a demonstration 
     program to provide grants to eligible institutions or schools 
     to provide meals or supplements to adolescents participating 
     in educational, recreational, or other programs and 
     activities provided outside of school hours.
       ``(B) The amount of a grant under subparagraph (A) shall be 
     equal to the amount necessary to provide meals or supplements 
     described in such subparagraph and shall be determined in 
     accordance with reimbursement payment rates for meals and 
     supplements under the child and adult care food program under 
     section 17 of this Act.
       ``(2) The Secretary may not provide a grant under paragraph 
     (1) to an eligible institution or school unless such 
     institution or school submits to the Secretary an application 
     containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably 
     require.
       ``(3) The Secretary may not provide a grant under paragraph 
     (1) to an eligible institution or school unless such 
     institution or school agrees that--
       ``(A) it will use amounts from such grant to provide meals 
     or supplements under educational, recreational, or other 
     programs and activities for adolescents outside of school 
     hours, and such programs and activities are carried out in 
     geographic areas in which there are high rates of poverty, 
     violence, or drug and alcohol abuse among school-aged youths; 
     and
       ``(B) it will use the same meal patterns as meal patterns 
     required under the child and adult care food program under 
     section 17 of this Act.
       ``(4) Determinations with regard to eligibility for free 
     and reduced price meals and supplements provided under 
     programs and activities under this subsection shall be made 
     in accordance with the income eligibility guidelines for free 
     and reduced price lunches under section 9 of this Act.
       ``(5)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the 
     Secretary shall expend to carry out this subsection from 
     amounts appropriated for purposes of carrying out section 17 
     of this Act, $325,000 for fiscal year 1995 and $525,000 for 
     each of the fiscal years 1996 through 1998. In addition to 
     amounts described in the preceding the sentence, the 
     Secretary shall expend any additional amounts in any fiscal 
     year as may be provided in advance in appropriations Acts.
       ``(B) The Secretary may expend less than the amount 
     required under subparagraph (A) if there is an insufficient 
     number of suitable applicants.
       ``(6) For the purposes of this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `adolescent' means a child who has attained 
     the age of 13 but has not attained the age of 19;
       ``(B) the term `eligible institution or school' means--
       ``(i) an institution, as such term is defined in section 17 
     of this Act; or
       ``(ii) an elementary or secondary school participating in 
     the school lunch program under this Act; and
       ``(C) the term `outside of school hours' means after-school 
     hours, weekends, or holidays during the regular school 
     year.''.

     SEC. 112. REDUCTION OF PAPERWORK.

       Section 19(a) of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1769a(a)) is amended by striking ``and other agencies'' and 
     inserting ``other agencies'' and by inserting ``, and 
     families of children participating in such programs'' after 
     ``assisted under such Acts''.

     SEC. 113. EXTENSION OF FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE.

       Section 21(e)(2) of the National School Lunch Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1769b-1(e)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(2) $1,700,000 for each of the fiscal years 1995, 1996, 
     1997, and 1998 for purposes of carrying out subsection 
     (a)(2).''.

     SEC. 114. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE RELATING TO 
                   NONPROCUREMENT DEBARMENT UNDER CERTAIN CHILD 
                   NUTRITION PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--The National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1751 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new section:

     ``SEC. 25. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY RELATING TO NONPROCUREMENT 
                   DEBARMENT.

       ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are to 
     promote the prevention and deterrence of instances of fraud, 
     bid rigging, and other anticompetitive activities encountered 
     in the procurement of products for child nutrition programs 
     by--
       ``(1) establishing guidelines and a timetable for the 
     Secretary to initiate debarment proceedings, as well as 
     establishing mandatory debarment periods; and
       ``(2) providing training, technical advice, and guidance in 
     identifying and preventing such activities.
       ``(b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the 
     following definitions apply:
       ``(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     `appropriate congressional committees' means the Committee on 
     Education and Labor and the Committee on Agriculture of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
     Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.
       ``(2) Child nutrition program.--The term `child nutrition 
     program' means--
       ``(A) the school lunch program established under this Act;
       ``(B) the school breakfast program established under 
     section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
     1773);
       ``(C) the special milk program established under section 3 
     of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1772);
       ``(D) the special nutrition program for women, infants, and 
     children authorized under section 17 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1786);
       ``(E) the summer food service program for children 
     established under section 13 of this Act;
       ``(F) the child and adult care food program established 
     under section 17 of this Act; and
       ``(G) the homeless children nutrition program under section 
     17B of this Act.
       ``(3) Contractor.--The term `contractor' means a person 
     that contracts with a State, an agency of a State, or a local 
     agency to provide goods in conjunction with the participation 
     of a local agency in a child nutrition program.
       ``(4) Local agency.--The term `local agency' means a 
     school, school food authority, child care center, sponsoring 
     organization, or other entity authorized to operate a child 
     nutrition program at the local level.
       ``(5) Nonprocurement debarment.--The term `nonprocurement 
     debarment' means an action to bar a person from programs and 
     activities involving Federal financial and nonfinancial 
     assistance, but not including Federal procurement programs 
     and activities.
       ``(6) Person.--The term `person' means any individual, 
     corporation, partnership, association, or other legal entity, 
     however organized.
       ``(c) Assistance To Identify and Prevent Fraud and 
     Anticompetitive Activities.--The Secretary shall--
       ``(1) in cooperation with the food service management 
     institute authorized under section 21 and with any other 
     appropriate individual, organization, or agency, provide 
     advice, training, technical assistance, and guidance (which 
     may include awareness training, training films, and 
     troubleshooting advice) to representatives of States and 
     local agencies regarding means of identifying and preventing 
     fraud and anticompetitive activities relating to the 
     provision of goods in conjunction with the participation of a 
     local agency in a child nutrition program; and
       ``(2) provide information to, and fully cooperate with, the 
     Attorney General and State attorneys general regarding 
     investigations of fraud and anticompetitive activities 
     relating to the provision of goods in conjunction with the 
     participation of a local agency in a child nutrition program.
       ``(d) Nonprocurement Debarment.--
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), not 
     later than 180 days after notification of the occurrence of a 
     cause for debarment described in paragraph (2), the Secretary 
     shall initiate nonprocurement debarment proceedings against 
     the contractor who has committed the cause for debarment.
       ``(2) Causes for debarment.--Actions requiring initiation 
     of nonprocurement debarment pursuant to paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       ``(A) A contractor commits an action or series of actions 
     which constitute a substantial and material violation of a 
     regulation of a child nutrition program of the Department of 
     Agriculture, as determined by the Secretary.
       ``(B) A contractor is found guilty in any criminal, civil, 
     or administrative proceeding, or found liable in any civil or 
     administrative proceeding, in connection with the supplying, 
     providing, or selling of goods to any local agency or to any 
     Federal agency in connection with the child nutrition 
     programs, of--
       ``(i) an anticompetitive activity, including bid-rigging, 
     price-fixing, the allocation of customers between 
     competitors, or other violation of Federal or State antitrust 
     laws;
       ``(ii) fraud, bribery, theft, forgery or embezzlement;
       ``(iii) breach of contract;
       ``(iv) making a false claim or statement; or
       ``(v) other obstruction of justice.
       ``(3) Exception.--If the Secretary determines that a 
     decision on initiating nonprocurement debarment proceedings 
     cannot be made within 180 days after notification of the 
     occurrence of a cause for debarment described in paragraph 
     (2) because of the need to further investigate matters 
     relating to the possible debarment, the Secretary may have 
     such additional time as the Secretary considers necessary to 
     make a decision, but not to exceed an additional 180 days.
       ``(4) Mandatory child nutrition program debarment 
     periods.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to the other provisions of this 
     paragraph and notwithstanding any other provision of law 
     except subsection (e), if, after deciding to initiate 
     nonprocurement debarment proceedings pursuant to paragraph 
     (1), the Secretary decides to debar a contractor, the 
     debarment shall be for a period of not less than 3 years.
       ``(B) Previous debarment.--If the contractor has been 
     previously debarred pursuant to nonprocurement debarment 
     proceedings initiated pursuant to paragraph (1), and the 
     cause for debarment is described in paragraph (2) based on 
     activities that occurred subsequent to the initial debarment, 
     the debarment shall be for a period of not less than 5 years.
       ``(C) Scope.--At a minimum, a debarment under this 
     subsection shall serve to bar the contractor for the 
     specified period from contracting to provide goods in 
     conjunction with the participation of a local agency in a 
     child nutrition program.
       ``(D) Reversal, reduction, or exception.--Nothing in this 
     paragraph shall restrict the ability of the Secretary to 
     reverse a debarment decision, to reduce the period or scope 
     of a debarment, nor to grant an exception permitting a 
     debarred contractor to participate in a particular contract 
     to provide goods in conjunction with the participation of a 
     local agency in a child nutrition program, if the Secretary 
     determines there is good cause for the action.
       ``(5) Information.--On request, the Secretary shall present 
     to the appropriate congressional committees information 
     regarding the decisions required by this subsection.
       ``(6) Relationship to other authorities.--A debarment 
     imposed under this section shall not reduce or diminish the 
     authority of a Federal, State, or local government agency or 
     court to penalize, imprison, fine, suspend, debar, or take 
     other adverse action against a person in a civil, criminal, 
     or administrative proceeding.
       ``(7) Regulations.--The Secretary shall issue such 
     regulations as are necessary to carry out this subsection.
       ``(e) Mandatory Debarment.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of this section, the Secretary shall initiate 
     nonprocurement debarment proceedings against the contractor 
     (including any cooperative) who has committed the cause for 
     debarment (as determined under subsection (d)(2)), unless the 
     action--
       ``(1) is likely to have a significant adverse effect on 
     competition or prices in the relevant market or nationally;
       ``(2) will interfere with the ability of a local agency to 
     procure a needed product for a child nutrition program;
       ``(3) is unfair to a person, subsidiary corporation, 
     affiliate, parent company, or local division of a corporation 
     that is not involved in the improper activity that would 
     otherwise result in the debarment; or
       ``(4) is not in the public interest, as determined by the 
     Secretary.
       ``(f) Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies.--Prior to 
     seeking judicial review in a court of competent jurisdiction, 
     a contractor against whom a nonprocurement debarment 
     proceeding has been initiated shall--
       ``(1) exhaust all administrative procedures prescribed by 
     the Secretary; and
       ``(2) receive notice of the final determination of the 
     Secretary.
       ``(g) Information Relating to Prevention and Control of 
     Anticompetitive Activities.--On request, the Secretary shall 
     present to the appropriate congressional committees 
     information regarding the activities of the Secretary 
     relating to anticompetitive activities, fraud, nonprocurement 
     debarment, and any waiver granted by the Secretary under this 
     section.''.
       (b) Applicability.--Section 25(c) of the National School 
     Lunch Act (as added by subsection (a)) shall not apply to a 
     cause for debarment as described in section 25(d)(2) of such 
     Act that is based on an activity that took place prior to the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
       (c) Report on Consistent Debarment Policy.--Not later than 
     120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Director 
     of the Office of Management and Budget, the Secretary of 
     Defense, and such other officials as the Secretary of 
     Agriculture determines are appropriate, shall advise the 
     appropriate committees of the Congress and the Comptroller 
     General of the United States as to the appropriateness and 
     usefulness of a consistent debarment policy under--
       (1) the Federal acquisition regulations issued under title 
     48, Code of Federal Regulations; and
       (2) Federal nonprocurement regulations.
       (d) No Reduction in Authority To Debar or Suspend a Person 
     From Federal Financial and Nonfinancial Assistance and 
     Benefits.--The authority of the Secretary of Agriculture that 
     exists on the date of enactment of this Act to debar or 
     suspend a person from Federal financial and nonfinancial 
     assistance and benefits under Federal programs and 
     activities, on a government-wide basis, shall not be 
     diminished or reduced by this Act or the amendment made by 
     subsection (a).
          TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO CHILD NUTRITION ACT OF 1966

