FEED the Children Act

To provide reimbursements for the emergency operational costs of school food authorities during the COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Funding Emergency Eating Distribution for the Children FEED the Children Act 2. Emergency costs for child nutrition programs during COVID–19 pandemic (a) Use of certain appropriations To cover emergency operational costs under school meal programs (1) In general (A) Required allotments Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall allocate to each State that participates in the reimbursement program under paragraph (3) such amounts as may be necessary to carry out reimbursements under such paragraph for each reimbursement month, including, subject to paragraph (4)(B), administrative expenses necessary to make such reimbursements. (B) Guidance with respect to program Not later than 10 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue guidance with respect to the reimbursement program under paragraph (3). (2) Reimbursement program application To participate in the reimbursement program under paragraph (3), not later than 30 days after the date described in paragraph (1), a State shall submit an application to the Secretary that includes a plan to calculate and disburse reimbursements under the reimbursement program under paragraph (3). (3) Reimbursement program Using the amounts allocated under paragraph (1)(A), a State participating in the reimbursement program under this paragraph shall make reimbursements for emergency operational costs for each reimbursement month as follows: (A) For each new school food authority in the State for the reimbursement month, an amount equal to 55 percent of the amount equal to— (i) the average monthly amount such new school food authority was reimbursed under the reimbursement sections for meals and supplements served by such new school food authority during the alternate period; minus (ii) the amount such new school food authority was reimbursed under the reimbursement sections for meals and supplements served by such new school food authority during such reimbursement month. (B) For each school food authority not described in subparagraph (A) in the State for the reimbursement month, an amount equal to 55 percent of— (i) the amount such school food authority was reimbursed under the reimbursement sections for meals and supplements served by such school food authority for the month beginning one year before such reimbursement month; minus (ii) the amount such school food authority was reimbursed under the reimbursement sections for meals and supplements served by such school food authority during such reimbursement month. (4) Treatment of funds (A) Availability Funds allocated to a State under paragraph (1)(A) shall remain available until March 30, 2021. (B) Administrative expenses A State may reserve not more than 1 percent of the funds allocated under paragraph (1)(A) for administrative expenses to carry out this subsection. (C) Unexpended balance On September 30, 2021, any amounts allocated to a State under paragraph (1)(A) or reimbursed to a school food authority or new school food authority under paragraph (3) that are unexpended by such State, school food authority, or new school food authority shall revert to the Secretary. (5) Reports Each State that carries out a reimbursement program under paragraph (3) shall, not later than September 30, 2021, submit a report to the Secretary that includes a summary of the use of such funds by the State and each school food authority and new school food authority in such State. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Alternate period The term alternate period (2) Emergency operational costs The term emergency operational costs (A) during a public health emergency; (B) that are related to the ongoing operation, modified operation, or temporary suspension of operation (including administrative costs) of such school food authority or new school food authority; and (C) except as provided under subsection (a), that are not reimbursed under a Federal grant. (3) New school food authority The term new school food authority (4) Public health emergency The term public health emergency 42 U.S.C. 247d (5) Reimbursement month The term reimbursement month (6) Reimbursement sections The term reimbursement sections (A) section 4(b), section 11(a)(2), section 13, and section 17A(c) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1753(b) 42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(2) 42 U.S.C. 1761 42 U.S.C. 1766a(c) (B) section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 (7) Secretary The term Secretary (8) State The term State 42 U.S.C. 1760(d)(8)

Summary: Funding Emergency Eating Distribution for the Children or the FEED the Children Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allocate additional funds to states to reimburse school food authorities for a specified percentage of the costs incurred from March 2020 through June 2020 to operate school food programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, USDA must issue guidance for the implementation of this bill not later than 10 days after enactment.