Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act
Bill: H.R.8450 | Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" (D-VA)
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act
This bill reauthorizes and expands (1) child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and other institutional food service programs; and (2) the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).


To reauthorize child nutrition programs, and for other purposes.


 


    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Healthy Meals, 
Healthy Kids Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.

               TITLE I--EXPANDING ACCESS TO SCHOOL MEALS

Sec. 101. Emergency waivers or modifications.
Sec. 102. Direct certification for children receiving Medicaid 
                            benefits.
Sec. 103. Expanding community eligibility.

   TITLE II--ENSURING THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS

Subtitle A--Programs Under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
                                  Act

Sec. 201. Increasing reimbursement rate of school meals.
Sec. 202. Statewide technology solutions included as State 
                            administrative costs.
Sec. 203. Annual reimbursement rate and commodity improvements.
Sec. 204. Food service management.
Sec. 205. Kitchen improvement and personnel training.
Sec. 206. Statewide online household applications.

       Subtitle B--Programs Under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966

Sec. 211. Professional development and training.
Sec. 212. Technology and infrastructure improvement.
Sec. 213. State administrative expenses.

 TITLE III--MODERNIZING THE SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR 
                   WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN (WIC)

Sec. 301. Adjunctive eligibility.
Sec. 302. WIC eligibility and certification periods.
Sec. 303. Certification and recertification determinations and 
                            nutritional risk evaluations.
Sec. 304. Paperwork reduction.
Sec. 305. Nutrition education materials related to food allergies.
Sec. 306. Breastfeeding supply coverage.
Sec. 307. Water benefits during disasters.
Sec. 308. Infant formula procurement online source of information.
Sec. 309. Breastfeeding peer counselor program.
Sec. 310. Product pricing.
Sec. 311. WIC A50 stores.
Sec. 312. WIC EBT Modernization.
Sec. 313. Spend forward authorities.
Sec. 314. Administrative simplification.
Sec. 315. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 316. WIC farmers' market nutrition program.
Sec. 317. Supporting Healthy Mothers and Infants.

      TITLE IV--MODERNIZING THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM

Sec. 401. Eligibility certification criteria for proprietary child care 
                            centers.
Sec. 402. Automatic eligibility for children in supplemental nutrition 
                            assistance households.
Sec. 403. Review of serious deficiency process.
Sec. 404. Authorization of reimbursements for additional meal or snack.
Sec. 405. Adjustments.
Sec. 406. Age limits in homeless shelters and emergency shelters.
Sec. 407. Advisory committee on paperwork reduction.

      TITLE V--ADDRESSING CHILD FOOD INSECURITY DURING THE SUMMER

Sec. 501. Summer food service program for children.
Sec. 502. Summer electronic benefits transfer for children program.

       TITLE VI--IMPROVING CAPACITY AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY

Sec. 601. Values-aligned procurement.
Sec. 602. Procurement training.
Sec. 603. Buy American.
Sec. 604. Plant-based foods in schools.
Sec. 605. Food waste and nutrition education.
Sec. 606. Farm to school grant program.

       TITLE VII--SUPPORTING TRIBES AND FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES

Sec. 701. Tribally operated meal and snack pilot project.
Sec. 702. Island areas eligibility feasibility study under the Richard 
                            B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

       TITLE VIII--ADDRESSING LUNCH SHAMING AND UNPAID MEAL DEBT

Sec. 801. Unpaid meal debt.
Sec. 802. National advisory council on unpaid meal debt in child 
                            nutrition programs.

       TITLE IX--STRENGTHENING EVIDENCE-BASED NUTRITION STANDARDS

Sec. 901. Updating nutrition standards for meal patterns.
Sec. 902. Non-nutritive sweeteners, synthetic dyes, and other 
                            potentially harmful substances in school 
                            meals.

                         TITLE X--OTHER MATTERS

Subtitle A--Programs Under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
                                  Act

Sec. 1001. Accommodating dietary requirements.
Sec. 1002. Data protections for household applications.
Sec. 1003. Eating disorder prevention.
Sec. 1004. Compliance and accountability.
Sec. 1005. National hunger hotline and clearinghouse.
Sec. 1006. Ensuring adequate meal time.

       Subtitle B--Programs Under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966

Sec. 1011. Enhancing nutrition education.

                  Subtitle C--Improving Food Donations

Sec. 1021. Food donation in schools.
Sec. 1022. Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act.
Sec. 1023. Regulations.

                       Subtitle D--Miscellaneous

Sec. 1031. Technical Amendments.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.

    In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
Agriculture.

               TITLE I--EXPANDING ACCESS TO SCHOOL MEALS

SEC. 101. EMERGENCY WAIVERS OR MODIFICATIONS.

    Section 12 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1760) is amended--
            (1) by inserting the following after subsection (j):
    ``(k) Emergency Waivers or Modifications.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (4), 
        during an emergency period, the Secretary may waive (including 
        by modifying) any requirement under this Act or the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), or any 
        regulation issued under either such Act, for States or eligible 
        service providers on a multi-State, State, or eligible service 
        provider basis if--
                    ``(A) the requirement cannot reasonably be 
                implemented under the conditions which prompted the 
                emergency period in the affected area;
                    ``(B) a State or eligible service provider requests 
                a waiver in a format prescribed by the Secretary;
                    ``(C) in the case of a request by an eligible 
                service provider under subparagraph (B), the State in 
                which such eligible service provider is located 
                includes a statement of support or opposition with 
                respect to the request; and
                    ``(D) the Secretary determines that the waiver 
                would--
                            ``(i) facilitate the ability of such States 
                        or eligible service providers to carry out the 
                        purpose of such Acts; and
                            ``(ii) not decrease access to, or 
                        eligibility for, any program under such Acts.
            ``(2) Nationwide, regional, and state-wide basis.--Except 
        as provided in paragraph (3), during an emergency period, the 
        Secretary may waive (including by modifying) any requirement 
        under this Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
        1771 et seq.), or any regulation issued under either such Act, 
        on a nationwide, regional, or State-wide basis if the Secretary 
        determines that the waiver would facilitate the ability of 
        States or eligible service providers to carry out the purpose 
        of such Acts.
            ``(3) Duration.--A waiver established under this subsection 
        may be available for a period of not greater than the emergency 
        period and the 90 days after the end of the emergency period.
            ``(4) Limitations.--A waiver under this subsection is 
        subject to the limitations in subsection (l)(4).
            ``(5) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Eligible service provider.--The term 
                `eligible service provider' has the meaning given the 
                term in subsection (l).
                    ``(B) Emergency period.--The term `emergency 
                period' means a period during which there exists--
                            ``(i) a major disaster declared by the 
                        President under section 401 of the Robert T. 
                        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
                        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170);
                            ``(ii) an emergency declared by the 
                        President under section 501 of the Robert T. 
                        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
                        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191);
                            ``(iii) a public health emergency declared 
                        by the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
                        under section 319 of the Public Health Service 
                        Act (42 U.S.C. 247d); or
                            ``(iv) any renewal of such a public health 
                        emergency pursuant to such section 319.''; and
            (2) in subsection (l)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
                            (i) by striking ``Except as'' and all that 
                        follows through ``requests a waiver'' and 
                        inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph 
                        (4), the Secretary may waive (including by 
                        modifying) any requirement under this Act or 
                        the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 
                        et seq.), or any regulation issued under either 
                        such Act, on a nationwide, State, multi-State, 
                        or eligible service provider basis'';
                            (ii) by redesignating clauses (i) through 
                        (iii) as clauses (ii) through (iv), 
                        respectively; and
                            (iii) by inserting before clause (ii), as 
                        so redesignated, the following new clause (i):
            ``(i) a State or eligible service provider requests the 
        waiver;'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2)(B) and inserting the 
                following:
    ``(B) An application described in subparagraph (A) shall--
            ``(i) be submitted in a format prescribed by the Secretary;
            ``(ii) be completed by the State or eligible service 
        provider;
            ``(iii) be submitted to the Secretary by--
                    ``(I) the State; or
                    ``(II) an eligible service provider through the 
                State; and
            ``(iv) if submitted as described in clause (iii)(II), 
        include a statement of support or opposition from the State.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``content of 
                meals served'' and inserting ``standards''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (7), by striking subparagraphs (A) 
                through (C) and inserting the following:
            ``(A) a local school food service authority, local 
        educational agency, or school;
            ``(B) a service institution or private nonprofit 
        organization described in section 13; or
            ``(C) institutions described in section 17.''.