     SEC. 201. SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM.

       (a) Technical Assistance To Ensure Compliance With 
     Nutritional Requirements.--Section 4(e)(1) of the Child 
     Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773(e)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(1) Breakfasts served by schools'' and 
     inserting ``(1)(A) Breakfasts served by schools''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to 
     those schools participating in the school breakfast program 
     under this section to assist such schools in complying with 
     the nutritional requirements prescribed by the Secretary 
     pursuant to subparagraph (A). The Secretary shall provide 
     additional technical assistance to those schools that are 
     having difficulty maintaining compliance with such 
     requirements.''.
       (b) Promotion of Program.--Section 4(f)(1) of such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1773(f)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(1)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(B) In cooperation with State educational agencies, the 
     Secretary shall establish a program to promote the school 
     breakfast program by--
       ``(i) marketing the program in a manner that expands 
     participation in the program by schools and students; and
       ``(ii) improving public education and outreach efforts in 
     language appropriate materials that enhance the public image 
     of the program.
       ``(C) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `language 
     appropriate materials' means materials using languages other 
     than the English language when those languages are dominant 
     for a large percentage of individuals participating in the 
     program.''.
       (c) Startup Costs.--
       (1) Reauthorization.--The first sentence of section 4(g)(1) 
     of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1773(g)(1)) is amended by striking 
     ``$3,000,000'' and all that follows through ``1994'' and 
     inserting ``$5,000,000 for fiscal year 1995 and each 
     succeeding fiscal year''.
       (2) Amendment to definition of eligible school.--Section 
     4(g)(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1773(g)(5)) is amended--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
     ``and subsection (h)'' after ``As used in this subsection''; 
     and
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or expanded'' after 
     ``established''.
       (d) Expansion of Program.--Section 4 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1773) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:


                        ``EXPANSION OF PROGRAMS

       ``(h)(1) The Secretary may use not more than $1,000,000 of 
     funds made available under subsection (g)(1) for any fiscal 
     year to make payments on a competitive basis to State 
     educational agencies for distribution to eligible schools to 
     assist such schools with expenses incurred in expanding a 
     school breakfast program established under this section. 
     Payments received under this subsection shall be in addition 
     to payments to which State educational agencies are entitled 
     under subsection (b).
       ``(2) In making payments under this subsection in any 
     fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide a preference to 
     State educational agencies that submit to the Secretary--
       ``(A) a plan to expand school breakfast programs conducted 
     in the State, including a description of--
       ``(i) the manner in which the agency will provide technical 
     assistance and funding to schools in the State to expand the 
     programs; or
       ``(ii) significant public or private resources that have 
     been assembled to carry out the expansion of the programs 
     during the year; or
       ``(B) documentation of the need for--
       ``(i) equipment, including the purchase, replacement, or 
     upgrading of equipment associated with expanding the school 
     breakfast program; or
       ``(ii) other needs, including a need for temporary 
     personnel, or funds to defray administrative or other costs 
     associated with expanding the school breakfast program.
       ``(3) Subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (g)(2), and 
     paragraphs (3) through (5) of subsection (g), shall apply to 
     payments made under this subsection.''.

     SEC. 202. STATE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

       (a) Withholding of Funds for Serious Deficiency in State 
     Administration of Programs.--Section 7(a) of the Child 
     Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1776(a)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(9)(A) If the Secretary determines that a State's 
     administration of any program under this Act (other than 
     section 17) or under the National School Lunch Act, or 
     compliance with regulations issued pursuant to such Acts, is 
     seriously deficient, and the State fails to correct the 
     deficiency within a specified period of time, the Secretary 
     may withhold from the State some or all of the funds 
     allocated to the State under this section or under sections 
     13(k)(1) or 17 of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1761(k)(1) and 1766).
       ``(B) Upon a subsequent determination by the Secretary that 
     the administration of any program referred to in subparagraph 
     (A), or compliance with the regulations issued to carry out 
     such programs, is no longer seriously deficient and is 
     operated in an acceptable manner, the Secretary may allocate 
     some or all of the funds withheld under such subparagraph.''.
       (b) Extension of Authority To Provide Funds for State 
     Administrative Expenses.--Section 7(h) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1776(h)) is amended by striking ``1994'' and inserting 
     ``1998''.
       (c) Prohibition of Funding Unless State Agrees To 
     Participate in Certain Studies or Surveys.--Section 7 of such 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 1776) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (h) (as amended by 
     subsection (b)) as subsection (i); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(h) The Secretary may not provide amounts under this 
     section to a State for administrative costs incurred in any 
     fiscal year unless the State agrees to participate in any 
     study or survey of programs authorized under this Act or the 
     National School Lunch Act and conducted by the Secretary.''.

     SEC. 203. SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM.

