Summer Meals Act of 2021

To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve the efficiency of summer meals. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Summer Meals Act of 2021 2. Summer food service program for children (a) Better Integrate Summer Education and Summer Meals Program Section 13(a)(1)(A)(i) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1761(a)(1)(A)(i) area in which poor economic conditions exist 50 percent 40 percent (b) Reduce red tape for public-Private partnerships Section 13(a)(8) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1761(a)(8) (1) by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through Except (8) Year-round meal service (A) Seamless summer option for schools Except ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (B) Year-round meal service for other service institutions Each service institution (other than a service institution described in subparagraph (A)), in addition to being eligible for reimbursement for meals described in subsection (b)(2) served during each day of operation during the periods described in subsection (c)(1), may be reimbursed for up to 1 meal and 1 snack per child served during each day of operation during— (i) afterschool hours; (ii) weekends; and (iii) school holidays during the regular school calendar. . (c) Improve nutrition in underserved, hard-to-Reach areas Section 13(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1761(a) (1) by striking paragraphs (9) and (10) and inserting the following: (9) Improve nutrition in underserved, hard-to-reach areas (A) In general Subject to the availability of appropriations provided in advance in an appropriations Act specifically for the purpose of carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall award competitive grants to service institutions selected by the Secretary to increase participation in the program by children who lack the ability to access a congregate feeding site through— (i) innovative approaches to limited transportation; (ii) mobile meal trucks; and (iii) any other method or approach that does not require children to access a congregate feeding site. (B) Eligibility To be selected to receive a grant under this paragraph, a service institution— (i) may be located in any State; and (ii) shall— (I) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require; (II) meet criteria established by the Secretary; and (III) agree to the terms and conditions of the grant, as established by the Secretary. (C) Priority In awarding grants under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to service institutions that plan— (i) to serve both breakfast and lunch; or (ii) to serve lunch, a snack, and dinner. (D) Travel reimbursement A service institution that receives a grant under subparagraph (A)(i) may use grant funds to provide reimbursement for travel. (E) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to make competitive grants under this paragraph $10,000,000 for each fiscal year. ; and (2) by redesignating paragraphs (11) and (12) as paragraphs (10) and (11), respectively. (d) Third meal Section 13(b)(2) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1761(b)(2) only serve lunch migrant children may (e) Summer meal service reimbursement after emergencies and disasters Section 13 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1761 (r) Summer meal service reimbursement after emergencies and disasters (1) Definition of affected area In this subsection, the term affected area (A) the President has declared a major disaster in accordance with section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5170 (B) the Governor of the State in which the area is located has declared an emergency or disaster under State law. (2) Summer meal reimbursement In an affected area, the Secretary shall, on request by a State, reimburse a service institution for meals provided under this section to children that consume the meals by a noncongregate method or approach. . (f) Authorization of appropriations Section 13 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1761 (s) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for the period of fiscal years 2021 through 2026. .

Summary: Summer Meals Act of 2021 This bill revises provisions related to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), which provides meals to children and teens in low-income areas during the summer months when school is not in session. The bill redefines areas in which poor economic conditions exist, where the SFSP may operate, as areas in which at least 40% (currently, 50%) of the children have been determined to be eligible for free or reduced price school meals under the school lunch and breakfast programs. The bill reimburses service institutions (other than school food authorities) for up to one meal and one snack per child each day during after-school hours, weekends, and school holidays during the regular school calendar. Currently, such institutions are reimbursed for meals and snacks served to children over the summer months or to children who are on vacation under a continuous school calendar. USDA must award competitive grants to service institutions to increase participation in the summer food service program for children who lack the ability to access a congregate feeding site through (1) innovative approaches to limited transportation, (2) mobile meal trucks, and (3) any other method or approach that does not require children to access a congregate feeding site. Service institutions that are participating in the summer food service program for children may serve up to three meals, or two meals and one snack, during each day of operation. Currently, this option is reserved for camps and service institutions that serve meals primarily to migrant children.