SEC. 102. DIRECT CERTIFICATION FOR CHILDREN RECEIVING MEDICAID 
              BENEFITS.

    Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1758(b)) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
            ``(5) Discretionary certification.--
                    ``(A) Free lunches or breakfasts.--Subject to 
                paragraph (6), any local educational agency may certify 
                any child as eligible for free lunches or breakfasts, 
                without further application, by directly communicating 
                with the appropriate State or local agency to obtain 
                documentation of the status of the child as--
                            ``(i) a member of a family that is 
                        receiving assistance under the temporary 
                        assistance for needy families program funded 
                        under part A of title IV of the Social Security 
                        Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
                            ``(ii) a homeless child or youth (defined 
                        as 1 of the individuals described in section 
                        725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
                        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2));
                            ``(iii) served by the runaway and homeless 
                        youth grant program established under the 
                        Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 
                        et seq.);
                            ``(iv) a migratory child (as defined in 
                        section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary 
                        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6399));
                            ``(v) an eligible child (as defined in 
                        paragraph (15)(A)); or
                            ``(vi)(I) a foster child whose care and 
                        placement is the responsibility of an agency 
                        that administers a State plan under part B or E 
                        of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 
                        U.S.C. 621 et seq.); or
                            ``(II) a foster child who a court has 
                        placed with a caretaker household.
                    ``(B) Reduced price lunches or breakfasts.--Subject 
                to paragraph (6), any local educational agency may 
                certify any child who is not eligible for free lunches 
                or breakfasts as eligible for reduced price lunches or 
                breakfasts, without further application, by directly 
                communicating with the appropriate State or local 
                agency to obtain documentation of the status of the 
                child as a child eligible for reduced price meals (as 
                defined in paragraph (15)(A)).'';
                    (B) in paragraph (6)(A), by striking ``or (5)'' 
                both places it appears and inserting ``(5), or (15)''; 
                and
                    (C) in paragraph (15)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) by amending clause (i) to read 
                                as follows:
                            ``(i) Eligible child.--The term `eligible 
                        child' means a child--
                                    ``(I)(aa) who is eligible for and 
                                receiving medical assistance under the 
                                Medicaid program; and
                                    ``(bb) who is a member of a family 
                                with an income as measured by the 
                                Medicaid program that does not exceed 
                                133 percent of the poverty line (as 
                                determined under the poverty guidelines 
                                updated periodically in the Federal 
                                Register by the Department of Health 
                                and Human Services under the authority 
                                of section 673(2) of the Community 
                                Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 
                                9902(2), including any revision 
                                required by such section)) applicable 
                                to a family of the size used for 
                                purposes of determining eligibility for 
                                the Medicaid program;
                                    ``(II) who is eligible for the 
                                Medicaid program because such child 
                                receives supplemental security income 
                                benefits under title XVI of the Social 
                                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381-1385) or 
                                State supplementary benefits of the 
                                type referred to in section 1616(a) of 
                                such Act (or payments of the type 
                                described in section 212(a) of Public 
                                Law 93-66);
                                    ``(III) who is eligible for the 
                                Medicaid program because such child 
                                receives an adoption assistance payment 
                                made under section 473(a) of the Social 
                                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 673(a)) or 
                                under a similar State-funded or State-
                                operated program, as determined by the 
                                Secretary;
                                    ``(IV) who is eligible for the 
                                Medicaid program because such child 
                                receives a kinship guardianship 
                                assistance payment made under section 
                                473(d) of the Social Security Act (42 
                                U.S.C. 673(d)) or under a similar 
                                State-funded or State-operated program, 
                                as determined by the Secretary, without 
                                regard to whether such child was 
                                previously in foster care; or
                                    ``(V) who is a member of a 
                                household (as that term is defined in 
                                section 245.2 of title 7, Code of 
                                Federal Regulations (or successor 
                                regulations)) with a child described in 
                                subclause (I), (II), (III), or (IV).''; 
                                and
                                    (II) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(iii) Child eligible for reduced price 
                        meals.--The term `child eligible for reduced 
                        price meals' means a child--
                                    ``(I)(aa) who is eligible for and 
                                receiving medical assistance under the 
                                Medicaid program; and
                                    ``(bb) who is a member of a family 
                                with an income as measured by the 
                                Medicaid program that is greater than 
                                133 percent but does not exceed 185 
                                percent of the poverty line (as 
                                determined under the poverty guidelines 
                                updated periodically in the Federal 
                                Register by the Department of Health 
                                and Human Services under the authority 
                                of section 673(2) of the Community 
                                Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 
                                9902(2), including any revision 
                                required by such section)) applicable 
                                to a family of the size used for 
                                purposes of determining eligibility for 
                                the Medicaid program; or
                                    ``(II) who is a member of a 
                                household (as that term is defined in 
                                section 245.2 of title 7, Code of 
                                Federal Regulations (or successor 
                                regulations)) with a child described in 
                                subclause (I).'';
                            (ii) by striking subparagraphs (B), (C), 
                        (D), (E), (G), and (H);
                            (iii) in subparagraph (F)--
                                    (I) in the enumerator, by striking 
                                ``(F)'' and inserting ``(D)''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``conducting the 
                                demonstration project under this 
                                paragraph'' and inserting ``carrying 
                                out this paragraph''; and
                            (iv) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
                        the following:
                    ``(B) Agreements to carry out certification.--To 
                certify a child under subparagraph (A)(v) or (B) of 
                paragraph (5), a State agency shall enter into an 
                agreement with 1 or more State agencies conducting 
                eligibility determinations for the Medicaid program.
                    ``(C) Procedures.--Subject to paragraph (6), an 
                agreement under subparagraph (B) shall establish 
                procedures under which--
                            ``(i) an eligible child may be certified 
                        for free lunches under this Act and free 
                        breakfasts under section 4 of the Child 
                        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773), without 
                        further application (as defined in paragraph 
                        (4)(G)); and
                            ``(ii) a child eligible for reduced price 
                        meals may be certified for reduced price 
                        lunches under this Act and reduced price 
                        breakfasts under section 4 of the Child 
                        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773), without 
                        further application (as defined in paragraph 
                        (4)(G)).'';
            (2) by amending subparagraph (E) of subsection (b)(4) to 
        read as follows:
                    ``(E) Performance improvement grants.--
                            ``(i) In general.--For each school year 
                        beginning after July 1, 2023, the Secretary 
                        shall offer performance improvement grants and 
                        technical assistance to State agencies or 
                        Tribal organizations (as defined in section 4 
                        of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
                        Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) to increase 
                        the percentage of children eligible for direct 
                        certification under this paragraph or paragraph 
                        (5) who are certified in accordance with this 
                        paragraph or paragraph (5).
                            ``(ii) Requirements.--For each school year 
                        described in clause (i), the Secretary shall--
                                    ``(I) consider State data from the 
                                prior school year, including estimates 
                                contained in the report required under 
                                section 4301 of the Food, Conservation, 
                                and Energy Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 
                                1758a);
                                    ``(II) make performance improvement 
                                grants to States and Tribal 
                                organizations to increase the 
                                percentage of children eligible for 
                                direct certification under this 
                                paragraph or paragraph (5) who are 
                                certified in accordance with this 
                                paragraph or paragraph (5); and
                                    ``(III) provide technical 
                                assistance to the recipients of grants 
                                under this subparagraph, and other 
                                eligible entities, as appropriate, in 
                                improving the rates of direct 
                                certification.
                            ``(iii) Use of funds.--An eligible entity 
                        that receives a grant under clause (i) shall 
                        use the grant funds to pay costs relating to 
                        improving the rate of direct certification in 
                        the State or Indian Tribe, as applicable, 
                        including the cost of--
                                    ``(I) improving technology relating 
                                to direct certification;
                                    ``(II) providing technical 
                                assistance to local educational 
                                agencies;
                                    ``(III) implementing or improving 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;
                                    ``(IV) establishing or improving 
                                the rate of direct certification of 
                                children that are members of households 
                                receiving assistance under the food 
                                distribution program on Indian 
                                reservations under section 4(b) of the 
                                Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
                                U.S.C. 2013(b)); and
                                    ``(V) coordinating with multiple 
                                public benefits programs to increase 
                                the rate of direct certification, 
                                including by conducting feasibility 
                                studies and demonstration projects 
                                under section 18(c) of this Act.
                            ``(iv) Funding.--On October 1, 2022, and 
                        each subsequent October 1, out of any funds in 
                        the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the 
                        Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the 
                        Secretary--
                                    ``(I) $15,000,000 to carry out 
                                clause (ii)(II); and
                                    ``(II) $500,000 to carry out clause 
                                (ii)(III).''; and
            (3) in subsection (d)(2)(G), by inserting ``or child 
        eligible for reduced price meals'' after ``eligible child''.