       (a) Amendments to Definition of Nutritional Risk.--Section 
     17(b)(8) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
     1786(b)(8)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, such as 
     alcoholism or drug abuse'' after ``medical conditions''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and migrancy'' and 
     inserting ``migrancy, and pregnancy''.
       (b) Promotion of Program.--Section 17(c) of such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1786(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(5) The Secretary shall promote the program by producing 
     and distributing materials, including television and radio 
     public service announcements in English and other appropriate 
     languages, that inform potentially eligible individuals of 
     the benefits and services under the program.''.
       (c) Eligibility for Certain Pregnant Women.--Section 
     17(d)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(2)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) In the case of a pregnant woman who is otherwise 
     ineligible for participation in the program because the 
     family of such woman is of insufficient size to meet the 
     income eligibility standards of the program, such pregnant 
     woman shall be considered to have satisfied such income 
     eligibility standards if, by increasing the number of 
     individuals in the family of such woman by one individual, 
     such income eligibility standards would be met.''.
       (d) Priority Consideration for Certain Migrant 
     Populations.--Section 17(f)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1786(f)(3)) is amended by inserting before the period at the 
     end the following: ``and shall ensure that local programs 
     provide priority consideration to serving migrant 
     participants who are residing in the State for a limited 
     period of time''.
       (e) Income Eligibility Guidelines.--Section 17(f)(18) of 
     such Act (42 U.S.C. 1786(f)(18)) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(18) A State agency may implement income eligibility 
     guidelines under this section concurrently with the 
     implementation of income eligibility guidelines under the 
     medicaid program prior to, but not later than, July 1 of each 
     year.''.
       (f) Use of Recovered Program Funds in Year Collected.--
     Section 17(f) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1786(f)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(23) A State agency may use funds recovered as a result 
     of violations in the food delivery system of the program in 
     the year in which such funds are collected for the purpose of 
     carrying out the program.''.
       (g) Extension of Program.--Section 17 of such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1786) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``1991, 1992, 1993, 
     and 1994'' and inserting ``1995 through 1998'';
       (2) in subsection (h)(2)(A), by striking ``1990, 1991, 
     1992, 1993 and 1994'' and inserting ``1995 through 1998''; 
     and
       (3) in subsection (m)(10)(A) by striking ``$3,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 1992, $6,500,000 for fiscal year 1993, and'' and 
     by inserting before the period at the end ``, $10,500,000 for 
     fiscal year 1995, and such sums as may be necessary for each 
     of the fiscal years 1996, 1997, and 1998''.
       (h) Use of Funds for Technical Assistance and Research 
     Evaluation Projects.--Section 17(g)(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1786(g)(5)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and administration of pilot projects'' 
     and inserting ``administration of pilot projects''; and
       (2) by inserting at the end before the period the 
     following:``, and carrying out technical assistance and 
     research evaluation projects of the programs under this 
     section''.
       (i) Breastfeeding Promotion and Support Activities.--
     Section 17(h)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(3)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A)(i)(II), by striking ``$8,000,000,'' 
     and inserting ``the national minimum breastfeeding promotion 
     expenditure, as described in subparagraph (E),''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(E) The national minimum breastfeeding promotion 
     expenditure means--
       ``(i) with respect to fiscal year 1995, the amount that is 
     equal to $21 multiplied by the number of pregnant women and 
     breastfeeding women participating in the program nationwide, 
     based on the average of the last 3 months for which the 
     Secretary has final data; and
       ``(ii) with respect to each of the fiscal years 1996 
     through 1998, the amount described in clause (i) adjusted for 
     inflation in accordance with paragraph (1)(B)(ii).''.
       (j) Development of Standards for the Collection of 
     Breastfeeding Data.--Section 17(h)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1786(h)(4)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking the ``and'' at the end 
     of such subparagraph;
       (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(E) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
     of this subparagraph, develop uniform requirements for the 
     collection of data regarding incidence and duration of 
     breastfeeding among participants in the program, and upon 
     development of such uniform requirements, require each State 
     agency to report such data for inclusion in the report to 
     Congress described in section 17(d)(4).''.
       (k) Submission of Information to the Congress on Waivers 
     With Respect to Procurement of Infant Formula.--Section 
     17(h)(8)(D)(iii) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(8)(D)(iii)) 
     is amended by striking ``at 6-month intervals'' and inserting 
     ``on a timely basis''.
       (l) Prohibition on Interest Liability to Federal Government 
     on Rebate Funds.--Section 17(h)(8) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1786(h)(8)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(L) A State will not incur an interest liability to the 
     Federal Government on rebate funds for infant formula and 
     other foods if all interest earned by the State on such funds 
     is used for program purposes.''.
       (m) Use of Unspent Nutrition Services and Administration 
     Funds.--Section 17(h) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(8)) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(10)(A) For each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1998, 
     the Secretary shall use for the purposes specified in 
     subparagraph (B), $10,000,000 or the amount of nutrition 
     services and administration funds for the prior fiscal year 
     that have not been obligated, whichever is lesser.
       ``(B) Funds under subparagraph (A) shall be used for--
       ``(i) development of infrastructure for the program under 
     this section, including management information systems;
       ``(ii) special state projects of regional or national 
     significance directed toward improving the services of the 
     program under this section; and
       ``(iii) special breastfeeding support and promotion 
     projects, including projects to assess the effectiveness of 
     particular breastfeeding promotion strategies and to develop 
     State or local agency capacity or facilities to provide 
     quality breastfeeding services.''.
       (n) Limitation on Eligibility for Farmers' Market Nutrition 
     Program.--Section 17(m)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1786(m)(1)) 
     is amended by striking ``, or those who are on the waiting 
     list to receive the assistance,''.
       (o) Expansion of Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.--
     Section 17(m) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1786(m)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (5)(F)--
       (A) in clause (i), by striking ``15 percent'' and inserting 
     ``17 percent'';
       (B) by striking clauses (ii) and (iii); and
       (C) by inserting after clause (i) the following new clause:
       ``(ii) During any fiscal year for which a State receives 
     assistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall permit 
     the State to use 3 percent of total program funds for market 
     development if the Secretary determines that the State 
     intends to promote the development of farmers' markets in 
     socially or economically disadvantaged areas or remote rural 
     areas where individuals eligible for participation in the 
     program have limited access to locally grown fruits and 
     vegetables.''; and
       (2) in paragraph (11)(D), by inserting before the period at 
     the end the following: ``or any other agency approved by the 
     chief executive officer of the State''.
       (p) Continued Funding for Certain States Under Farmers' 
     Market Nutrition Program.--Section 17(m)(6)(A) of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1786(m)(6)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(6)(A) The Secretary shall continue to provide funding to 
     States which participated in the program in the most recent 
     fiscal year as prescribed by subparagraph (B) or as a part of 
     the demonstration program authorized by this subsection in a 
     fiscal year ending before October 1, 1991. After satisfying 
     the requirements of subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall 
     inform each State of the award of funds as prescribed by 
     subparagraph (G) by February 1st of each year.''.
       (q) Additional Consideration in Providing Funds To Serve 
     Additional Recipients in States That Received Assistance in 
     the Prior Fiscal Year Under Farmers' Market Nutrition 
     Program.--Section 17(m)(6)(C) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1786(m)(6)(C)) is amended--
       (1) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at the end of such 
     clause;
       (2) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end of 
     such clause and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new clause:
       ``(iv) the number of persons receiving assistance under 
     subsection (c) but not receiving benefits under this 
     subsection.''.
       (r) Percentage of Annual Appropriations Available to States 
     Under Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.--Section 17(m)(6)(G) 
     of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1786(m)(6)(G)) is amended--
       (1) in clause (i), by striking ``45 to 55 percent'' and 
     inserting ``75 percent''; and
       (2) in clause (ii), by striking ``45 to 55 percent'' and 
     inserting ``25 percent''.
       (s) Elimination of Funding Carryover Provision Under 
     Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.--Section 
     17(m)(10)(B)(i)(II) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1786(m)(10)(B)(i)(II)) is amended by striking ``or may be 
     retained'' and all that follows and inserting a period.
       (t) Elimination of Reallocation of Unexpended Funds With 
     Respect to Demonstration Projects Under Farmers' Market 
     Nutrition Program.--Section 17(m)(10)(B)(ii) of such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1786(m)(10)(B)(ii)) is amended by striking the second 
     sentence.
       (u) Initiative To Provide Program Services at Community and 
     Migrant Health Centers.--Section 17 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1786) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(q)(1) The Secretary and the Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services (hereafter in this subsection referred to as 
     the `Secretaries') shall jointly establish and carry out an 
     initiative for the purpose of providing both supplemental 
     foods and nutrition education under the special supplemental 
     nutrition program and health care services to low-income 
     pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and 
     children at substantially more community health centers and 
     migrant health centers.
       ``(2) Such initiative shall also include--
       ``(A) activities to improve the coordination of the 
     provision of supplemental foods and nutrition education under 
     the special supplemental nutrition program and health care 
     services at facilities funded by the Indian Health Service; 
     and
       ``(B) development and implementation of strategies to 
     ensure that, to the maximum extent feasible, new health care 
     facilities established in medically underserved areas as a 
     result of subsequent Federal health care reform legislation 
     provide supplemental foods and nutrition education under the 
     special supplemental nutrition program.
       ``(3) Such initiative may include--
       ``(A) outreach and technical assistance for State and local 
     agencies and such health centers;
       ``(B) demonstration projects in selected State or local 
     areas; and
       ``(C) such other activities as the Secretaries find 
     appropriate.
       ``(4)(A) Not later than April 1, 1995, the Secretaries 
     shall prepare and submit to the Congress an initial report on 
     the actions the Secretaries intend to take to carry out the 
     initiative.
       ``(B) Not later than July 1, 1996, the Secretaries shall 
     prepare and submit to the Congress an interim report on the 
     actions the Secretaries are taking under the initiative or 
     actions the Secretaries intend to take under the initiative 
     as a result of their experience in implementing the 
     initiative.
       ``(C) Upon completion of the initiative, the Secretaries 
     shall prepare and submit to the Congress a final report 
     containing an evaluation of the initiative and a plan to 
     further the goals of the initiative.
       ``(5) As used in this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `community health center' has the meaning 
     given such term under section 330 of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c); and
       ``(B) the term `migrant health center' has the meaning 
     given such term under section 329 of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b).''.
       (v) Change in Name of Program.--
       (1) In general.--Section 17 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1786) is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking the section heading and inserting the 
     following new section heading:


   ``special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and 
                              children'';

       (B) in the first sentence of subsection (c)(1), by striking 
     ``special supplemental food program'' and inserting ``special 
     supplemental nutrition program'';
       (C) in the second sentence of subsection (k)(1), by 
     striking ``special supplemental food program'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``special supplemental nutrition 
     program''; and
       (D) in subsection (o)(1)(B), by striking ``special 
     supplemental food program'' and inserting ``special 
     supplemental nutrition program''.
       (2) References.--Any reference to the ``special 
     supplemental food program'' in any provision of law, 
     regulation, document, record, or other paper of the United 
     States shall be considered to be a reference to the ``special 
     supplemental nutrition program''.

     SEC. 204. NUTRITION EDUCATION AND TRAINING.

       (a) Use of Funds.--Section 19(f)(1) of the Child Nutrition 
     Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1788(f)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(f)(1) The funds'' and inserting 
     ``(f)(1)(A) The funds'';
       (2) by striking ``for (A) employing'' and inserting ``for--
       ``(i) employing'';
       (3) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (I) as 
     clauses (ii) through (ix), respectively;
       (4) by indenting the margins of each of clauses (ii) 
     through (ix) (as redesignated by paragraph (3)) as so to 
     align with the margin of clause (i) (as amended by paragraph 
     (2));
       (5) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (viii);
       (6) by redesignating clause (ix) as clause (xvii);
       (7) by inserting after clause (viii) the following new 
     clauses:
       ``(ix) providing funding for a nutrition component in the 
     health education curriculum offered to children in 
     kindergarten through grade 12;
       ``(x) instructing teachers, school administrators, or other 
     school staff on how to promote better nutritional health and 
     to motivate children of varying linguistic and cultural 
     backgrounds to practice sound eating habits;
       ``(xi) developing means of providing nutrition education in 
     language-appropriate materials to children and families of 
     children through after-school programs;
       ``(xii) training in relation to healthy and nutritious 
     meals;
       ``(xiii) creating instructional programming, including 
     language-appropriate materials and programming, for teachers, 
     school food service personnel, and parents on the 
     relationships between nutrition and health and the role of 
     the food guide pyramid established by the Secretary;
       ``(xiv) funding aspects of the Strategic Plan for Nutrition 
     and Education issued by the Secretary;
       ``(xv) increasing evaluation efforts at the State level 
     regarding needs assessment for nutrition education efforts;
       ``(xvi) encouraging public service advertisements, 
     including language-appropriate materials and advertisements, 
     to promote healthy eating habits for children; and''; and
       (8) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `language 
     appropriate materials' means materials using languages other 
     than the English language when those languages are dominant 
     for a large percentage of individuals participating in the 
     program.''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 19(i)(2)(A) 
     of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1788(i)(2)(a)) is amended by striking 
     ``nutrition education and information programs'' and all that 
     follows and inserting ``nutrition education and information 
     programs $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1995 and each succeeding 
     fiscal year.''.
       (c) Availability of Funds.--Section 19(i) of such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1788(i)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
       (2) by adding a new paragraph (3) to read as follows:
       ``(3) Funds made available to any State under this section 
     shall remain available to the State for obligation in the 
     fiscal year succeeding the fiscal year in which such funds 
     were received by the State.''.
                  TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     SEC. 301. CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM AND SCHOOL 
                   BREAKFAST PROGRAM INTO COMPREHENSIVE MEAL 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, not later than 1 
     year after the date of the enactment of this Act, develop and 
     implement regulations to consolidate the school lunch program 
     under the 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) into a comprehensive 
     meal program.
       (b) Requirements.--In establishing such comprehensive meal 
     program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall meet the 
     following requirements:
       (1) The Secretary shall ensure that the program continues 
     to serve children who are eligible for free and reduced price 
     meals. Such meals shall meet the nutritional requirements 
     under section 9(a)(1) of the National School Lunch Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1758(a)(1)) and under section 4(e)(1) of the Child 
     Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773(e)(1)).
       (2) The Secretary shall continue to make breakfast 
     assistance payments in accordance with section 4 of the Child 
     Nutrition Act of 1966 and food assistance payments in 
     accordance with the National School Lunch Act.
       (c) Reports.--
       (1) Initial report.--Prior to implementing the regulations 
     described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to 
     the Congress a report containing a plan for the consolidation 
     and simplification of the school lunch program and the school 
     breakfast program.
       (2) Reports with respect to change in payment amounts.--If 
     the Secretary proposes to change the amount of the breakfast 
     assistance payment or the food assistance payment under the 
     comprehensive meal program, the Secretary shall prepare and 
     submit to the Congress a report containing recommendations 
     for legislation to effect such change.

