Stop Child Hunger Act of 2021

To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a permanent, nationwide electronic benefits transfer program for children during school closures, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Child Hunger Act of 2021 2. Summer electronic benefits transfer for children program Section 13(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1761(a) (13) School closure electronic benefits transfer for children program (A) Definitions In this paragraph: (i) Covered period The term covered period (ii) Eligible household The term eligible household Child Nutrition Act of 1966 42 U.S.C. 1771 (iii) Free rate The term free rate 7 U.S.C. 2011 (iv) School closure EBT card The term school closure EBT card (B) Program The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall provide to eligible households school closure EBT cards for the purpose of providing access to food for children during covered periods— (i) to reduce or eliminate the food insecurity and hunger of children; and (ii) to improve the nutritional status of children. (C) Use An eligible household may use a school closure EBT card only to purchase food from retail food stores that have been approved for participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 7 U.S.C. 2011 7 U.S.C. 2016(b) (D) Amount The amount of a school closure EBT card issued pursuant to this paragraph shall be, with respect to a covered period, not less than the value of meals at the free rate for each day of such covered period. (E) Funding (i) In general On October 1, 2021, and on each October 1 thereafter, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this paragraph (including administrative expenses), to remain available until expended. (ii) Receipt and acceptance The Secretary shall be entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out this section the funds transferred under clause (i), without further appropriation. (F) Regulations (i) In general Not later than October 1, 2021, the Secretary shall issue regulations to carry out this paragraph. (ii) Requirements Regulations issued under this subparagraph shall require that— (I) children shall be eligible to participate and shall be enrolled into the program under this paragraph for a covered period without further application if the children are enrolled to participate in the free or reduced-price lunch program under this Act or the free or reduced-price breakfast program under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1771 (II) local educational agencies shall support the administration of the program under this paragraph by— (aa) communicating to the State agency when any school is closed, operating remotely, or operating in a hybrid manner; and (bb) providing data on the children eligible to participate in the program under this paragraph; (III) State agencies shall provide information on children eligible to participate in the program under this paragraph with the State agency conducting eligibility determinations for the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 (IV) State agencies conducting eligibility determinations described in subclause (III) shall— (aa) distribute the school closure EBT cards; (bb) provide information to households regarding the program under this paragraph, including eligibility rules and how children in eligible households that are not automatically enrolled under subclause (I) may apply for program benefits; and (cc) administer the program under this paragraph in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary. (G) Implementation grants (i) 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 paragraph. (ii) Funding In addition to amounts made available under subparagraph (E), on October 1, 2021, 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 2021 This bill establishes a permanent program and provides funds for electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to cover meals for children during extended school closures. Specifically, the Department of Agriculture must establish a program to provide EBT cards to cover meals for children who are enrolled in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program when a school is closed, operating remotely, or a combination of both for a period of five days or more. Cards may be used to purchase food from approved retailers under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.