To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to improve certain child nutrition programs, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Farm-To-Cafeteria 
Projects Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO SUPPORT FARM-TO-CAFETERIA PROJECTS.

     Section 12 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C.1760) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(q) Grants to Support Farm-To-Cafeteria Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--To improve access to local foods in 
        schools and institutions receiving funds under this Act and the 
        Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) (other 
        than section 17 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1786)), the Secretary 
        shall provide competitive grants to nonprofit entities and 
        educational institutions to establish and carry out farm-to-
        cafeteria projects under paragraph 2.
            ``(2) Project requirements.--Farm-to-cafeteria projects 
        eligible to receive assistance under this subsection shall be 
        projects designed to--
                    ``(A) procure local foods from small and medium-
                sized farms for the provision of foods for school 
                meals;
                    ``(B) support nutrition education activities or 
                curriculum planning that incorporates the participation 
                of school children in farm and agriculture education 
                projects; and
                    ``(C) develop a sustained commitment to farm-to-
                cafeteria projects in the community by linking schools, 
                agricultural producers, parents, and other community 
                stakeholders.
            ``(3) Technical assistance and related information.--
                    ``(A) Technical assistance.--In carrying out this 
                subsection, the Secretary may provide technical 
                assistance regarding farm-to-cafeteria projects, 
                processes, and development to an entity seeking the 
                assistance.
                    ``(B) Sharing of information.--The Secretary may 
                provide for the sharing of information concerning farm-
                to-cafeteria projects and issues among and between 
                government, private for-profit and nonprofit groups, 
                and the public through publications, conferences, and 
                other appropriate means.
            ``(4) Grants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--From amounts made available to 
                carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall make 
                grants to assist private non-profit entities and 
                educational institutions to establish and carry out 
                farm-to-cafeteria projects.
                    ``(B) Maximum amount.--The maximum amount of a 
                grant provided to an entity under this subsection shall 
                be $100,000.
                    ``(C) Matching funds requirements.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Federal share of the 
                        cost of establishing or carrying out a farm-to-
                        cafeteria project that receives assistance 
                        under this subsection may not exceed 75 percent 
                        of the cost of the project during the term of 
                        the grant, as determined by the Secretary.
                            ``(ii) Form.--In providing the non-Federal 
                        share of the cost of carrying out a farm-to-
                        cafeteria project, the grantee shall provide 
                        the share through a payment in cash or in kind, 
                        fairly evaluated, including facilities, 
                        equipment, or services.
                            ``(iii) Source.--An entity may provide the 
                        non-Federal share through State or local 
                        government, or through private sources.
                    ``(D) Administration.--
                            ``(i) Single grant.--A farm-to-cafeteria 
                        project may be supported by only a single grant 
                        under this subsection.
                            ``(ii) Term.--The term of a grant made 
                        under this subsection may not exceed 3 years.
            ``(5) Evaluation.--Not later than January 30, 2008, the 
        Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) provide for the evaluation of the projects 
                funded under this subsection; and
                    ``(B) submit to the Committee on Education and the 
                Workforce of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
                the Senate a report on the results of the evaluation.
            ``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2004 through 2009 to carry out this 
        subsection, to remain available until expended.''.

Summary: Farm-To-Cafeteria Projects Act of 2003 - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants to private nonprofit entities and educational institutions to establish and carry out Farm-to-Cafeteria projects to improve access to local foods in schools and institutions receiving funds under NSLA and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) (except the special supplemental program for women, infants, and children (WIC) which already has a WIC Farmers Market Nutrition program).

Requires such projects to be designed to: (1) procure local foods from small and medium-sized farms to provide foods for school meals; (2) support nutrition education activities or curriculum planning incorporating school children's participation in farm and agriculture education projects; and (3) develop a sustained commitment to farm-to-cafeteria projects in the community by linking schools, agricultural producers, parents, and other community stakeholders.