[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 146 (Friday, October 17, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12845-S12846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEAHY (for himself and Mr. Specter):
  S. 1755. A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act

[[Page S12846]]

to provide grants to support farm-to-cafeteria projects; to the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce today, with my 
respected colleague from Pennsylvania, Senator Specter, the Farm-to-
Cafeteria Projects Act of 2003. This important bipartisan proposal will 
support grassroots efforts all across our Nation to bring school 
cafeterias and local farms together.
  It is amazing how many kids do not know where the food that they eat 
comes from. It is also amazing how far some farm products travel to get 
to the cafeteria table. The Farm-to-Cafeteria Projects Act of 2003 will 
establish a U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, grant program to help 
schools connect children with local farms by bringing fresh local foods 
to their cafeterias and by implementing hands-on nutrition education 
programs.
  Communities all across our Nation are beginning to explore the 
concept of linking farms and cafeterias. In my home State of Vermont, 
from rural towns like Jay and Westfield to the city of Burlington, 
schools have experimented with how they can integrate the daily service 
of school meals with classroom learning and local agriculture. And as 
more schools create these connections, more and more want to learn how 
they too can start a program. Oftentimes these are very small schools, 
which do not have the staff or money to kick off a project on their 
own. With just a little money and some technical assistance, these 
schools can create a program that teaches kids about good nutrition, 
shows them the importance of agriculture, and supports local farms by 
keeping food dollars within the community. In introducing The Farm-to-
Cafeteria Projects Act of 2003, Senator Specter and I seek to provide 
these communities with the assistance they need to get such school and 
farm partnerships off the ground. I urge my colleagues to join us in 
support of this exciting initiative, and I ask unanimous consent that 
the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1755

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

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

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