Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022

To amend the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to extend child nutrition waiver authority, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 2. Support for child nutrition programs (a) In general (1) Temporary lunch reimbursement Each lunch served under the school lunch program authorized under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq. (2) Temporary breakfast reimbursement Each breakfast served under the school breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 (3) Limitation The additional reimbursement amounts authorized under this subsection shall only be available for the school year beginning July 2022. (4) Temporary guidelines Notwithstanding any provision of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq. National School Lunch Act 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 1773 National School Lunch Act 42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(1)(B) (5) Appropriations (A) In general There is appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection. (B) Disbursement A State agency shall disburse funds made available under subparagraph (A) to school food authorities participating in the school meal programs described in paragraphs (1) and (2). (b) Extension of waivers Section 2202 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760 Public Law 116–127 (1) in subsection (a)(1)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting due to the COVID–19 pandemic ( 42 U.S.C. 1760(l) (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking and or (C) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: (B) ensuring continuity of program operation under a qualified program. ; (2) in subsection (d)— (A) by striking paragraph (2); and (B) by striking the following: A summary a summary (3) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following: (e) Sunset (1) Nationwide waivers The authority of the Secretary to establish or grant a waiver under subsection (a) shall expire on September 30, 2022. (2) Waiver restriction After June 30, 2022, a waiver established or granted under subsection (a) shall only apply to schools or summer food service program food service sites— (A) operating— (i) the qualified program described in subsection (f)(1)(D); or (ii) the option described in section 13(a)(8) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1761(a)(8) (B) not operating the qualified program described in subsection (f)(1)(A). (3) Other waivers (A) Child and adult care food program waiver The authority of the Secretary to establish or grant a waiver under subsection (b) shall expire on June 30, 2022. (B) Meal pattern waiver The authority of the Secretary to establish or grant a waiver under subsection (c) shall expire on June 30, 2023. (4) Limitations A waiver authorized by the Secretary under this section shall not be in effect after the date on which the authority of the Secretary to establish or grant that waiver under this subsection expires. . (c) Appropriation There are appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as are necessary to provide waivers under section 2202(a) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760 Public Law 116–127 (1) only during the months of May through September in 2022; and (2) to— (A) the summer food service program for children under section 13 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1761 (B) the option described in section 13(a)(8) of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1761(a)(8) (d) Nationwide waiver for school year 2022–2023 (1) In general For purposes of school year 2022–2023, the Secretary of Agriculture may establish waivers under section 12(l) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760(l) (A) on a nationwide basis; and (B) without regard to the requirements under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of such section that a State or eligible service provider shall submit an application for a waiver request. (2) Sunset A nationwide waiver established by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 12(l) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760(l) 3. Child and adult care food program (a) In general (1) Temporary additional reimbursement for 2022–2023 school year Each meal and supplement served under the program authorized by section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 42 U.S.C. 1766 (2) Limitation The additional reimbursement amount authorized under paragraph (1) shall only be available for the school year beginning July 2022. (b) Tier determinations for 2022–2023 school year For the school year beginning July 2022, a tier II family or group day care home described in subsection (f)(3)(A)(iii) of section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1766 (c) Appropriations There are appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as are necessary to carry out this section. 4. Rescissions and sunset (a) Rescissions (1) USDA (A) Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available to the Department of Agriculture in section 1001(a) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( 7 U.S.C. 7501 Public Law 117–2 (B) Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available to the Department of Agriculture in section 751 of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( Public Law 116–260 (2) Department of Education Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available to the Department of Education in section 2003 of title II of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law 117–2 20 U.S.C. 1002(b) (3) SBA Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available to the Small Business Administration in section 5005 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( Public Law 117–2 Public Law 116–260 15 U.S.C. 9009a (b) Additional rescission Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available to the Department of Agriculture under the heading Agricultural Programs—Office of the Secretary Public Law 116–136 (c) Sunset Section 756 of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( 7 U.S.C. 2254c for fiscal year thereafter for each of fiscal years 2021 and 2022 5. Operationally ready The Secretary of Agriculture shall ensure that technical assistance is made available to States and school food authorities for purposes of assisting parents and school leaders with respect to the transition of operating school meal programs not pursuant to a waiver under section 2(d) or section 2202 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760 Public Law 116–127

Summary: Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 This bill provides funding for and makes changes to school meal programs and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). It also rescinds certain funds provided under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021; and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Specifically, the bill increases the reimbursement rate for school lunches by 40 cents and for school breakfasts by 15 cents for the school year beginning in July 2022. Further, the bill changes income eligibility for school meal programs for the school year beginning in July 2022. The bill extends the authority of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to waive certain requirements for the school meal programs and the CACFP to address COVID-19, including by extending authority through September 30, 2022, for USDA to grant waivers related to summer food service programs. The bill authorizes USDA to establish a nationwide waiver of statutory and regulatory requirements under child nutrition programs for the 2022-2023 school year. Additionally, the bill increase the reimbursement rate for meals and snacks under the CACFP by 10 cents for the school year beginning in July 2022. Further, the bill increases the reimbursement of tier II family or group day care homes to tier I amounts for the 2022-2023 school year. The bill rescinds certain funding provided to USDA, the Department of Education, and the Small Business Administration.