SEC. 103. EXPANDING COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY.

    (a) Multiplier and Threshold Adjusted.--
            (1) Multiplier.--Clause (vii) of section 11(a)(1)(F) of the 
        Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1759a(a)(1)(F)) is amended to read as follows:
                            ``(vii) Multiplier.--For each school year 
                        beginning on or after July 1, 2023, the 
                        Secretary shall use a multiplier of 2.5.''.
            (2) Threshold.--Clause (viii) of section 11(a)(1)(F) of the 
        Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1759a(a)(1)(F)) is amended to read as follows:
                            ``(viii) Threshold.--For each school year 
                        beginning on or after July 1, 2023, the 
                        threshold shall be not more than 25 percent.''.
            (3) Applicability.--The amendments made by this subsection 
        shall apply to a local educational agency with respect to a 
        school year beginning on or after July 1, 2023, for which such 
        local educational agency elects to receive special assistance 
        payments under subparagraph (F) of section 11(a)(1) of the 
        Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1759a(a)(1)).
    (b) Statewide Community Eligibility.--Section 11(a)(1)(F) of the 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(1)(F)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(xiv) Statewide community eligibility.--
                        For each school year beginning on or after July 
                        1, 2023, the Secretary shall establish an 
                        option for States to utilize a statewide 
                        community eligibility program under which, in 
                        the case of a State agency that agrees to 
                        provide funding from sources other than Federal 
                        funds to ensure that local educational agencies 
                        in the State receive the free reimbursement 
                        rate for 100 percent of the meals served at 
                        applicable schools--
                                    ``(I) the multiplier described in 
                                clause (vii) shall apply;
                                    ``(II) the threshold described in 
                                clause (viii) shall be applied by 
                                substituting `zero' for `25'; and
                                    ``(III) the percentage of enrolled 
                                students who were identified students 
                                shall be calculated across all 
                                applicable schools in the State 
                                regardless of local educational 
                                agency.''.

   TITLE II--ENSURING THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS

Subtitle A--Programs Under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
                                  Act

SEC. 201. INCREASING REIMBURSEMENT RATE OF SCHOOL MEALS.

    Section 4(b)(2) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``10.5 cents'' and 
inserting ``20.5 cents''.

SEC. 202. STATEWIDE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS INCLUDED AS STATE 
              ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

    Section 4(b)(3)(F)(i) of the Richard B. Russell National School 
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(3)(F)(i)) is amended by inserting 
``statewide technology solutions,'' after ``certification,''.

SEC. 203. ANNUAL REIMBURSEMENT RATE AND COMMODITY IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) Direct Federal Expenditures.--Section 6 of the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755(c)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(b) The Secretary shall deliver, to each State participating in 
the school lunch program under this Act and the school breakfast 
program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1773), commodities valued at the total level of assistance authorized 
under subsections (c) and (d) for each school year for the school lunch 
and school breakfast programs in the State, not later than September 30 
of the following school year.'';
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``(c)'' and all that 
        follows through the end of paragraph (1) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(c) National School Lunch Commodity Assistance.--
            ``(1)(A) Not later than January 15 of each year after the 
        date of the enactment of the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act, 
        the Secretary shall--
            ``(i) calculate the national average value of donated foods 
        for school lunch, or cash payments in lieu thereof, in 
        accordance with subparagraph (B); and
            ``(ii) adjust the amount calculated under clause (i) by the 
        annual percentage change in the 3-month average value of the 
        Producer Price Index for Foods Used in Schools and 
        Institutions--
                    ``(I) for the preceding August, September, and 
                October, computed to the nearest \1/4\ cent;
                    ``(II) using 5 major food components in the 
                Producer Price Index of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
                which are--
                            ``(aa) cereal and bakery products;
                            ``(bb) meats, poultry, and fish;
                            ``(cc) dairy products;
                            ``(dd) processed fruits and vegetables; and
                            ``(ee) fats and oils; and
                    ``(III) weighing each such component using the same 
                relative weight as determined by the Bureau of Labor 
                Statistics.
            ``(B) The national average value of donated foods, or cash 
        payments in lieu thereof, shall be equal to 12 percent of the 
        quotient obtained by dividing--
                    ``(i) the total assistance provided in the 
                preceding school year under section 4, this section, 
                and section 11; by
                    ``(ii) the number of lunches served in the 
                preceding school year.
            ``(C) Not later than January 15 of each year after the date 
        of the enactment of the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act, the 
        Secretary shall calculate the total commodity assistance or 
        cash payments in lieu thereof available to a State for the 
        upcoming school year by multiplying the number of lunches 
        served in the most recent school year for which data are 
        available by the rate established in subparagraph (A). The 
        Secretary shall also annually reconcile the amount of commodity 
        assistance or cash payments in lieu thereof made available 
        under this subparagraph with the amount of assistance used by 
        each State and increase or reduce subsequent commodity 
        assistance or cash payments in lieu thereof based on such 
        reconciliation.
            ``(D) Among those commodities delivered under this section, 
        the Secretary shall give special emphasis to high protein 
        foods, meat, and meat alternates (which may include domestic 
        seafood commodities and their products).
            ``(E) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, 
        not less than 75 percent of the assistance provided under this 
        subsection shall be in the form of donated foods for the school 
        lunch program.''.
    (b) Special Assistance.--Section 11(a)(3)(B) of the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(3)(B)) is 
amended--
            (1) in clause (ii)--
                    (A) by striking ``most recent''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``ending on the preceding April 
                30'' after ``12-month period''; and
            (2) in clause (iii), by inserting ``ending on April 30'' 
        after ``12-month period''.