     SEC. 302. STUDY AND REPORT RELATING TO USE OF PRIVATE FOOD 
                   ESTABLISHMENTS AND CATERERS UNDER SCHOOL LUNCH 
                   PROGRAM AND SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM.

       (a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States, 
     in conjunction with the Director of the Office of Technology 
     Assessment, shall conduct a study on the use of private food 
     establishments and caterers, including fast food and other 
     restaurants, by schools that participate in the school lunch 
     program under the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 
     et seq.) or the school breakfast program under section 4 of 
     the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773). In 
     conducting such study, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall--
       (1) examine the extent, manner, and terms under which such 
     private food establishments and caterers supply meals and 
     food to students and schools that participate in the school 
     lunch program or the school breakfast program;
       (2) determine the nutritional profile of all foods provided 
     by such establishments and caterers to students during school 
     hours; and
       (3) evaluate the impact that the services provided by such 
     establishments and caterers have on the ability of local 
     child nutrition programs to operate nutritionally sound and 
     cost-effective programs and the ability of such 
     establishments and caterers to utilize the commodities under 
     section 14 of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1762a).
       (b) Report.--Not later than September 1, 1996, the 
     Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the 
     Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on 
     Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
     on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a 
     report that contains the findings, determinations, and 
     evaluations of the study conducted pursuant to subsection 
     (a).

     SEC. 303. REPORT RELATING TO UNIFIED ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM 
                   UNDER NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT.

       The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 
     to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
     and Forestry of the Senate a report that analyzes--
       (1) the status of the unified accountability system 
     authorized under section 22 of the National School Lunch Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1769c);
       (2) the advantages and disadvantages of the system; and
       (3) the cost impact of the system on schools.

     SEC. 304. AMENDMENT TO COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION REFORM ACT AND 
                   WIC AMENDMENTS OF 1987.

       Section 3(h)(3) of the Commodity Distribution Reform Act 
     and WIC Amendments of 1987 is amended by striking 
     ``Hawaii,''.

     SEC. 305. STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF COMBINING FEDERALLY DONATED 
                   AND FEDERALLY INSPECTED MEAT OR POULTRY.

       (a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States 
     shall conduct a study on the incidence and the effect of 
     States restricting or prohibiting a legally contracted 
     commercial entity from physically combining federally donated 
     and inspected meat or poultry with federally donated and 
     federally inspected meat or poultry from another State.
       (b) Report.--Not later than September 1, 1996, the 
     Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the 
     Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on 
     Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
     on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a 
     report that contains the findings, determinations, and 
     evaluations of the study conducted pursuant to subsection 
     (a).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan [Mr. Kildee] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Kildee].
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8, the Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act of 
1994, provides for the reauthorization of expiring programs authorized 
by the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.
  H.R. 8 represents a strong bipartisan effort, and the cooperation of 
two committees, to more effectively provide nutritious meals to 
America's youth.
  I am very pleased with the results we have achieved and believe that 
the changes proposed in this bill reflect what we all know to be true--
that if we are to attain this country's educational, economic, and 
social goals--we must have well-nourished children.
  Last fall the President signed Goals 2000 into law to help reform 
education.
  In the next few months, Congress will vote on health care reform.
  The child nutrition reauthorization is essential to the success of 
these efforts because hungry children cannot learn, and good nutrition 
is the first defense against disease.
  To help ensure that our children are well fed, this bill: 
Reauthorizes for 4 additional years the special supplemental food 
program for women, infants, and children [WIC], one of the most cost-
effective Federal programs in operation; extends the summer food 
service program; permanently authorizes the homeless preschoolers 
nutrition program, the breakfast start-up program, and the nutrition 
education and training program; provides the Secretary broad waiver 
authority to improve program administration; authorizes pilots designed 
to examine more effective ways of feeding children; provides for strong 
debarment requirements in the case of fraud; and makes Head Start 
children and preschool Even Start participants automatically eligible 
for participation in the child and adult care food program.
  The bill also includes provisions designed to reduce paperwork, 
encourage continued improvement of the nutritional quality of the 
meals, and provide local flexibility.
  An additional provision of the bill ensures that the level of 
commodities provided to the schools will not fall below 12 percent of 
the total assistance.
  If additional commodity purchases need to be made to maintain this 
level, the Secretary has the authority to transfer funds from section 
32 and other sources, but this commodity level will not be maintained 
by reducing cash reimbursements under section 4 or section 11 of the 
National School Lunch Act.
  I urge my colleagues to join me supporting the Healthy Meals for 
Healthy Americans Act of 1994.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GOODLING asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8 as reported by 
the House committee, although I have some reservations which are 
reflected in our alternate views.
  I would like to begin by thanking the chairman, the gentleman from 
Michigan [Mr. Ford], and the chairman, the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. 
Kildee], and their staffs for working with us to reach a bipartisan 
agreement which incorporates many of the ideas set forth by Members on 
my side of the aisle and keeps within spending limits set forth in the 
1995 budget. I would like to thank our colleagues on the Committee on 
Agriculture for working with us to iron out a number of differences on 
a number of issues of joint jurisdiction. I certainly want to thank the 
staffs on both sides.
  I do not believe there are any more noneducation programs which are 
as closely related to the education of our Nation's children as the 
programs before us today. Ever since I started my career as an 
educator, it was evident those children who ate well performed better 
in school, and those that were hungry concentrated on an empty stomach 
rather than on the subject material before them.
  I am particularly pleased that H.R. 8 includes language making 
permanent the current cash-CLOC demonstration sites. As you are aware, 
there are 60 school districts, part of a program to test alternatives 
to the current commodity system, and even though the commodity system 
has been improved, it still has a long way to go. Of course, therefore, 
I believe 60 districts should be permitted to continue to operate 
alternative systems.
  I might add that the CLOC gives both the Agriculture Department and 
the school districts the best of all worlds, because it gives the Ag 
Department the opportunity to determine what it is the local district 
can buy in lieu of the commodities that would be sent in to them and at 
the same time allows that local school district to buy locally where 
they can get things better prepared, fresh, ready to use, and things 
they will use because of the kind of people that they are serving.
  The WIC program has helped ensure children are born healthy and free 
from nutrition-related disabilities. As such, WIC helps reduce and 
often eliminates future Medicaid and education costs for participating 
children.
  We have also improved the farmer's market basket in the WIC program 
and also pushing fresh fruits and vegetables for them to use rather 
than what they might buy otherwise.
  There has been a lot of discussion about reducing fat and sodium in 
the child nutrition programs and increasing the numbers of fresh fruits 
and vegetables. We have heard a number of complaints about the quality 
of fresh fruits and vegetables provided under the current commodity 
distribution. As a result, we worked with the Committee on Agriculture 
to construct a provision which can provide schools with the best of 
both worlds; first, it permits them to refuse to accept fresh fruits 
and vegetables through the commodity distribution program. They can use 
that money to buy an equal amount of other commodities or receive an 
equal amount of other commodities and at the same time require them not 
to reduce the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables that they will be 
serving.
  We have included some legislation that will help Even Start 
youngsters who are participating in these programs. There are several 
others. There is one area that my side, of course, objects to. We 
objected in committee. We will continue to object to it, and that is 
the whole concept of a universal lunch. If 30 percent of the people 
qualify in the school district, everybody would be subject to a free 
lunch. Well, we do not have any money to do that. Therefore, it says in 
there that that is subject to appropriations. I would hope that the 
Committee on Appropriations could not find money to spend on those who 
can afford to pay for their own meals.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8 as reported by the House 
Committee on Education and Labor. This legislation provides for changes 
in and reauthorizes our Nation's child nutrition programs.
  I would like to begin by thanking Chairman Ford and Chairman Kildee 
and their staff for working with us to reach a bipartisan agreement 
which incorporates many of the ideas set forth by Republican members of 
the Education and Labor Committee and keeps within the spending limits 
set forth in the 1995 budget. I would also like to thank our colleagues 
on the Committee on Agriculture for working with us to iron out our 
differences on a number of issues of joint jurisdiction.
  I do not believe there are many other noneducation programs which are 
as closely related to the education of our Nation's children as the 
programs before us today. Ever since I started my career as an 
educator, it was evident that those children who ate well performed 
better in school. Those children who came to school hungry and were not 
provided with nutritious meals, did not have the energy or the 
attention span necessary to do well in school. They were tired and were 
preoccupied with their need to find something to eat. The school lunch 
and breakfast programs have certainly contributed to the educational 
achievement of our Nation's students.
  I am particularly pleased that H.R. 8 includes language making 
permanent the current cash-CLOC demonstration sites. As you may be 
aware, these 60 school districts were part of a program to test 
alternatives to the current commodity system at a time when it was in 
dire need of reform. While there have been major changes to the current 
commodity program, these districts still prefer operating their 
alternative projects. As the representative from a largely rural 
agriculture district, I am certainly supportive of continuing to 
provide commodities to schools. Not only does the current commodity 
system assist in providing children with nutritious meals, it assists 
in eliminating surplus agriculture products from the marketplace and 
maintaining stable, affordable food prices for all citizens.
  However, schools participating in the cash-CLOC projects are not 
equipped to participate in the current commodity system nor do they 
believe that enough changes have been made to make it an acceptable 
alternative to cash-CLOC. I believe, therefore, that they should be 
permitted to continue to operate alternative systems. At the same time, 
I believe that we should continue to improve the current program and 
address such continuing problems as the timing of delivery, quantity of 
commodities received, as well as storage and processing costs for the 
benefit of the majority of schools participating in the current 
program. To this end, I am more than willing to work with my colleagues 
on the Committee on Agriculture toward making necessary improvements in 
the current system.
  The WIC Program has helped ensure that children are born healthy and 
free from nutrition-related disabilities. As such, WIC helps reduce--
and often eliminate--future Medicaid and education costs for 
participating children. I am, of course, pleased that we have 
strengthened the WIC Program and provided for its continued growth. In 
addition, I believe we have made important improvements to the WIC's 
Farmer's Market Program, which benefits both WIC participants and the 
agriculture community. It has been shown that individuals who receive 
coupons through the WIC Program to use at farmers' markets, increase 
their overall purchase of fruits and vegetables and return to acquire 
additional items with their own dollars.

  Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of discussion about reducing fat 
and sodium in the child nutrition programs and increasing the number of 
fresh fruits and vegetables consumed by students. Unfortunately, we 
heard a number of complaints about the quality of fresh fruits and 
vegetables provided to schools under the current Commodity Distribution 
System. As a result, we have worked with the Committee on Agriculture 
to come up with a provision which can provide schools with the best of 
both worlds. First, it permits them to refuse to accept fresh fruits 
and vegetables through the Commodity Distribution Program. Instead, 
they will be eligible to receive an equal dollar amount of any other 
commodity offered through the Commodity Distribution System. However, 
in order to ensure that schools do not reduce the number of fresh 
fruits and vegetables available to students, they will be required to 
use an equal amount of their cash reimbursements to purchase fresh 
fruits and vegetables elsewhere. This provision will allow them to 
purchase fresh fruits and vegetables locally in amounts which they can 
use within a reasonable amount of time to ensure freshness.
  I am also very pleased that this particular piece of legislation 
includes provisions of my bill dealing with the problem of fraud, bid-
rigging, and other anticompetitive practices in the procurement of 
goods for the child nutrition programs. I have been very concerned 
about allowing companies which engage in fraud and anticompetitive 
activities in providing products for the child nutrition programs to 
profit from their illegal activities at the expense of parents, 
schools, and taxpayers. I believe that requiring the initiation of 
debarment proceedings in certain circumstances and the imposition of 
set mandatory periods of debarment will serve to deter this type of 
behavior in the future, and in turn, will save millions of dollars for 
these very special programs.
  Another provision contained in H.R. 8 would extend automatic 
eligibility for the Child and Adult Care Food Program to children 
participating in the Even Start Program. The median income of families 
participating in this successful family literacy program is well under 
$10,000, with only 7 percent of participants reporting income over 
$20,000. This provision will allow them to participate in the Child 
Care Food Program without filling out additional paperwork and 
undergoing an additional income test to determine their eligibility.
  Mr. Speaker, this is important legislation. H.R. 8 provides for the 
nutritional needs of pregnant women and their children, children in 
child care, children attending elementary and secondary schools, as 
well as homeless children. It is worthy of the support of each and 
every Member of the House of Representatives.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Jersey 
[Mrs. Roukema].
  (Mrs. ROUKEMA asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in reluctant support of this 
legislation. I certainly understand and appreciate the importance of 
these nutrition programs. However, I am deeply concerned that this 
legislation does not go far enough in addressing the potential for 
fraud and abuse in the WIC program.
  As my colleagues know, we have in recent years consistently increased 
both the authorization and appropriation for the WIC program, and have 
recognized the importance of providing nutritional assistance to 
pregnant and postpartum women, and their infants and children.
  I am concerned, however, that as we have increased this funding, we 
have not been doing all that we can to root out fraud or abuse in the 
WIC program.
  This was brought to my attention recently, when an employee of a 
beauty salon in New Jersey related to me a conversation she had with a 
customer who was concerned that her WIC benefits had not come in yet. 
This woman was having her nails done at the time, and paying in cash 
$50 for a nail wrap.
  Now I do not know about you, but I know something is wrong with this 
system when mothers participating in WIC are paying in cash $50 for a 
manicure.
  Under current law, and this bill, WIC participants must meet income 
criteria to participate in this program: it is my understanding that 
the vast majority of States use an income cut-off of 185 percent of 
poverty for participation in WIC.
  However, a 1991 study by the Quality Planning Corp. raised a 
disturbing question in my mind, and indicated that some States and 
local agencies were not doing all that they could to ensure that this 
income cut-off was being adequately enforced.
  For example, 16 percent of State agencies requested documentation of 
stated income from WIC applicants, but did not require that information 
to be furnished. Twenty percent of State agencies neither requested nor 
required documentation of income, and accepted the figure an applicant 
provided without any means of verification. Thus, more than one-third 
of State agencies were not requiring applicants to back up or provide 
documentation as to the income they reported for participation.
  I would note also that such documentation need not present any 
particular burden: This could be done by providing a tax return; a pay 
stub; documentation of unemployment benefits; or evidence of Medicaid, 
food stamp, or AFDC participation.
  At a minimum we should be requiring all States to obtain this 
documentation of income. In fact, this is an issue I raised during 
committee consideration of the WIC provisions in the President's health 
care bill. Moreover, on several occasions I have raised this question, 
and asked that the committee include an independent GAO analysis of 
these issues, and an assessment of fraud and abuse in the WIC program. 
But to date, I have had no commitment from the majority on this.
  As we increase funding for the WIC program, and move toward full 
funding under the President's health care bill, I would think that my 
colleagues would take action on this issue, and make an effort to root 
out waste, fraud, and abuse in these programs.
  While many of my colleagues will pay lip service to welfare reform, I 
would say that welfare reform should begin here and now.
  Clearly we must do better in ensuring the WIC program delivers its 
much needed benefits to those who truly need them--and not those who 
would game the system because of lax State and Federal regulation.
  As this legislation moves forward, I will be working to ensure that 
adequate protections from waste, fraud, and abuse are adopted for the 
WIC and other programs, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in 
this effort.

                              {time}  1340

  Mr. Speaker, I did speak with the chairman of the subcommittee 
earlier, and I believe there is more understanding on the issue at 
hand, and I am sorry that the gentleman and I could not have conferred 
directly prior to floor consideration. But it is my understanding, and 
I would like to ask the chairman now: Is my understanding that there is 
agreement as to a request for a GAO study on this very issue?
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 additional minute to the 
gentlewoman from New Jersey [Mrs. Roukema].
  Mr. Speaker, in response to the gentlewoman, yes, I will be very 
happy to join with her in asking for an updated verification of data 
from the GAO. The last one, about 10 years old, showed about a 5-
percent error rate. I will be most happy to join with the gentlewoman 
from New Jersey in asking for a GAO update on that data.
  Mrs. ROUKEMA. I think that is very important as we move toward more 
expanded funding. Hopefully, at some point in the future it is an 
entitlement, and an even greater expansion of the program. I think we 
have to be absolutely certain that while we talk about welfare reform 
in the abstract, that we recognize here is a real live situation and we 
should be moving, at the inception of the program, to assure 
verification through the States.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his cooperation.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Cunningham], a member of the committee.
  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. I thank the gentleman for yielding this time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
[Mr. Goodling] and the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Kildee]. Members 
may ask themselves what is Duke Cunningham doing supporting a social 
program? Mr. Speaker, when a social program has positive economic 
benefits--and we all know that most of our welfare social programs need 
to be eliminated--but this one is not in that category. I am not only a 
supporter but a cosponsor of H.R. 8, Healthy Meals for Healthy 
Americans Act. The reauthorization of H.R. 8 in the Committee on 
Education and Labor made great strides improving the flexibility, 
increasing program access by children.
  Mr. Speaker, if we want and expect children to perform better in 
school, we must make sure the children have the capacity to fully 
benefit from their education. I would ask the speaker: With your own 
children at home, if your kids are hungry, how much control do you have 
over them, or how much do they learn?
  The same is true with our teachers in the schools: A healthy child 
does learn better.

