I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6526 
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require 
a study of the time and duration of school lunch periods, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 28, 2022 
Ms. SCHRIER (for herself and Ms. BONAMICI) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act to require a study of the time and duration of 
school lunch periods, 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 ‘‘Healthy Meal Time 
Act of 2022’’. 
SEC. 2. MEAL TIME STUDY AND GUIDANCE. 
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1769) is amended by inserting after section 
26 the following: 
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‘‘SEC. 27. MEAL TIME STUDY AND GUIDANCE. 
‘‘(a) STUDY.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) not later than 1 year after the date on 
which funds are first appropriated under subsection 
(c), enter into an agreement with an independent, 
nonpartisan, science-based research organization to 
carry out a study on the time lunches are served, re-
cess is offered, and the duration of lunch periods at 
schools participating in the school lunch program 
under this Act; and 
‘‘(2) not later than 4 years after the date on 
which funds are first appropriated under subsection 
(c), publish on the publicly available website of the 
Department a report that includes the findings of 
the study required under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(b) DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF BEST 
PRACTICES.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) not later than 1 year after the date on 
which the report required under subsection (a)(2) is 
published, in coordination with the Secretary of 
Education, establish a task force to— 
‘‘(A) review such report; 
‘‘(B) review other research relating to the 
time lunches are served, recess is offered, and 
the duration of lunch periods in schools; and 
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‘‘(C) develop best practices with respect to 
the time lunches are served, recess is offered, 
and the duration of lunch periods in schools to 
ensure student health, including appropriate 
nutritional intake; and 
‘‘(2) not later than 2 years after the date on 
which the report required under subsection (a)(2) is 
published— 
‘‘(A) review the best practices developed 
under paragraph (1)(C); and 
‘‘(B) issue guidance with respect to such 
best practices to schools participating in the 
school lunch program under this Act. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$1,000,000 for fiscal year 2023, to remain available until 
expended.’’. 
Æ 
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