SEC. 204. FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT.

    (a) Request for Information.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a request for 
information and data collection from State agencies and school food 
authorities regarding the role of food service management companies in 
carrying out the programs under the Richard B. National School Lunch 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), including information on--
            (1) participation of small, women- and minority-owned 
        businesses as food service management companies;
            (2) food service management contract practices;
            (3) trends in compensation and benefits of school food 
        personnel and impact of food service management contracts on 
        such compensation and benefits; and
            (4) use of funds by food service management companies to 
        assist, promote, or deter organizing by a labor organization, 
        including any action to enter into contracts in order to avoid, 
        undermine, or violate any collective bargaining or a 
        requirement to meet and confer.
    (b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date of issuance 
of the request for information described in subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall issue a rule regarding the role of food service 
management companies in carrying out the programs under the Richard B. 
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the Child 
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.).

SEC. 205. KITCHEN IMPROVEMENT AND PERSONNEL TRAINING.

    (a) Scratch Cooking Defined.--Section 12(d) of the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(d)) is amended by--
            (1) redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as paragraphs 
        (8) through (10), respectively; and
            (2) by adding after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) Scratch cooking.--The term `scratch cooking' means 
        the preparation of food using ingredients that are unprocessed 
        or minimally processed.''.
    (b) Training and Technical Assistance for School Food Service 
Personnel.--The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is amended 
by inserting after section 21 (42 U.S.C. 1769b-1) the following:

``SEC. 21A. GRANTS TO SUPPORT SCRATCH COOKING.

    ``(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a program to 
award grants, on a competitive basis, to school food authorities to 
promote scratch cooking.
    ``(b) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, 
a school food authority shall submit to the Secretary an application at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary may require.
    ``(c) Grant Amounts and Duration.--
            ``(1) Grant amount.--The Secretary shall award a grant of 
        not more than $100,000 to each school food authority with an 
        application selected under this subsection.
            ``(2) Grant period.--A grant awarded under this section 
        shall be for a period of not more than 2 years.
    ``(d) Grant Uses.--A school food authority that receives a grant 
under this section shall use such grant funds to promote scratch 
cooking, including by--
            ``(1) offering professional development and training 
        related to preparing, procuring, advertising, serving, and 
        creating menus of meals made with scratch cooking;
            ``(2) investing in software and technology systems for 
        procurement to support scratch cooking;
            ``(3) compensating employees for additional food 
        preparation required for scratch cooking;
            ``(4) providing technical assistance, student engagement, 
        and education with respect to scratch cooking, including taste 
        tests, recipe development, and culinary education; or
            ``(5) carrying out any additional activities to promote 
        scratch cooking that will help school food authorities meet or 
        exceed the nutrition standards for the school lunch program 
        authorized under this Act and the school breakfast program 
        established by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
        U.S.C. 1773).
    ``(e) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall give priority to school food authorities--
            ``(1) that serve the greatest proportion of students 
        eligible for free or reduced price lunch under this Act; and
            ``(2) that--
                    ``(A) are self-operated; or
                    ``(B) provide an assurance to the Secretary that 
                the school food authority will be self-operated on or 
                before the date that is 1 year before the last day of 
                the grant period.
    ``(f) Technical Assistance Center.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into an 
        agreement with one or more eligible third-party institutions to 
        establish and carry out a single technical assistance and 
        resource center to provide technical assistance for school food 
        service personnel.
            ``(2) Collaboration requirement.--As soon as practicable 
        after receiving a grant under this section, a school food 
        authority shall collaborate with the technical assistance and 
        resource center established under paragraph (1) to--
                    ``(A) conduct a scratch cooking needs assessment to 
                evaluate, with respect to such school food authority--
                            ``(i) equipment needs;
                            ``(ii) equipment utilization;
                            ``(iii) procurement processes; and
                            ``(iv) workforce capabilities; and
                    ``(B) establish a strategic plan based on such 
                needs assessment to carry out the activities under 
                subsection (d).
            ``(3) Eligible third-party institutions.--
                    ``(A) Eligible third-party institution defined.--
                For purposes of this subsection, the term `eligible 
                third-party institution' means--
                            ``(i) a nonprofit organization with 
                        demonstrated experience in food or nutrition 
                        services training and technical assistance;
                            ``(ii) an institution of higher education 
                        as defined in section 101 or 102(a)(1)(B) of 
                        the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                        1001; 1002(a)(1)(B));
                            ``(iii) an area career and technical 
                        education school as defined in section 3 of the 
                        Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education 
                        Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302); or
                            ``(iv) a consortium of entities described 
                        in subclauses (I) through (III).
                    ``(B) Criteria for eligible third-party 
                institutions.--The Secretary shall establish specific 
                criteria that eligible third-party training 
                institutions must meet to qualify to enter into an 
                agreement under paragraph (1), which shall include--
                            ``(i) prior successful experience in 
                        providing or engaging in training and technical 
                        assistance programming or applied research 
                        activities involving eligible entities, school 
                        food service administrators, or school food 
                        service directors;
                            ``(ii) prior successful experience in 
                        developing relevant educational training tools 
                        or course materials or curricula on topics 
                        addressing child and school nutrition or the 
                        updated nutrition standards under section 
                        4(b)(3); and
                            ``(iii) the ability to deliver effective 
                        and cost-efficient training and technical 
                        assistance programming to school food service 
                        personnel--
                                    ``(I) at training sites that are 
                                located within a proximate geographic 
                                distance to schools, central kitchens, 
                                or other worksites; or
                                    ``(II) through an online training 
                                and assistance program on topics that 
                                do not require in-person attendance.
            ``(4) Funding.--Of the amounts made available under 
        subsection (h) to carry out this section, not more than 10 
        percent may be used to carry out this subsection.
    ``(g) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the conclusion of the 
grant period described in subsection (c)(2), each school food authority 
that receives a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary 
a report that includes, with respect to such school food authority, the 
change at the end of the grant period, as compared with the school year 
immediately preceding the beginning of the grant period, in--
            ``(1) the percentage of whole ingredients, raw ingredients, 
        or both, used in school meals; and
            ``(2) the percentage of menu items prepared with scratch 
        cooking.
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $20,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal 
years 2024 through 2028.''.
    (c) Grants to Finance Certain Improvements to School Lunch 
Facilities.--The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is 
amended by inserting after section 26 (42 U.S.C. 1769g) the following:

``SEC. 27. GRANTS TO FINANCE CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS TO SCHOOL LUNCH 
              FACILITIES.

