I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6795 
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve 
direct certification, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 17, 2025 
Mrs. HAYES (for herself and Ms. OMAR) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act to improve direct certification, 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 Modernization 
and Efficient Access to Lunches for Students Act of 
2025’’ or the ‘‘School MEALS Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. EXPANDING DIRECT CERTIFICATION. 
Section 9(b)(4)(F)(iii)(II)(bb) of the Richard B. Rus-
sell 
National 
School 
Lunch 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:17 Jan 06, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6795.IH
H6795
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
1758(b)(4)(F)(iii)(II)(bb)) is amended by inserting ‘‘in 
not more than 3 school years’’ after ‘‘measures’’. 
SEC. 3. DIRECT CERTIFICATION IMPROVEMENT GRANTS 
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 
Section 9(b) of the Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(16) DIRECT
CERTIFICATION
IMPROVEMENT 
GRANTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(A) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph: 
‘‘(i) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘el-
igible entity’ means— 
‘‘(I) a State agency; and 
‘‘(II) a Tribal organization. 
‘‘(ii) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘In-
dian Tribe’ has the meaning given the 
term ‘Indian tribe’ in section 4 of the In-
dian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
‘‘(iii) RATE
OF
DIRECT
CERTIFI-
CATION.—The term ‘rate of direct certifi-
cation’ means the percentage of children 
eligible for direct certification under para-
graphs (4) and (5) for a school year that 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:17 Jan 06, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6795.IH
H6795
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
were directly certified under those para-
graphs for that school year. 
‘‘(iv) TRIBAL
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘Tribal organization’ has the meaning 
given the term ‘tribal organization’ in sec-
tion 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304). 
‘‘(B) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary 
shall provide grants to eligible entities that 
administer the school lunch program under 
this Act to improve the rate of direct cer-
tification in the State in which the eligible 
entity is located. 
‘‘(ii) PRIORITY.—In providing grants 
under clause (i), the Secretary shall give 
priority to States and Tribal organizations 
with the lowest rates of direct certification. 
‘‘(iii) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible en-
tity that receives a grant under clause (i) 
shall use the grant funds to pay costs re-
lating to improving the rate of direct cer-
tification in the State or Indian Tribe, as 
applicable, including the cost of— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:17 Jan 06, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6795.IH
H6795
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(I) improving technology relat-
ing to direct certification; 
‘‘(II) providing technical assist-
ance to local educational agencies; 
‘‘(III) newly implementing or re-
vising a direct certification system or 
process in the State (including at local 
educational agencies in the State) or 
Indian Tribe, including the cost of 
equipment; and 
‘‘(IV) coordinating with multiple 
public benefits programs to increase 
the rate of direct certification, includ-
ing by conducting feasibility studies 
and demonstration projects under sec-
tion 18(c). 
‘‘(C) FOOD
DISTRIBUTION
PROGRAM
ON 
INDIAN RESERVATIONS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary 
shall provide grants to States and Tribal 
organizations administering the food dis-
tribution program on Indian reservations 
under section 4(b) of the Food and Nutri-
tion Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b))— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:17 Jan 06, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6795.IH
H6795
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(I) in the case of a Tribal orga-
nization, if applicable, to establish a 
rate of direct certification of children 
that are members of households re-
ceiving assistance under that pro-
gram; or 
‘‘(II) to improve the rate of di-
rect certification of children that are 
members of households receiving as-
sistance under that program. 
‘‘(ii) USE
OF
FUNDS.—A State or 
Tribal organization receiving a grant under 
this subparagraph shall use the funds to 
pay the costs described in subparagraph 
(B)(iii). 
‘‘(D) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Sec-
retary shall provide technical assistance to as-
sist the recipients of grants under subpara-
graphs (B) and (C), and other eligible entities, 
as appropriate, in improving the rates of direct 
certification. 
‘‘(E) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—On October 1, 
2025, out of any funds in the Treasury not 
otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:17 Jan 06, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6795.IH
H6795
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
the Treasury shall transfer to the Sec-
retary 
to 
carry 
out 
this 
paragraph 
$28,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended. 
‘‘(ii) FOOD
DISTRIBUTION
PROGRAM 
ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS.—Of the funds 
transferred to the Secretary under clause 
(i), the Secretary shall use not less than 
$2,000,000 to carry out subparagraph (C). 
‘‘(iii) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.—Of 
the funds transferred to the Secretary 
under clause (i), the Secretary shall use 
not more than $3,000,000 to carry out 
subparagraph (D). 
‘‘(iv) RECEIPT
AND
ACCEPTANCE.— 
The Secretary shall be entitled to receive, 
shall accept, and shall use to carry out this 
paragraph the funds transferred under 
clause (i), without further appropriation.’’. 
SEC. 4. ENHANCING THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY OPTION. 
Section 11(a)(1)(F) of the Richard B. Russell Na-
tional School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(1)(F)) is 
amended— 
(1) in clause (iv)— 
(A) in subclause (I)(bb)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:17 Jan 06, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6795.IH
H6795
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
1758(b)(4)(F)), a description of— 
‘‘(A) the technical assistance provided to 
the State; and 
‘‘(B) the progress made by the State in 
implementing the measures and meeting the 
goals described in items (aa) through (cc) of 
clause (iii)(II) of that section.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:17 Jan 06, 2026
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6795.IH
H6795
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS