I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1783 
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 
APRIL 26, 2013 
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, serving, and storage equipment. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a local educational agency operating a 
school lunch program; 
(B) a tribal organization; or 
(C) a consortium that includes a local edu-
cational agency described in subparagraph (A), 
a tribal organization, or both. 
(3) INFRASTRUCTURE.—The term ‘‘infrastruc-
ture’’ means a food storage facility, kitchen, food 
service facility, cafeteria, dining room, or food prepa-
ration facility. 
(4) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.—The term 
‘‘local educational agency’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(5) SCHOOL
LUNCH
PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘school lunch program’’ means the school lunch pro-
gram established under the Richard B. Russell Na-
tional School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.). 
(6) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘tribal 
organization’’ has the meaning given the term in 
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section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b). 
(7) 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 PROGRAMS. 
(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, compared with other eligible enti-
ties seeking a loan guarantee under this section, the Sec-
retary determines demonstrates substantial or dispropor-
tionate need for— 
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(1) infrastructure improvement; 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. EQUIPMENT GRANT PROGRAM. 
Section 7 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
U.S.C. 1776) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (j) as sub-
section (k); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (i), the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(j) EQUIPMENT GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning fiscal year 2015 
and subject to the availability of appropriations, the 
Secretary shall make grants, on a competitive basis, 
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to eligible entities to assist such entities in pur-
chasing the durable equipment and infrastructure 
needed to serve healthier meals and improve food 
safety. 
‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to eligi-
ble entities serving a high percentage of students eli-
gible for free or reduced price under the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub-
section: 
‘‘(A) DURABLE
EQUIPMENT.—The term 
‘durable equipment’ means durable food prepa-
ration, handling, cooking, serving, and storage 
equipment. 
‘‘(B) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligi-
ble entity’ means— 
‘‘(i) a local educational agency oper-
ating a school lunch program; 
‘‘(ii) a tribal organization; or 
‘‘(iii) a consortium that includes a 
local educational agency described in 
clause (i), a tribal organization, or both. 
‘‘(C) INFRASTRUCTURE.—The term ‘infra-
structure’ means a food storage facility, kitch-
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en, food service facility, cafeteria, dining room, 
or food preparation facility.’’. 
SEC. 5. 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 
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; 
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(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 
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 
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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 administration and operation of 
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. 
SEC. 6. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
Not later than one year after funds are made avail-
able to carry out this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the Sec-
retary’s progress in implementing the provisions of this 
Act. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this Act for fiscal year 
2014 and each succeeding fiscal year. 
Æ 
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