    ``(a) In General.--Beginning fiscal year 2024, the Secretary shall 
award grants to State agencies to carry out the activities described in 
subsection (b).
    ``(b) Subgrants.--
            ``(1) In general.--A State agency receiving a grant under 
        this section shall use such grant funds to award subgrants, on 
        a competitive basis, to school food authorities.
            ``(2) Application.--A school food authority seeking a 
        subgrant under this subsection shall submit to the State agency 
        an application at such time, in such manner, and containing 
        such information as the State agency may require.
            ``(3) Priority.--In awarding a subgrant under this 
        subsection, the State agency shall give priority to a school 
        food authority that serves, as determined by the State agency, 
        schools with substantial or disproportionate--
                    ``(A) need for infrastructure improvement; or
                    ``(B) durable equipment need or impairment.
            ``(4) Subgrant uses.--A school food authority receiving a 
        subgrant under this subsection shall use such subgrant funds to 
        support the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of the 
        school lunch program under this Act and the school breakfast 
        program established by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 
        1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) at schools served by the school food 
        authority, including by--
                    ``(A) purchasing equipment, including software and 
                technology systems, needed to serve healthy meals, 
                improve food safety, promote scratch cooking, 
                facilitate the use of salad bars; or
                    ``(B) improving or adapting equipment needed to 
                serve healthy meals, including by retrofitting such 
                equipment.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry 
        out this section.
            ``(2) Technical assistance.--The Secretary may use not more 
        than 5 percent of the amounts made available to carry out this 
        section for each fiscal year to provide technical assistance to 
        applicants and prospective applicants in preparing 
        applications.''.

SEC. 206. STATEWIDE ONLINE HOUSEHOLD APPLICATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 9(b) of the Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
            ``(16) Statewide online household applications.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraphs (B) and 
                (C), beginning in the first school year that begins 
                after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, a 
                State agency may elect to establish a Statewide online 
                application to determine the eligibility of children in 
                households in that State to receive free or reduced 
                price meals.
                    ``(B) State agency requirements.--
                            ``(i) Household application.--A Statewide 
                        online school meal application under this 
                        paragraph shall comply with the requirements 
                        of--
                                    ``(I) this subsection; and
                                    ``(II) paragraphs (1) through (5) 
                                of section 245.6(a)(1) of title 7, Code 
                                of Federal Regulations (or a successor 
                                regulation).
                            ``(ii) Processing timeline.--A State agency 
                        electing the option under this paragraph 
                        shall--
                                    ``(I) determine the eligibility of 
                                a household applying for free or 
                                reduced price meals; and
                                    ``(II) communicate that 
                                determination to the local educational 
                                agency and the household, within 10 
                                operating days of the date on which the 
                                household submitted the application to 
                                the State agency.
                            ``(iii) Verification.--A State agency 
                        electing the option under this paragraph 
                        shall--
                                    ``(I) select at random for 
                                verification 3 percent of all household 
                                applications approved by the State 
                                agency for the school year, as of 
                                October 1 of the school year;
                                    ``(II) directly verify the selected 
                                household applications under subclause 
                                (I) in a manner consistent with 
                                paragraph (3)(F); and
                                    ``(III) prior to October 10 of the 
                                school year, communicate to the local 
                                educational agency which household 
                                applications have been selected for 
                                verification and the outcome of the 
                                direct verification conducted under 
                                paragraph (3)(F).
                    ``(C) Local educational agency requirements.--
                            ``(i) Eligibility determination.--A local 
                        educational agency in a State with a Statewide 
                        online household application established under 
                        this paragraph shall accept the eligibility 
                        determination made by the State agency for a 
                        household and provide an eligible child with 
                        free or reduced price meals beginning on the 
                        first day of the current school year.
                            ``(ii) Transferring students.--When a 
                        student transfers to a new local educational 
                        agency, the new local educational agency shall 
                        obtain and accept the eligibility determination 
                        made by the State agency.
                            ``(iii) Use of state school meal 
                        application.--A local educational agency in a 
                        State with a Statewide online household 
                        application established under this paragraph 
                        shall not use an alternative online household 
                        application unless the State agency has 
                        approved its use.
                            ``(iv) Paper application.--A local 
                        educational agency in a State with a Statewide 
                        online household application established under 
                        this paragraph shall--
                                    ``(I) provide households with the 
                                option to submit a paper application to 
                                the local educational agency;
                                    ``(II) communicate to households 
                                the availability of this option and the 
                                Statewide online household application; 
                                and
                                    ``(III) make an eligibility 
                                determination for any paper application 
                                submitted.
                            ``(v) Verification.--A local educational 
                        agency shall verify the household applications 
                        selected by the State agency under subparagraph 
                        (B)(iii) that were not directly verified by the 
                        State agency under paragraph (3)(F) in a manner 
                        consistent with subparagraphs (G) through (J) 
                        of paragraph (3).''.
    (b) Transferring Eligibility Status.--Section 9(b)(3)(B) of the 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)) is 
amended by adding at the end:
                            ``(iv) Transferring eligibility status.--
                                    ``(I) Transfers to a new local 
                                educational agency.--When a child 
                                transfers to a new local educational 
                                agency, the new local educational 
                                agency shall obtain and accept the 
                                eligibility determination from the 
                                State or the child's former local 
                                educational agency.
                                    ``(II) Transfers out of a local 
                                educational agency.--When a child 
                                transfers out of a local educational 
                                agency, the local educational agency 
                                shall provide the child's eligibility 
                                determination to the new local 
                                educational agency.
                                    ``(III) Cost of meals.--When the 
                                former local educational agency is 
                                claiming meals under a special 
                                provision described in section 11, and 
                                the child does not have an individual 
                                eligibility determination, the new 
                                local educational agency shall serve 
                                the child meals at no cost and claim 
                                the child's meals at the free rate for 
                                up to 30 operating days, or until a new 
                                eligibility determination is made, 
                                whichever comes first.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 9(b)(3)(J) of the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(3)(J)) is amended 
by inserting ``or paragraph (16)(B)(iii)'' after ``subparagraph (D)''.

       Subtitle B--Programs Under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966

SEC. 211. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING.

    Section 7(g)(2)(B) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1776(g)(2)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iv) Availability and appropriateness of 
                        training.--Training carried out under this 
                        subparagraph shall be--
                                    ``(I) scheduled primarily during 
                                regular, paid working hours;
                                    ``(II) if such training is 
                                scheduled outside of such regular, paid 
                                working hours--
                                            ``(aa) efforts shall be 
                                        made to inform food service 
                                        personnel of the reasons 
                                        requiring the training to be 
                                        scheduled outside of such 
                                        hours;
                                            ``(bb) time spent 
                                        participating in such training 
                                        shall be considered compensable 
                                        time and each individual who 
                                        participates shall be paid no 
                                        less than the individual's 
                                        regular rate of pay; and
                                            ``(cc) food service 
                                        personnel shall not be 
                                        discharged or in any other 
                                        manner discriminated against 
                                        for not being able to attend 
                                        such training; and
                                    ``(III) offered in-person and 
                                incorporate hands-on training 
                                techniques, when appropriate.
                            ``(v) Relationship to other laws.--Nothing 
                        in this subparagraph may be construed to 
                        supersede or otherwise modify any Federal, 
                        State, or local law or legal obligation 
                        governing the relationship between an employee 
                        and employer.''.

SEC. 212. TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT.

    Section 7(i)(4) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1776(i)(4)) is amended by striking ``2010 through 2015'' and inserting 
``2023 through 2028''.

SEC. 213. STATE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

    Section 7 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1776) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(5)(A), by striking ``or 
        expenditure'';
            (2) in subsection (d), by striking ``and expenditure''; and
            (3) in subsection (j), by striking ``October 1, 2015'' and 
        inserting ``October 1, 2028''.

 TITLE III--MODERNIZING THE SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR 
                   WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN (WIC)

SEC. 301. ADJUNCTIVE ELIGIBILITY.