  It also relates to children's achievement. In some cases, we have up 
to 47 percent of our kids who lose or drop out of school by the time 
they are in high school. Healthy kids who learn better, to me that is 
economically sound. H.R. 1, I am particularly pleased to see increased 
flexibility in provision 3, allowing schools the option to provide 
school lunches to all students if they work within that school's 
previous year budget. Most of us are opposed to the fact that if 30 
percent or more qualify for the program, that we include the whole 
school. That is wrong. That is not economically sound.
  But if they operate within the budget and do this, through 
paperwork--and I have a good example, this is not a test but it has 
been proven in 4 different schools, one of those being in south San 
Diego. The four schools that participated in the paperwork reduction 
pilot program under the National School Lunch Act have experienced a 
high rate of success in reducing the stigma of serving nutritious meals 
to more children while reducing the paperwork and the cost of the 
program.
  One of these pilot programs is the national school district in San 
Diego. I invited Helen Kerrian, director of the child nutrition, to 
testify before the committee on her program. It was a resounding 
success. Up to 75 percent of those children in the national city school 
district qualify for reduced-price meals. Through this program, 
students receive nutrition, education, and they make certain that no 
child goes hungry. These programs have made great strides, and I am 
pleased that after conversations with USDA we have been assured that a 
continuance of these pilot programs will exist.
  What we do is we run a pilot program and, before we go national, we 
make sure it is cost effective. I reiterate, when it is economically 
sound, a social program should be supported.
  Included in the legislation is a reauthorization of the Women, 
Infants and Children's Program, called WIC.
  Mr. Speaker, this program, Women, Infants and Children, is targeted 
to low-income pregnant women, infants and children under the age of 5 
who are at nutritional risk. If you have a child who is at nutritional 
risk, that child is not going to do well in school. The chances are 
they are going to drop out of school. If they drop out of school, they 
are going to get a low-income-paying job, end up on welfare, 
unemployment, workman's comp, or at best, end up in a ghetto, involved 
in crime.
  So it is cost-effective if we look beyond the end of our nose.
  Numerous studies have demonstrated that WIC is cost beneficial. GAO 
reports that up to $3.50 in Medicaid funds are saved for each dollar 
spent in WIC. Let me repeat: $3.50 in Medicaid funds are saved for 
every dollar that we spend in WIC. That is economical, that is a 
conservative position, and I would ask my conservative friends to 
support H.R. 8.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas 
[Mr. Johnson].
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. I thank the gentleman from Michigan for 
yielding this time to me.
  You all are too kind.
  Mr. Speaker, besides what the gentlewoman from New Jersey was talking 
about earlier on WIC, I think that the child who has the ability to pay 
for lunches, there is absolutely no justification to provide free meals 
to those kids. The way this reads is that if 30 percent of the school 
children are receiving free meals, the whole school gets free meals, 
meaning that we provide free meals to everyone, paid for by the 
Government. Any time you accommodate a group universally whether they 
need it or not, it is socialism. I do not think this House wants to 
support that kind of a thing even though it is in an authorization bill 
and you say it is not going to be appropriated. I think it is time we 
started authorizing what we really intend.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas 
[Mr. de la Garza], chairman of the Committee on Agriculture.
  (Mr. de la GARZA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. de la GARZA. I thank the gentleman for yielding this time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of the amended version 
of H.R. 8, the Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act, that is being 
considered by the House today. The Committee on Agriculture received 
sequential referral of the legislation reported by the Committee on 
Education and Labor.
  This legislation reauthorizes funding for several of our Nation's 
most vital and successful nutrition programs. It also makes a number of 
improvements and increases flexibility in the way the Federal 
Government operates the School Breakfast and School Lunch Programs and 
the WIC Program, including the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
  One of the areas of particular interest to the Committee on 
Agriculture is the distribution of agricultural commodities in the 
School Lunch Program.
  During its consideration of the legislation, the Committee on 
Agriculture kept foremost in mind that the Commodity Distribution 
Program has two primary objectives. No. 1, it seeks to safeguard the 
health and well-being of our Nation's children. No. 2, and equally 
important, it seeks to support agriculture by encouraging the domestic 
consumption of nutritious agricultural commodities.
  The agreement worked out between the Committee on Agriculture and the 
Committee on Education and Labor on these issues has been included in 
the committee amendment. These changes are as follows:
  The amendment requires that at least 12 percent of Federal assistance 
provided under the School Lunch Program must be in the form of 
``entitlement commodities.''
  The amendment permits schools to refuse fresh fruits and vegetables 
provided through the Commodity Distribution Program and, instead, 
choose some other entitlement commodity, if they agree to purchase 
produce in their local markets that are equal in value to those 
provided in the Federal program. Furthermore, those cash purchases must 
be in addition to the fresh produce they would otherwise purchase.
  The amendment makes permanent the current demonstration program where 
60 sites around the country can use their commodity assistance in an 
alternative form, either cash or as a commodity letter of credit.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to express my appreciation to Chairman Ford of 
the Committee on Education and Labor and to the other gentleman from 
Michigan, Representative Kildee, who chairs the Subcommittee on 
Elementary, Secondary, and Vocational Education, for their willingness 
to listen to our concerns. I also appreciate the cooperation of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Goodling], the committee's ranking 
minority member, in helping us arrive at this agreement on H.R. 8.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to make clear that the Committee on 
Agriculture will be vigilant in its oversight of the Commodity 
Distribution Program. It is my hope that the Department of Agriculture, 
the schools, and commodity producers will work together to improve this 
program and make it as user friendly for schools as possible.
  I would like to mention that the Department has formed a USDA 
Commodity Improvement Council, which includes the Food and Nutrition 
Service, the Agricultural Marketing Service, and the Agricultural 
Stabilization and Conservation Service. This Council will seek to 
improve not only the nutritional quality of the commodities provided to 
the School Lunch Program but also the form of the commodities, and the 
distribution, transportation, and storage system for these commodities.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to inform my colleagues that USDA intends to 
establish a demonstration project with the Department of Defense for 
the purchase and distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables used in 
the School Lunch Program.
  As Members' may know, the Defense Department has in place its own 
food purchasing and distribution system for military and veterans 
installations around the country. This system allows the Defense 
Department to guarantee delivery on a date certain and provide a wide 
variety of produce purchased at low cost. The Committee on Agriculture 
has encouraged the Secretary of Agriculture to continue exploring this 
and other innovative methods of commodity delivery, and we look forward 
to receiving a report from the Secretary upon completion of this 
demonstration project.

                              {time}  1350

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin [Mr. Gunderson], a member of the committee.
  (Mr. GUNDERSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks, and to include extraneous materials)
  Mr. GUNDERSON. Mr. Speaker and Members, I rise in support of the bill 
in front of us. I think it is important that we reauthorize our 
children nutrition programs. I will say the greatest scandal in the 
nutrition programs in America today is that only 45 percent of the kids 
in our schools participate in school lunches. We all ought to be a 
little bit alarmed that we have a program that is meant to provide 
nutrition for these children and yet they find the programs 
sufficiently unappealing that they are unwilling to participate, and 
they are willing to take that can of soda and a candy bar in exchange 
for or in lieu of a school lunch. That is the problem we ought to be 
dealing with much more than we are both here in the Congress and at the 
Department.
  I want to take a little bit of time, Mr. Speaker, to deal with a 
second misunderstood issue about child nutrition, and that is the issue 
of school milk, particularly the whole milk issue. We have all heard 
more about that issue that I suspect we want to, but let me make it 
clear that present policy does not mandate the drinking of whole milk 
despite what some people have suggested. However, Mr. Speaker, in 
politics, because perception is reality, I think the committee has 
properly come up with language which changes that perception.
  Let me read for my colleagues the language in the new bill:

       Lunches served by schools participating in the School Lunch 
     Program shall offer students whole milk and shall offer 
     students a variety of fluid milk consistent with prior year 
     demonstrated preferences unless the prior year preference for 
     any such variety is less than 1 percent of the total milk 
     consumed.

