Stop Child Hunger Act of 2023

To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to expand the summer electronic benefits transfer for children program to include benefit transfer during school closures, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Child Hunger Act of 2023 2. Expansion of summer electronic benefits transfer for children program Section 13A of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1762 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting and school closure period, as applicable, for each summer (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) by inserting and school closure periods, as applicable, summer months (ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting or during a school closure period. (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (2)— (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting for summer months or a school closure period, as applicable, pursuant to subsection (a) (ii) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking be— be, for calendar year 2024 and each year thereafter, in an amount that is not less than the value of breakfast, lunch, and a snack at the free rate for each day of such summer months or school closure period; and (iii) by striking clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A); and (B) in paragraph (4)(A), by inserting or a school closure period, as applicable summer months (3) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by inserting or a school closure period, as applicable with respect to summer (4) in subsection (d)— (A) by striking 50 100 (5) in subsection (h)— (A) in paragraph (2)— (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting or school closure period, as applicable summer (ii) in subparagraph (A)— (I) by striking or during , during (II) by inserting , or during the calendar year in which such school closure period began operational period (iii) in subparagraph (B)— (I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting or during the calendar year in which such school closure period began (II) in clause (i)— (aa) by striking and or (bb) by striking (i) enrolled (III) by striking clause (ii); (B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (6); and (C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) Free rate The term free rate 7 U.S.C. 2011 (5) School closure period The term school closure period ; and (6) by adding at the end the following: (i) Implementation grants (1) In general The Secretary shall carry out a program to make grants to States to support the development of data systems or upgrades to existing data systems that are necessary to implement this section. (2) Funding Subject to the availability of appropriations provided in advance in an appropriations Act specifically for the purpose of carrying out this section, and in addition to such appropriations, on October 1, 2024, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to carry out this subparagraph $50,000,000, to remain available until expended. .

Summary: Stop Child Hunger Act of 2023This bill expands the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT) to include coverage during a school closure period. (Summer EBT provides grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer.) Under the bill, a school closure period means a period in which an elementary school or secondary school is closed, operating remotely, or operating in a hybrid manner for five or more consecutive weekdays during a calendar year.The bill also increases the daily value of the benefit to cover the cost of breakfast, lunch, and a snack for every day school is closed.USDA must pay each state agency and covered tribal organization 100% of the administrative expenses (currently 50%) incurred in operating the program.USDA must also provide grants to states to support the development or upgrading of data systems that are necessary to implement Summer EBT.