    (a) In General.--Section 17(d)(2)(A) of the Child Nutrition Act of 
1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(2)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (ii)--
                    (A) in subclause (I), by inserting ``resides in a 
                household (as such term is defined in section 3 of the 
                Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012)) that 
                includes an individual who'' before ``receives''; and
                    (B) in subclause (II), by striking ``; or'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
            (2) by amending clause (iii) to read as follows:
            ``(iii)(I) receives medical assistance under title XIX of 
        the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) or child 
        health assistance under title XXI of such Act (42 U.S.C.1397aa 
        et seq.); or
            ``(II) is a member of a family in which a pregnant woman, 
        postpartum woman, infant, or child receives assistance or is 
        enrolled as described in subclause (I);''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(iv) is enrolled as a participant in a Head Start program 
        authorized under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) or 
        resides in a household in which one or more children is 
        enrolled as a participant in such a Head Start program;
            ``(v) resides in a household that includes an individual 
        who receives assistance under the food distribution program on 
        Indian reservations established under section 4(b) of the Food 
        and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)); or
            ``(vi) resides in a household that includes an individual 
        who receives assistance from a nutrition assistance program 
        funded by the consolidated block grants for Puerto Rico and the 
        American Samoa under section 19 of the Food and Nutrition Act 
        of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028) or funded by a block grant for the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands pursuant to 
        section 601 of Public Law 96-597 (48 U.S.C. 1469d(c)).''.
    (b) Adjunct Documentation.--Section 17(d)(3)(E) of the Child 
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)(E)) is amended to read as 
follows:
                    ``(E) Adjunct documentation.--In order to 
                participate in the program under this section pursuant 
                to clause (ii) through (vi) of paragraph (2)(A), not 
                earlier than 90 days prior to the date on which the 
                certification or recertification for participation in 
                the program is made--
                            ``(i) an individual shall provide 
                        documentation of receipt of assistance 
                        described in such clause; or
                            ``(ii) a State agency shall use available 
                        documentation to show receipt of such 
                        assistance.''.

SEC. 302. WIC ELIGIBILITY AND CERTIFICATION PERIODS.

    (a) Procedures.--
            (1) Age of eligibility for children under the special 
        supplemental nutrition program.--
                    (A) Definition of child.--Section 17 of the Child 
                Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786) is amended--
                            (i) in subsection (b), by amending 
                        paragraph (2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) Child.--The term `child' means--
                    ``(A) before October 1, 2026, an individual who--
                            ``(i) has attained a first birthday but has 
                        not yet attained a fifth birthday; or
                            ``(ii)(I) has attained a fifth birthday but 
                        has not yet attained a sixth birthday;
                                    ``(II) does not attend full-day 
                                kindergarten; and
                                    ``(III) is certified before such 
                                date by a State agency under subsection 
                                (d)(3)(A)(iii)(II); and
                    ``(B) on and after October 1, 2026, an individual 
                who--
                            ``(i) has attained a first birthday but has 
                        not yet attained a sixth birthday; and
                            ``(ii) does not attend full day 
                        kindergarten.'';
                            (ii) in subsection (e)(4)(A), by striking 
                        ``up to age 5''; and
                            (iii) in subsection (f)(7)(D)(i), by 
                        striking ``under the age of 5''.
                    (B) Certification.--Section 17(d)(3)(A)(iii) of the 
                Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                1786(d)(3)(A)(iii)) is amended to read as follows:
                            ``(iii) Children.--
                                    ``(I) Children under 5.--With 
                                respect to a participant child who has 
                                not had a fifth birthday--
                                            ``(aa) before October 1, 
                                        2026, a State may elect to 
                                        certify a participant child for 
                                        a period of 2 years, if the 
                                        State electing the option 
                                        provided under this clause 
                                        ensures that a participant 
                                        child receives the required 
                                        health and nutrition 
                                        assessments; and
                                            ``(bb) on and after October 
                                        1, 2026 a State shall--

                                                    ``(AA) certify a 
                                                participant child for a 
                                                period of 2 years; and

                                                    ``(BB) ensure that 
                                                a participant child 
                                                receives the required 
                                                health and nutrition 
                                                assessments, as 
                                                determined by the 
                                                Secretary under clause 
                                                (ix).

                                    ``(II) 5-year-old children.--
                                            ``(aa) In general.--
                                        Beginning not later than 
                                        October 1, 2026, a State shall 
                                        certify a participant child who 
                                        has had a fifth birthday but 
                                        has not yet attained a sixth 
                                        birthday, for the period that 
                                        ends on the earlier of--

                                                    ``(AA) the sixth 
                                                birthday of the 
                                                participant child; and

                                                    ``(BB) the first 
                                                date on which the 
                                                participant child 
                                                attends full-day 
                                                kindergarten.

                                            ``(bb) Requirements.--Each 
                                        State that certifies a 
                                        participant child under item 
                                        (aa) shall--

                                                    ``(AA) ensure that 
                                                such participant child 
                                                receives required 
                                                health and nutrition 
                                                assessments, as 
                                                determined by the 
                                                Secretary under clause 
                                                (ix); and

                                                    ``(BB) establish a 
                                                method to determine the 
                                                first date on which 
                                                such participant child 
                                                attends full-day 
                                                kindergarten.''.

                    (C) Conforming amendment.--Section 1902(a)(53)(A) 
                of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(53)(A)) 
                is amended by striking ``below the age of 5'' and 
                inserting ``(as defined in such section)''.
            (2) Certification of infants.--Section 17(d)(3)(A) of the 
        Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)(A)) is 
        amended by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iv) Infants.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--With respect to 
                                an infant, a State--
                                            ``(aa) before October 1, 
                                        2026, may elect to certify an 
                                        infant for participation in the 
                                        program for a period of 2 
                                        years; and
                                            ``(bb) on and after October 
                                        1, 2026, shall certify an 
                                        infant for participation in the 
                                        program for a period of 2 
                                        years.
                                    ``(II) Assessments.--In certifying 
                                an infant under subclause (I), a State 
                                shall ensure that the infant receives 
                                required health and nutrition 
                                assessments, as determined by the 
                                Secretary under clause (ix).
                                    ``(III) Infants born to participant 
                                mothers.--For purposes of subclause 
                                (I), an infant born to a pregnant woman 
                                who is participating in the program 
                                shall be certified for participation 
                                without further application.
                                    ``(IV) Clarification relating to 
                                age.--An infant may be certified for 
                                participation in the program for a 
                                period of 2 years, regardless of 
                                whether such infant will become a child 
                                during such period.''.
            (3) Extension of postpartum period.--
                    (A) Breastfeeding women.--
                            (i) Definition of breastfeeding woman.--
                        Paragraph (1) of section 17(b) of the Child 
                        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(b)) is 
                        amended to read as follows:
            ``(1) Breastfeeding woman.--The term `breastfeeding woman' 
        means--
                    ``(A) before October 1, 2026, an individual up to 
                one year postpartum who is breastfeeding the infant of 
                the individual; and
                    ``(B) on and after October 1, 2026, an individual 
                who is not more than 2 years postpartum and is 
                breastfeeding the infant of the individual.''.
                            (ii) Certification.--Section 
                        17(d)(3)(A)(ii) of the Child Nutrition Act of 
                        1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)(A)(ii)) is amended 
                        to read as follows:
                            ``(ii) Breastfeeding women.--With respect 
                        to a breastfeeding woman, a State--

                                                    ``(I) before 
                                                October 1, 2026, may 
                                                elect to certify such 
                                                breastfeeding woman for 
                                                a period of 2 years 
                                                postpartum; and

                                                    ``(II) on and after 
                                                October 1, 2026, a 
                                                State shall certify a 
                                                postpartum woman for a 
                                                period of 2 years 
                                                postpartum.''.