  Mr. Speaker, it is the intent of this language to deal with the 
reality that we all want to offer students a choice based on their own 
bodily needs and their personal tastes. Yet we have recognized that the 
problem in the past is that if we did not--in some way, shape, or 
form--mandate that we reject those desires, that when schools went out 
and bid for their milk contracts for the upcoming school year that the 
bids would always come in with all 1-percent or low-fat milk despite 
what the students wanted, and the school board, required to take the 
lowest bid, would have no choice.
  So, what we do in this language is we make it very clear: Students 
have every right to choose whatever type of milk they would like to 
consume. The schools should base their annual contracts on the previous 
year's consumption, whether it be whole milk, whether it be 2 percent, 
1 percent, whether it be white milk, or chocolate milk, or other 
flavored milk, et cetera. However, if in any of those categories the 
consumption is below 1 percent, the school has no obligation to 
continue that particular option.
  Now this is not meant to be--and we state it very specifically in the 
report language--that this should not in any way, shape, or form be 
meant to increase paperwork on these overburdened local school 
dietitians that they face today, but rather it should be a way of 
making clear to everyone that all we have ever wanted and all we will 
gain under this is the same choice we have always believed every 
student ought to have.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Ford, Chairman Kildee, 
and the ranking minority member, Bill Goodling, for their leadership in 
crafting bipartisan legislation. This reauthorization has addressed 
widespread concerns with the National School Lunch Program and lays a 
strong groundwork for bringing the School Lunch Program into the 21st 
century. I believe we have incorporated many reform suggestions from 
school food service personnel and administrators, WIC directors, and 
food and agriculture industry leaders.
  The reauthorization of the National School Lunch Program has focused 
substantially on the nutritional content of school meals. It is a 
complex endeavor to try to fashion a flexible framework for nutrition 
standards when this program reaches across so many social, cultural, 
economic, and regional lines. One problem, though, which continues to 
persist is calcium deficiencies among school-aged children, especially 
girls. The fact is, Mr. Speaker, that only 10 percent of girls between 
the ages of 12 and 17 are getting their minimum daily requirement of 
calcium, the nutrient so important in preventing osteoporosis and 
hypertension. Dairy foods are responsible for 75 percent of the calcium 
and 35 percent of the riboflavin consumed daily by school children.
  The consumption of dairy foods and their importance in combating 
mineral and nutrient deficiencies brings me to a point--a very 
misunderstood issue--debated on this floor before: whole milk. Current 
law states that, ``Schools shall offer fluid whole and unflavored 
lowfat milk.'' Many well-intentioned people have sought the elimination 
of whole milk as a way to decrease fat levels in school meals. Although 
I agree we need to decrease fat levels, whole milk has become the 
scapegoat. On an average, only 22 percent of the saturated fat in a 
young child's daily diet comes from dairy products. That figure 
decreases as the child gets older. In fact, when compared to potato 
chips, french fries, tater tots, cookies, and cake, milk's contribution 
to saturated fat in children's diets is minimal.
  And so, a compromise was reached during full committee markup of this 
legislation to modify the offering of varieties of milk. The statute 
has been amended to simply require schools to offer students fluid milk 
based on the student's preferences in the prior year, the concession 
being that a school does not have to offer a variety of milk that less 
than 1 percent of the students drink. I believe the compromise on whole 
milk stakes out reasonable middle ground which gives schools 
flexibility and students maximum choice.
  First, the language included in this legislation simply asks schools 
to make available the varieties of milk the students will drink, 
thereby diffusing the argument that the Federal Government is imposing 
milk mandates. Second, we are ensuring that students will continue to 
have access to the variety of milk they want, because schools must bid 
and offer milk according to consumer preference. Without some type of 
Federal guidance with regard to the types of milk offered in the School 
Lunch Program, schools could bid and purchase milk on the basis of 
lowest price alone, which does not ensure that children will have 
choices available to them, thus creating the possibility of lower milk 
consumption.
  I would like to touch briefly on the issue of participation in child 
nutrition programs. In my State of Wisconsin, in 1993, only 45 percent 
of total student enrollment participated in the School Lunch Program. 
This is especially disturbing since many low-income children depend on 
school lunch and breakfast as their only source of nourishment during 
the day. Efforts to decrease fat, as I have said, are necessary. But 
let us not inadvertently decrease participation even further by 
offering a school tray which contains nothing familiar to or liked by 
kids.
  And finally, I would like to commend my colleague, Bill Goodling, for 
his efforts to increase the offerings of fresh fruits and vegetables in 
school feeding programs. The Agriculture Committee, at a hearing on the 
use of agricultural commodities in school feeding programs, heard 
testimony about the commodity distribution system's failure, in some 
instances, to meet schools' needs for fresh fruits and vegetables. Mr. 
Goodling has worked diligently with the members of the Agriculture 
Committee, myself included, to work out a reasonable solution 
addressing the quality and continuation of USDA commodities.
  I am pleased that this legislation includes language which would 
permit schools to decline the receipt of fresh fruits and vegetables 
from the Commodity Distribution System. Instead, they will be eligible 
to receive an equal dollar amount of any other commodity offered 
through the commodity system while using cash to purchase fresh fruits 
and vegetables. Also, the continued level of commodity support in the 
School Lunch Program is guaranteed by requiring that at least 12 
percent of the Federal assistance provided to the School Lunch Program 
will be in the form of commodities. I believe this compromise respects 
both the essential role commodities play in school feeding programs 
while affording maximum flexibility to school personnel.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 8, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to point out that in committee the gentleman from 
Ohio [Mr. Boehner] offered a very sensible amendment. We thought that 
it would be taken care of; unfortunately it was not. So, what we have 
included is a study. The Comptroller General of the United States 
should conduct a study on the incidence and effects of States 
restricting or prohibiting a legally contracted commercial entity from 
physically combining federally donated and inspected meat or poultry of 
federally donated and federally affected meat or poultry from another 
State, and the report, not later than September 1 of 1996. The 
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee 
on Education and Labor and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate a report that contains the findings, 
determinations, and evaluations of the study conducted pursuant to 
subsection A.
  Mr. Speaker, that is how we ironed out that problem at the present 
time.
  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the bill H.R. 8, 
and to let my colleagues know of a situation which has concerned me and 
my constituents. The situation is fraud and abuse of the WIC Program.
  As we all know, the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, 
Infants, and Children--popularly called WIC--provides infant formula 
and other foods to low-income women and children who are at proven 
nutritional risk. The program is a successful one. The committee itself 
has stated that WIC decreases the incidence of very low birth weight by 
44 percent and lowers the occurrence of later fetal deaths by up to 
one-third. the fiscal benefits of WIC are telling as well. Every $1 
spent on a pregnant woman under WIC saves up to $4.21 in Medicaid costs 
for newborns and mothers.
  Unfortunately, we are losing money day after day because of fraud and 
abuse in this laudable program. My constituents in Wisconsin report of 
vendors offering free beer and cigarettes contingent upon the 
redemption of a WIC check. Many of these vendors then change inflated 
prices on WIC-approved items in order to cover the costs of the give-
aways. These low-income folks get caught in the middle.
  In fact, a recent report by the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau 
showed that the average price for a gallon of milk in south central 
Milwaukee, which makes up a portion of my district, was $3.02 while the 
statewide average was $2.52. Evidently, these stores are charging 
extravagant prices so that they can use the excess profits to pay for 
the beer and cigarettes they give away. I am sure we can all agree that 
this is not nutritionally sound, and certainly not what we intended for 
the WIC Program.
  While the State of Wisconsin, and many other States around the 
country, have taken steps to rid the program of fraud and abuse, it is 
not easy. We must do what we can to help them. Rules to eliminate 
abusive and fraudulent vendors should be strengthened; free-item 
promotions directed at WIC participants should be prohibited; State 
criminal and civil penalties for vendors convicted of WIC Program fraud 
and abuse should be created; and the number of vendors authorized to 
accept WIC food drafts should be limited so that enforcement efforts 
are more effective. And, we should consider enhancing WIC delivery 
through electronic means.
  Mr. Speaker, we are letting valuable taxpayer dollars slip through 
our hands. This is a problem that deserves our attention and energies.
  Ms. SHEPHERD. Mr. Speaker, with 1 in 4 children in this country born 
into poverty, hunger is a very real and daily problem for millions of 
American families. In Utah, it is estimated that 1 in 9 children under 
the age of 12 regularly go to bed hungry. The school lunch and 
breakfast programs were created in recognition of the simple fact that 
hungry children cannot learn. Unfortunately, because the programs have 
been regarded more as welfare programs than nutrition programs, they 
have become bogged down in eligibility rules at the expense of 
providing meals to children who otherwise go hungry.
  The administrative burden of providing eligibility is turning more 
and more schools away from participating in the program and the stigma 
associated with participating in a welfare program turns many eligible 
families away. The losers are the children who go without. When 
participation in Salt Lake schools dropped off, school officials 
realized that children who were in the reduced price category did not 
eat. The main reason: Their families could not afford it. To target 
this problem the school district waived the reduced charge for lunch 
and breakfast and picked up the additional costs themselves. This 
change has vastly increased participation in the school lunch and 
breakfast programs in Salt Lake and has refocused the program on the 
important goal of providing children with the healthy meals they need 
to learn.
  The Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act includes a pilot program 
that would encourage such innovations in school meals programs in our 
Nations poorest schools where free meals are needed most. The Salt Lake 
example shows that by focusing on the true goal of the programs--
providing children with a healthy meal--we can provide children with 
nutritious options for meals and snacks at little to no extra cost.
  I commend my colleague, Representative Miller, for his work on this 
important program. While some may argue the cost is too high. I say the 
cost of hungry children is far higher. I urge your support.
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, today I listened as colleagues 
on the other side of the aisle attacked the universal school meal pilot 
included in the Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act. I would like 
to clarify for the opponents of this measure what it is we seek to 
achieve with its implementation.
  The universal pilot is a critical step toward ensuring that our 
investment in our children's education is not wasted. It is 
counterproductive for Federal and State governments to commit 
substantial public resources in teachers and books if the children they 
are intended to teach cannot pay attention because their parents did 
not have the time and/or money to provide them an adequate breakfast 
and lunch. It is in our best interest to protect our sizable investment 
in education by ensuring that all our children, regardless of their 
parent's income, receive adequate meals in school.
  Much has been said today concerning the cost of moving from this 
pilot to full implementation of a universal school meal program. I 
assure my colleagues that during the course of the pilot, I intend to 
look into alternative payment structures that will decrease the cost 
burden of full implementation on the Federal budget. One such 
alternative being explored is to use the resources of the Internal 
Revenue Service. Under such a structure, all students would eat 
breakfast and lunch without payment at school; payment rates based on 
income would be recouped from parents by the IRS at the end of the 
year. This would allow schools to realize the benefits of a universal 
system without imposing a substantial cost on the Federal Government.
  Let us not forget the benefits of the paperwork reduction pilots that 
we have extolled here today. The universal pilot takes these projects 
and expands their benefits one step further. It allows us to explore 
how a universal school meals program would affect school districts in a 
variety of settings across the country. In addition to preparing our 
students to learn, a universal system could provide significant help in 
fighting childhood hunger, allow schools to reallocate resources from 
paperwork, provide an incentive for students to stay in school, and 
promote participation by students by eliminating the income 
identification stigma.
  The reports to be issued by the pilot schools will examine these and 
other important factors for proper evaluation of the costs and benefits 
of the program. From this, the Education and Labor Committee will be 
able to judge the value of a nationwide universal system.
  Mr. Speaker, time and time again, I hear my colleagues speak of our 
children as our greatest asset and how we must protect them to protect 
our Nation's future. I commend this body for taking a significant step 
toward exploring a program that could do just that. I commend this body 
for authorizing the Universal School Meals Pilot Program.
  Mr. SYNAR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to raise and extend my remarks. 
I would like to thank the chairman for recognition. It is my 
understanding that in the Senate companion bill, S. 1614, there is a 
provision which would remove the urban area restriction from the 
current definition of reservation is the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture's Food Distribution Program. Because Oklahoma tribes are 
not on traditional reservations, this restriction places an undue 
hardship on low-income native American families living in urban areas 
of Oklahoma. It is my understanding that the Senate provision is not 
controversial, and that CBO has rated this at a no score, with no 
increase in cost to the Food Stamp Act. Unfortunately, the House was 
unable to consider this provision, and I would like to urge my 
colleague, Mr. de la Garza, to consider this provision in conference. 
Thank you for the time.
  Mr. McKEON. I rise in support of H.R. 8, reauthorizing and 
strengthening our Nation's child nutrition programs.
  During hearings held by the Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary and 
Vocational Education, one of the witnesses pointed out that over 50 
percent of the paperwork completed by schools for the Federal 
Government involves child nutrition programs such as the National 
School Lunch Program and the school breakfast programs. In other words, 
school food service staff are spending more time on paperwork than 
providing nutritious meals to children.
  There are a number of provisions in this legislation which addressed 
this problem, including a section allowing schools to request waivers 
from requirements of the school lunch and breakfast programs.
  In addition, I was able to include several additional provisions 
which will help reduce the paperwork burden. For instance, one new 
provision allows for State authorities to approve an agency's monthly 
inventories, purchases, and serving records as an adequate audit trail. 
This audit trail must demonstrate that sufficient food stuffs have been 
purchased to meet the nutritional requirements of the meals served. 
Under current regulations, even where clear records and an audit trail 
exist, additional forms must be filled out in a prescribed format. This 
section will allow the State agency to use regulatory compliance as a 
measure of the adequacy of the records being kept, thereby providing 
recordkeeping flexibility.
  This will greatly benefit my State of California, where these records 
for one year would stack a mile and a half high.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleagues for reporting a bill which will 
help reduce paperwork in our Nation's schools and thank Mr. Richard 
Deburgh of Granada Hills, CA, for bringing this matter to my attention.
  Mr. FORD of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8, the 
Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act of 1994.
  H.R. 8 contains the reauthorization of programs and projects included 
in the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.
  The legislation reauthorizes several child nutrition programs or 
projects which will expire at the end of fiscal year 1994. These 
expiring programs include the Summer Food Service Program, the 
Commodity Distribution Program, nutrition education and training, State 
administrative expenses, the School Breakfast Start-up Grant Program; 
the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and 
Children [WIC]; the authority for the continuation of alternative Cash/
CLOC commodities, and the authorization of funding for the Food Service 
Management Institute. The school lunch, school breakfast, child and 
adult care food, and special milk programs are permanently authorized.
  The Summer Food Service Program authorized under section 13 of the 
National School Lunch Act, provides funds for food service for needy 
children during summer vacation. Service institutions eligible to 
participate in this program are limited to those serving children from 
areas in which poor economic conditions exist. H.R. 8 establishes 
priorities for selecting summer food sponsors and also eliminates the 
1-year waiting period for organizations that want to operate programs.
  The authority for commodity distribution requires the Secretary of 
Agriculture to use section 32 custom receipts to help meet the 
legislatively mandated levels of commodity support for child nutrition 
programs. If this authority were to expire, and the Secretary did not 
use section 32 funds for these programs, additional appropriations from 
the general fund of the Treasury would be required to purchase the 
mandated level of commodities.
  The Nutrition Education and Training Program is authorized by section 
19 of the Child Nutrition Act. This program provides funds for training 
school food service personnel in food service management, instructing 
teachers in nutrition education and teaching children about the 
relationship of nutrition to health in order to assist them in making 
wise food choices. Considering the increased emphasis on improved 
nutritional content of school meals, informing children early of the 
vital benefits of good nutrition is of particular importance.
  State administrative expenses are necessary for program 
administration and for supervision and technical assistance in local 
school districts and child care institutions.
  H.R. 8 makes permanent the breakfast startup and expansion program. 
Many studies show that there is a clear link between proper nutrition 
and learning in the classroom. Making breakfast available to students 
who otherwise would not be provided a breakfast increases the 
likelihood that children will eat breakfast and be prepared to learn in 
school.
  The Special Supplemental Nutrition program for Women, Infants, and 
Children [WIC] has been cited by many as one of the most successful 
Federal programs. WIC provides nutritious supplemental food to low 
income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women; to infants; and 
to children up to their fifth birthday. H.R. 8 changes the name of the 
program from the Special Supplemental Food program for Women, Infants, 
and Children to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, 
Infants, and Children. The legislation also strengthens and improves 
the program by expanding the breastfeeding provisions and the 
definition of nutritional risk.
  H.R. 8 also makes permanent several Cash/CLOC pilot projects. For the 
past several years, school districts throughout the Nation have 
participated in a demonstration of an alternative to the existing 
commodity donation component of the National School Lunch Program. 
Under the Cash/CLOC Program, school districts are authorized through 
letters of credit to make their own purchases of specified foods in 
place of receiving donated commodities purchased by the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture. The commodity letters of credit [CLOC's] are used to 
purchase foods from local commercial sources.
  Further, H.R. 8 reauthorizes the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition 
Program and the Food Service Management Institute. The WIC farmers' 
market program makes available fresh fruits and vegetables for WIC 
recipients. The Food Service Management Institute conducts research and 
also serves as a central location where food service authorities can 
receive guidance and direction in operating effective and efficient 
food delivery services.
  Not only does this legislation contain programs to be reauthorized, 
but it also includes: First, a demonstration universal lunch program 
which will permit all children to eat free regardless of family income; 
second, waivers provisions to provide Federal assistance in a way which 
eliminates unnecessary administrative burdens, paperwork, and overly 
prescriptive regulations; and third, negotiated rulemaking which, prior 
to the publication of regulations, requires communication between the 
Secretary and those organizations/individuals who are most affected by 
the regulations.
  Mr. Speaker, the programs and projects contained in this legislation 
are all vital programs for there is no place in our nation for hunger. 
It is particularly debilitating when hunger affects us, and even more 
so when it affects our children. As a means of providing some much 
needed relief, H.R. 8 has been conceptualized to bring immediate relief 
to our children.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8, the Healthy Meals 
for Healthy Americans Act of 1994. This legislation will continue 
Congress' effort to provide nutritious food for the hungry in our 
Nation.
  H.R. 8 reauthorizes programs included in the National School Lunch 
Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. These acts provide authority 
for Federal financing of meal-service and nutrition programs serving 
approximately 27 million children. These programs include the School 
Lunch, School Breakfast, Child Care Food, Summer Food Service, Special 
Milk, Nutrition Education and Training [NET], State Administrative 
Expenses, and Commodity Distribution Programs.
  The authority for several of these child nutrition programs and 
projects will expire at the end of fiscal year 1994 unless legislation 
extending them is enacted. The expiring programs include the Special 
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), 
the Summer Food Service Program, the School Breakfast Start-Up Grant 
Program, the Nutrition Education and Training Program [NET], the State 
Administrative Expenses [SAE] Program, the Homeless Preschool 
Children's Project; a two-State demonstration project providing 
alternative eligibility for the Child Care Food Program for proprietary 
child care facilities; authority for the continuation of CASH/CLOC 
commodity alternative schools; and the authorization of funding for the 
Food Service Management Institute.
  One of the programs included in this legislation is the WIC Program 
(the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and 
Children). The WIC Program is one of the most cost-effective programs 
in existence. It seeks to improve the health and nutritional status of 
low-income pregnant women, infants, and children determined by medical 
authorities to be at nutritional risk. This program was established to 
aid in resolving the plight of our women and children who live in 
poverty. I earnestly believe that adequate funding of the WIC Program 
is a sound investment of Federal funds that saves billions of dollars 
in health expenditures by preventive intervention. Numerous studies, 
the testimony of expert witnesses, and the support of various agencies 
have all presented a formidable case demonstrating the success of WIC 
programs. Recent reports show that for every $1 spent on 
WIC participants, $3 is saved in terms of health care. WIC is a true 
nutrition program whose benefits are tailored to the special 
nutritional needs of the recipients it serves. Evaluation studies also 
show that the WIC Program has been cost effective in both health and 
dollar terms. Time and time again, this program has demonstrated its 
cost-effectiveness. Currently, the WIC caseload is about 2.9 million 
and the program is funded at $3.2 billion for fiscal year 1994. This 
legislation contains amendments to improve and promote the WIC Program, 
such as, additional breast-feeding activities, expanding the definition 
of ``nutritional risk'' and removing some of the barriers for 
participation.

