I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1720 

To conduct a pilot program in support of efforts to increase the amount 

of purchases of local fresh fruits and vegetables for schools and service 

institutions by giving certain States the option of receiving a grant 

from the Secretary of Agriculture for that purpose instead of obtaining 

commodities under Department of Agriculture programs. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 24, 2013 

Mr. WELCH (for himself, Mr. GIBSON, Ms. PINGREE of Maine, and Mr. 

DESJARLAIS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To conduct a pilot program in support of efforts to increase 

the amount of purchases of local fresh fruits and vegetables for schools and service institutions by giving certain 

States the option of receiving a grant from the Secretary 

of Agriculture for that purpose instead of obtaining commodities under Department of Agriculture programs. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Local School Foods 

3 Act of 2013’’. 

4 SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY FOR PURCHASE OF FRESH 

5 FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER SPE6 CIALTY FOOD CROPS. 

7 Section 10603 of the Farm Security and Rural In8 vestment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 612c–4) is amended— 

9 (1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘2012’’ and 

10 inserting ‘‘2017’’; 

11 (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub12 section (d); and 

13 (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol14 lowing new subsection: 

15 ‘‘(c) PILOT GRANT PROGRAM FOR PURCHASE OF

16 FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.— 

17 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Using amounts made avail18 able to carry out subsection (b), the Secretary of Ag19 riculture shall conduct a pilot program under which 

20 the Secretary will give not more than five partici21 pating States the option of receiving a grant in an 

22 amount equal to the value of the commodities that 

23 the participating State would otherwise receive 

24 under this section for each of fiscal years 2014 

25 through 2018. 


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1 ‘‘(2) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—A participating 

2 State receiving a grant under this subsection may 

3 use the grant funds solely to purchase fresh fruits 

4 and vegetables for distribution to schools and service 

5 institutions in the State that participate in the food 

6 service programs under the Richard B. Russell Na7 tional School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) 

8 and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 

9 1771 et seq.). To the maximum extent practicable, 

10 the fruits and vegetables shall be locally grown, as 

11 determined by the State. 

12 ‘‘(3) SELECTION OF PARTICIPATING STATES.— 

13 The Secretary shall select participating States from 

14 applications submitted by the States. 

15 ‘‘(4) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 

16 ‘‘(A) SCHOOL AND SERVICE INSTITUTION

17 REQUIREMENT.—Schools and service institu18 tions in a participating State shall keep records 

19 of purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables 

20 made using the grant funds and report such 

21 records to the State. 

22 ‘‘(B) STATE REQUIREMENT.—Each par23 ticipating State shall submit to the Secretary a 

24 report on the success of the pilot program in 

25 the State, including information on— 


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1 ‘‘(i) the amount and value of each 

2 type of fresh fruit and vegetable purchased 

3 by the State; and 

4 ‘‘(ii) the benefit provided by such pur5 chases in conducting the school food serv6 ice in the State, including meeting school 

7 meal requirements.’’. 

Æ 


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