                    (B) Postpartum women.--
                            (i) Definition of postpartum woman.--
                        Paragraph (10) of section 17(b) of the Child 
                        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(b)) is 
                        amended to read as follows:
            ``(10) Postpartum woman.--The term `postpartum woman' 
        means--
                    ``(A) before October 1, 2026, an individual up to 
                six months after termination of pregnancy; and
                    ``(B) on and after October 1, 2026, an individual 
                up to 2 years after termination of pregnancy.''.
                            (ii) Certification.--Section 17(d)(3)(A) of 
                        the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                        1786)(d)(3)(A)) is further amended by adding at 
                        the end the following:
                            ``(v) Postpartum women.--With respect to a 
                        postpartum woman, a State--

                                                    ``(I) before 
                                                October 1, 2026, may 
                                                elect to certify such 
                                                postpartum woman for a 
                                                period of 2 years after 
                                                the termination of the 
                                                pregnancy of the 
                                                postpartum woman; and

                                                    ``(II) on and after 
                                                October 1, 2026, a 
                                                State shall certify a 
                                                postpartum woman for a 
                                                period of 2 years after 
                                                the termination of 
                                                pregnancy of the 
                                                postpartum woman.''.

            (4) Pregnant women.--
                    (A) Definition.--Section 17(b)(11) of the Child 
                Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(b)(11)) is 
                amended to read as follows:
            ``(11) Pregnant woman.--The term `pregnant woman' means an 
        individual determined to have one or more fetuses in utero.''.
                    (B) Certification.--Section 17(d)(3)(A) of the 
                Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786)(d)(3)(A)) 
                is further amended by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(vi) Pregnant women.--With respect to a 
                        pregnant woman, a State--
                                    ``(I) before October 1, 2026, may 
                                elect to certify a pregnant woman for 
                                the duration of the pregnancy and for 
                                the 90 days after the termination of 
                                pregnancy; and
                                    ``(II) on and after October 1, 
                                2026, shall certify a pregnant woman 
                                for the duration of the pregnancy and 
                                for the 90 days after the termination 
                                of pregnancy.''.
            (5) Certification within one household family.--Section 
        17(d)(3)(A) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
        1786(d)(3)(A)) is further amended--
                    (A) in clause (i)--
                            (i) by striking ``clause (ii)'' and 
                        inserting ``clauses (ii) through (viii)''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``or recertified'' after 
                        ``certified'';
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(vii) Certification within one household 
                        family.--In order to align certification 
                        periods or recertification appointments, when a 
                        State or local agency certifies an individual 
                        based on income documentation under 
                        subparagraph (D) or adjunct documentation under 
                        subparagraph (E), a new certification period 
                        that otherwise meets the requirements of the 
                        program may be initiated for eligible family 
                        members of such individual.''.
            (6) Recertification.--Section 17(d)(3)(A) of the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786)(d)(3)(A)) is further 
        amended by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(viii) Recertification.--Before 
                        requesting new income documentation for 
                        purposes of recertifying an individual under 
                        the program, a State shall--
                                    ``(I) determine whether such 
                                individual is eligible for 
                                recertification under subparagraph (E); 
                                and
                                    ``(II) if such individual is so 
                                eligible--
                                            ``(aa) recertify such 
                                        individual; and
                                            ``(bb) notify such 
                                        individual of such 
                                        recertification.''.
            (7) Nutrition risk.--Section 17(d)(3)(A) of the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786)(d)(3)(A)) is further 
        amended by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(ix) Nutrition risk.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The Secretary 
                                may require nutrition risk evaluations 
                                within a single certification period 
                                for the purposes of identifying 
                                specific risk factors.
                                    ``(II) Information provided by a 
                                health care provider.--Information 
                                provided by a health care provider 
                                shall be sufficient to establish 
                                nutrition risk for the purposes of 
                                program eligibility under this section.
                                    ``(III) Determination.--If it is 
                                determined that the individual does not 
                                meet any nutritional risk criteria, the 
                                certification of the individual shall 
                                terminate on the date of 
                                determination.''.
    (b) Interim Eligibility.--Section 17(d)(3)(B) of the Child 
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786)(d)(3)(B)) is amended to read as 
follows:
                    ``(B) Interim eligibility.--
                            ``(i) Temporary certification.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--In the case of a 
                                pregnant woman, breastfeeding woman, 
                                postpartum woman, infant, or child who 
                                is not otherwise determined eligible 
                                under this section to participate in 
                                the program due to lack of 
                                documentation at the time of 
                                application, a State agency shall 
                                consider such a pregnant woman, 
                                breastfeeding woman, postpartum woman, 
                                infant, or child to be temporarily 
                                eligible to participate in the program 
                                based on a signed statement by the 
                                applicant.
                                    ``(II) 30-day period.--With respect 
                                to an individual that is temporarily 
                                eligible under subclause (I), the State 
                                agency shall--
                                            ``(aa) provide food 
                                        instruments for a single 30-day 
                                        period; and
                                            ``(bb) require that 
                                        documentation for purposes of 
                                        certifying such individual in 
                                        accordance with this paragraph 
                                        be provided not later than 30 
                                        days after the first day such 
                                        individual is deemed 
                                        temporarily eligible under 
                                        subclause (I).
                                    ``(III) Documentation demonstrating 
                                eligibility.--If an individual provides 
                                documentation in accordance with 
                                subclause (II) that demonstrates 
                                eligibility for the program, the 
                                individual shall be certified in 
                                accordance with this paragraph 
                                beginning on the first day the 
                                individual was deemed temporarily 
                                eligible under subclause (I).
                                    ``(IV) Documentation failing to 
                                demonstrate eligibility.--If an 
                                individual does not provide 
                                documentation in accordance with 
                                subclause (II), or provides 
                                documentation that does not demonstrate 
                                eligibility for the program--
                                            ``(aa) the individual shall 
                                        be determined ineligible to 
                                        participate in the program; and
                                            ``(bb) the temporary 
                                        eligibility with respect to 
                                        such individual shall terminate 
                                        at the end of the single 30-day 
                                        period described in subclause 
                                        (II)(aa).
                            ``(ii) Nutritional risk.--A State may 
                        consider a pregnant woman, breastfeeding woman, 
                        postpartum woman, infant, or child applicant 
                        who meets the income eligibility standards to 
                        be temporarily eligible on an interim basis to 
                        participate in the program and may certify any 
                        such individual for participation immediately, 
                        without delaying certification until an 
                        evaluation is made concerning nutritional risk. 
                        A nutritional risk evaluation of such an 
                        individual shall be completed not later than 90 
                        days after the individual is certified for 
                        participation. If it is subsequently determined 
                        that the individual does not meet nutritional 
                        risk criteria, the certification of the 
                        individual shall terminate on the date of the 
                        determination.''.
    (c) Eligibility for Children in Kinship Families.--Section 
17(f)(1)(C)(ix) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(f)(1)(C)(ix)) is amended by inserting ``a kinship family,'' after 
``under the care of''.

