I 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6481 
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to issue loan guarantees for purposes 
of financing improvements to school lunch facilities, training school food 
service personnel, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 21, 2012 
Mr. LATHAM (for himself and Mr. MCINTYRE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 
and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to issue loan guaran-
tees for purposes of financing improvements to school 
lunch facilities, training school food service personnel, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘School Food Mod-
ernization Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) DURABLE EQUIPMENT.—The term ‘‘durable 
equipment’’ means durable food preparation, han-
dling, cooking, and storage equipment. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a local educational agency (as defined 
in section 9101 of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7801)); 
(B) a tribal organization (as defined in 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)); or 
(C) a consortium that includes a local edu-
cational agency referred to in subparagraph 
(A), a tribal organization referred to in sub-
paragraph (B), or both. 
(3) INFRASTRUCTURE.—The term ‘‘infrastruc-
ture’’ means a food storage facility, kitchen, food 
service facility, dining room, or food preparation fa-
cility. 
(4) 
SCHOOL
FOOD
PROGRAM.—The 
term 
‘‘school food programs’’ means— 
(A) the school breakfast program estab-
lished under section 4 of the Child Nutrition 
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773); and 
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(B) the school lunch program established 
under the Richard B. Russell National School 
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.). 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
SEC. 3. LOAN GUARANTEE FOR ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOLS 
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND 
DURABLE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO PRO-
VIDE HEALTHY MEALS THROUGH SCHOOL 
FOOD PROGRAM. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO GUARANTEE LOANS.—The Sec-
retary of Agriculture shall issue a loan guarantee to an 
eligible entity for purposes of financing the construction, 
remodeling, or expansion of infrastructure or the purchase 
of durable equipment that the Secretary determines will 
assist such entity in providing healthy meals through the 
school food programs. 
(b) COMPETITIVE BASIS.—Subject to subsection (c), 
the Secretary shall select eligible entities to receive a loan 
guarantee under this section on a competitive basis. 
(c) PREFERENCES.—In issuing a loan guarantee 
under this section, the Secretary shall give a preference 
to an eligible entity that the Secretary determines dem-
onstrates substantial or disproportionate (as compared 
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with another eligible entity seeking a loan guarantee under 
this section)— 
(1) infrastructure improvement need; or 
(2) durable equipment need or impairment. 
(d) OVERSIGHT.—The Secretary shall establish pro-
cedures to enable the Secretary to oversee the construc-
tion, remodeling, or expansion of infrastructure or the 
purchase of durable equipment for which a loan guarantee 
is issued under this section. 
(e) GUARANTEE AMOUNT.—A loan guarantee issued 
under this section may not guarantee more than 90 per-
cent of the principal amount of the loan. 
(f) USE OF COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.— 
The Secretary shall use the funds, facilities, and authori-
ties of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this 
section. 
SEC. 4. TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR 
SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE PERSONNEL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 
grant program under which the Secretary shall award 
grants, on a competitive basis, to provide support to eligi-
ble third-party training institutions described in sub-
section (b) to develop and administer training and tech-
nical assistance for school foodservice personnel to meet 
updated nutrition standards under section 4(b)(3) of the 
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Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
1753(b)(3)) for the school food programs. 
(b) CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBLE THIRD-PARTY INSTITU-
TIONS.—The Secretary shall establish specific criteria that 
eligible third-party training institutions shall meet to re-
ceive grants under this section, which shall include— 
(1) a demonstrated capacity to administer effec-
tive training and technical assistance programming 
to school foodservice personnel; 
(2) prior, successful experience in providing or 
engaging in training and technical assistance pro-
gramming or applied research activities involving eli-
gible entities, school food service administrators, or 
directors; 
(3) prior, successful experience in developing 
relevant educational training tools or course mate-
rials or curricula on topics addressing child and 
school nutrition or the updated nutrition standards 
under section 4(b)(3) of the Richard B. Russell Na-
tional School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(3)); 
and 
(4) the ability to deliver effective and cost-effi-
cient training and technical assistance programming 
to school foodservice personnel at training sites that 
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are located within a proximate geographic distance 
to schools, central kitchens, or other worksites. 
(c) PROGRAM ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall as-
sist the institutions receiving grants under this section in 
publicizing and disseminating training and other project 
materials and online tools wherever possible. 
(d) FEDERAL SHARE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of costs 
for training and technical assistance funded through 
a grant awarded under this section shall not exceed 
90 percent of the total cost of such training and 
technical assistance. 
(2) MATCHING.—As a condition of receiving a 
grant under this section, the eligible third-party 
training institution shall provide matching support 
in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. 
(e) OVERSIGHT.—The Secretary shall establish pro-
cedures to enable the Secretary to— 
(1) oversee the operation training and technical 
assistance funded through grants awarded under 
this section; and 
(2) ensure that such training and assistance is 
operated consistent with the goals and requirements 
of this Act. 
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