II 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1755

To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to provide 

grants to support farm-to-cafeteria projects. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 17, 2003

Mr. LEAHY (for himself and Mr. SPECTER) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 

A BILL

To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 

Act to provide grants to support farm-to-cafeteria projects.

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Farm-to-Cafeteria 

5 Projects Act of 2003’’. 

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

7 PROJECTS. 

8 Section 12 of the Richard B. Russell National School 

9 Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760) is amended by adding at the 

10 end the following: 
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•S 1755 IS 

1 ‘‘(q) GRANTS TO SUPPORT FARM-TO-CAFETERIA

2 PROJECTS.—

3 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To improve access to local 

4 foods in schools and institutions receiving funds 

5 under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 

6 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) (other than section 17 of 

7 that Act (42 U.S.C. 1786)), the Secretary shall pro8 vide competitive grants to nonprofit entities and 

9 educational institutions to establish and carry out 

10 farm-to-cafeteria projects that may include the pur11 chase of equipment, the procurement of foods, and 

12 the provision of training and education activities. 

13 ‘‘(2) PREFERENCE FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS.—

14 In selecting farm-to-cafeteria projects to receive as15 sistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall 

16 give preference to projects designed to—

17 ‘‘(A) procure local foods from small- and 

18 medium-sized farms for the provision of foods 

19 for school meals; 

20 ‘‘(B) support nutrition education activities 

21 or curriculum planning that incorporates the 

22 participation of school children in farm and ag23 riculture education projects; and 

24 ‘‘(C) develop a sustained commitment to 

25 farm-to-cafeteria projects in the community by 
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•S 1755 IS 

1 linking schools, agricultural producers, parents, 

2 and other community stakeholders. 

3 ‘‘(3) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND RELATED IN4 FORMATION.—

5 ‘‘(A) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—In car6 rying out this subsection, the Secretary may 

7 provide technical assistance regarding farm-to8 cafeteria projects, processes, and development 

9 to an entity seeking the assistance. 

10 ‘‘(B) SHARING OF INFORMATION.—The 

11 Secretary may provide for the sharing of infor12 mation concerning farm-to-cafeteria projects 

13 and issues among and between government, pri14 vate for-profit and nonprofit groups, and the 

15 public through publications, conferences, and 

16 other appropriate means. 

17 ‘‘(4) GRANTS.—

18 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made 

19 available to carry out this subsection, the Sec20 retary shall make grants to assist private non21 profit entities and educational institutions to es22 tablish and carry out farm-to-cafeteria projects. 

23 ‘‘(B) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The maximum 

24 amount of a grant provided to an entity under 

25 this subsection shall be $100,000. 
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•S 1755 IS 

1 ‘‘(C) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENTS.—

2 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share 

3 of the cost of establishing or carrying out 

4 a farm-to-cafeteria project that receives as5 sistance under this subsection may not ex6 ceed 75 percent of the cost of the project 

7 during the term of the grant, as deter8 mined by the Secretary. 

9 ‘‘(ii) FORM.—In providing the non10 Federal share of the cost of carrying out a 

11 farm-to-cafeteria project, the grantee shall 

12 provide the share through a payment in 

13 cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including 

14 facilities, equipment, or services. 

15 ‘‘(iii) SOURCE.—An entity may pro16 vide the non-Federal share through State 

17 government, local government, or private 

18 sources. 

19 ‘‘(D) ADMINISTRATION.—

20 ‘‘(i) SINGLE GRANT.—A farm-to-cafe21 teria project may be supported by only a 

22 single grant under this subsection. 

23 ‘‘(ii) TERM.—The term of a grant 

24 made under this subsection may not exceed 

25 3 years. 
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•S 1755 IS 

1 ‘‘(5) EVALUATION.—Not later than January 

2 30, 2008, the Secretary shall—

3 ‘‘(A) provide for the evaluation of the 

4 projects funded under this subsection; and 

5 ‘‘(B) submit to the Committee on Edu6 cation and the Workforce of the House of Rep7 resentatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 

8 Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report 

9 on the results of the evaluation. 

10 ‘‘(6) FUNDING.—

11 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—On October 1, 2002, 

12 and on each October 1 thereafter through Octo13 ber 1, 2007, out of any funds in the Treasury 

14 not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the 

15 Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary of Ag16 riculture to carry out this subsection 

17 $10,000,000, to remain available until ex18 pended. 

19 ‘‘(B) RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE.—The 

20 Secretary shall be entitled to receive, shall ac21 cept, and shall use to carry out this subsection 

22 the funds transferred under subparagraph (A), 

23 without further appropriation.’’.

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