  Another program included in this reauthorization is the Summer Food 
Service Program for Children which provides food for children in low-
income areas during the summer months. In effect, it is an extension of 
the School Lunch Program for poor children during the time that school 
is out of session. The program is expected to serve over 2 million 
children this summer with an appropriation of $233 million for fiscal 
year 1994.
  The school breakfast start-up and expansion program is also included 
in this reauthorization. This legislation permanently authorizes the 
School Breakfast Start-Up Grant Program. According to a recent report 
sponsored by USDA entitled the National Evaluation of School Nutrition 
Programs, the principal nutritional benefits of the breakfast program 
is that it increases the likelihood that children will eat breakfast. 
This can be considered a nutritional benefit in that, on the average, 
children who eat a breakfast are substantially better nourished than 
those who skip breakfast. H.R. 8 also provides for the improvement of 
the quality of the school breakfast meal pattern for approximately 5.8 
million low-income children.
  The Nutrition Education and Training Program [NET], another program 
included in this reauthorization, provides for nutrition education and 
information to educational and school food service personnel, and child 
care institutions. This program specifically provides for instructing 
students on the nutritional value of food and also trains school 
personnel to improve the management of these programs. Currently, $10 
million is appropriated for this purpose.
  Another expiring program provides for payments to the States to 
assist in meeting the administrative costs of operating all of these 
Federal programs. The authority for such payments now provides $85.8 
million for fiscal year 1994.
  H.R. 8 makes permanent and expands the Homeless Preschoolers 
Nutrition Program which is currently operating as a demonstration 
program. The committee is pleased with the success of the Homeless 
Preschoolers Nutrition Program and its growth. I am encouraged by its 
efforts to help insure that children are ready to learn in school.
  In addition to reauthorizing several programs, this legislation adds 
new non-cost provisions. An example of one of these provisions is the 
``waiver statutory and regulatory requirements.'' These waiver 
provisions are necessary to facilitate the ability of the State or 
service provider to feed hungry children in the most efficient manner. 
In other words, this provision will eliminate unnecessary 
administrative burdens, paperwork, overly prescriptive regulations and 
permit flexibility in the implementation of these programs.

  Another provision included in this legislation is a ``universal pilot 
program.'' The universal meal concept assumes that meals provided in a 
school are served free to all children. A universal program has many 
advantages including fighting childhood hunger and promoting 
participation by eliminating the income identification stigma 
associated with the program. The Committee wants to expand its 
knowledge relative to the universal concept and explore its effect on a 
variety of school districts across the country.
  Mr. Speaker, there are many other provisions contained in this 
legislation including extensions of the WIC Farmers' Market Program and 
the Food Service Management Institute; negotiated rulemaking 
activities; and automatic eligibility for Head Start participants.
  I want you to know that I have a grave concern for the Federal 
deficit; but I also believe that, more importantly, it is in our 
national interest and a wise investment for the present and the future 
that we put forth efforts to put an end to the scourge of hunger in our 
Nation. Evidence abounds that there is a correlation between children 
who are well-nourished and their motivation, and children who come to 
school with inadequate nutritious food and their achievement levels. 
The committee has prepared a child nutrition committee print which I 
recommend to all of you. This print includes research which shows the 
impact of hunger on academic achievement in the classroom.
  In addition, the National Center For Children in Poverty reported 
that in 1990 nearly one out of every four children under the age of 6 
lived in poverty, and unless something more is done to help them, many 
of our children will remain strapped in the vicious cycle of poverty 
which results in failure in the home, the school, the workplace, and in 
the community.
  There is nothing more urgent and crucial in the development and 
forward movement of our country than to make sure that our young are 
provided for in terms of proper nutrition. I believe that there is a 
national crisis in this regard and we can play a major role in what we 
do today in terms of resolving the issue of hungry and malnourished 
children in our Nation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this vital legislation.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. de la Garza). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Kildee] that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule 
I, and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this 
motion will be postponed.

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