SEC. 303. CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION DETERMINATIONS AND 
              NUTRITIONAL RISK EVALUATIONS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Presence with respect to certain determinations and 
        evaluations.--Section 17(d)(3)(C) of the Child Nutrition Act of 
        1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)(C)) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(C) Presence with respect to certain 
                determinations and evaluations.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Each individual seeking 
                        certification, recertification, or a 
                        nutritional risk evaluation for participation 
                        in the program shall be offered an 
                        appointment--
                                    ``(I) in-person, through video 
                                technology permitting 2-way, real-time 
                                interactive communications, by 
                                telephone, and in such other format as 
                                the Secretary determines appropriate in 
                                order to determine eligibility under 
                                the program, provided that such format 
                                permits 2-way, real-time interactive 
                                communications; and
                                    ``(II) that occurs in a format, 
                                setting, or platform that is accessible 
                                to the individual in accordance with 
                                the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
                                1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and 
                                section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 
                                of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794).
                            ``(ii) Anthropometric data for remote 
                        certification.--If an individual meets the 
                        certification presence requirement through 
                        technology permitting 2-way, real-time 
                        interactive communications or other methods 
                        described in clause (i)(I), the anthropometric 
                        data with respect to such individual shall be 
                        obtained within 90 days.''.
            (2) Technical amendment.--Section 17(d)(3) of the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(d)(3)) is amended by 
        conforming the margin of subparagraph (B) to the margin of 
        subparagraph (C).
    (b) Remote Benefit Issuance.--Section 17(f)(6)(B) of the Child 
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(f)(6)(B)) is amended--
            (1) in the second sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``vouchers by mail in its plan'' 
                and inserting ``food instruments by mail, remote 
                issuance, or other means in the State plan''; and
                    (B) by striking ``The State'' and inserting the 
                following:
                            ``(ii) State plan.--The State'';
            (2) in the third sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``vouchers by mail'' and inserting 
                ``food instruments by mail, remote issuance, or other 
                means''; and
                    (B) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the 
                following:
                            ``(iii) Disapproval of state plan.--The 
                        Secretary''; and
            (3) by striking ``(B) State agencies'' and all that follows 
        through ``to obtain vouchers.'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Delivery of food instruments.--
                            ``(i) In general.--State agencies may 
                        provide for the delivery of food instruments, 
                        including electronic benefit transfer cards, to 
                        any participant through means that do not 
                        require the participant to travel to the local 
                        agency to obtain food instruments, such as 
                        through mailing or remote issuance.''.
    (c) Annual Investment in WIC Technologies.--Section 17(h) of the 
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)(B)--
                    (A) by striking clause (ii); and
                    (B) by striking ``(i) Except as provided in clause 
                (ii) and'' and inserting ``Except as provided in'';
            (2) in paragraph (10)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``2010 through 
                2015'' and inserting ``2023 through 2028'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking clause (ii) 
                and inserting the following:
                            ``(ii)(I) $90,000,000 shall be used to--
                                    ``(aa) establish, develop, improve, 
                                replace, or administer technology 
                                platforms, including management 
                                information systems, that enhance the 
                                services of, access to, or redemption 
                                of benefits under the program;
                                    ``(bb) establish, develop, improve, 
                                replace, or administer a system that 
                                allows for secure communication of 
                                information between health care 
                                providers and program clinics in order 
                                to facilitate sharing of information 
                                necessary for certification, 
                                establishing nutrition risk, or for the 
                                provision of health care services; and
                                    ``(cc) carry out paragraph (15); 
                                and
                            ``(II) of which up to $8,000,000 may be 
                        used for Federal administrative costs; and''; 
                        and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(15) State efforts to enhance cross-enrollment with 
        medicaid and the supplemental nutrition assistance program.--
                    ``(A) Participation data.--The Secretary shall 
                annually collect data from State agencies and make 
                publicly available on the website of the Department 
                State-level estimates of the percentage of pregnant 
                women, postpartum women, infants, and children under 
                age five--
                            ``(i) who are enrolled in the program under 
                        this section and the supplemental nutrition 
                        assistance program under the Food and Nutrition 
                        Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); and
                            ``(ii) who are--
                                    ``(I) enrolled in the program under 
                                this section and the Medicaid program 
                                established under title XIX of the 
                                Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et 
                                seq.); and
                                    ``(II) a member of a family 
                                described in subsection (d)(2)(A)(i).
                    ``(B) Best practices.--The Secretary shall--
                            ``(i) in addition to the information made 
                        available under subparagraph (A), also publish 
                        on the website of the Department best practices 
                        for increasing the percentages described in 
                        such subparagraph; and
                            ``(ii) evaluate the number and types of 
                        referrals to the program under this section 
                        made by--
                                    ``(I) administrators of the 
                                supplemental nutrition assistance 
                                program under the Food and Nutrition 
                                Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.); 
                                and
                                    ``(II) administrators of the 
                                Medicaid program established under 
                                title XIX of the Social Security Act 
                                (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).
                    ``(C) Cross-enrollment plan.--Not later than 1 year 
                after the date of the enactment of this paragraph and 
                annually thereafter, each State shall--
                            ``(i) submit to the Secretary an annual 
                        cross-enrollment plan that--
                                    ``(I) is developed across the 
                                programs described in subparagraph (A) 
                                that includes goals, specific measures, 
                                and a timeline for increasing the 
                                percentages described in such 
                                subparagraph; and
                                    ``(II) includes policies to refer 
                                to the program under this section 
                                participants in the programs described 
                                in such subparagraph who are not 
                                certified for the program under this 
                                section; and
                            ``(ii) if such plan is approved by the 
                        Secretary, implement such plan.
                    ``(D) Grant program.--The Secretary shall provide 
                technical assistance and award competitive grants to 
                State agencies to--
                            ``(i) increase the percentages described in 
                        subparagraph (A); and
                            ``(ii) implement measures pursuant to an 
                        annual cross-enrollment plan under subparagraph 
                        (C), including--
                                    ``(I) improving technology;
                                    ``(II) establishing more robust 
                                referral systems;
                                    ``(III) conducting targeted 
                                outreach to potential participants in 
                                the program under this section;
                                    ``(IV) enhancing State capacity to 
                                share and analyze data across the 
                                programs described in subparagraph (A); 
                                and
                                    ``(V) providing training or 
                                technical assistance to local agencies.
                    ``(E) Limitation on data.--Any data collected under 
                this paragraph shall be--
                            ``(i) used only for the purposes of 
                        certifying eligible persons for the program 
                        under this section; and
                            ``(ii) subject to the confidentiality 
                        provisions described in section 246.26(d) of 
                        title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
                        successor regulations).''.
    (d) Report to Congress.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate 
        and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the use of remote technologies 
        under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, 
        infants, and children established by section 17 of the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786) (referred to in this 
        section as the ``program'').
            (2) Content of report.--The report submitted under 
        paragraph (1) shall include a description of--
                    (A) the use of remote technologies and other 
                digital tools, including video, telephone, and online 
                platforms--
                            (i) to certify and recertify eligible 
                        individuals for program services; and
                            (ii) to provide nutrition education and 
                        breastfeeding support to program participants;
                    (B) the impact of remote technologies, including 
                video, telephone, and online platforms, on 
                certifications, recertifications, appointments, and 
                participant satisfaction under the program; and
                    (C) best practices to--
                            (i) certify and recertify program 
                        participants for program services using remote 
                        technologies;
                            (ii) incorporate the use of digital tools 
                        into the program certification process;
                            (iii) integrate nutrition education and 
                        breastfeeding support services for program 
                        participants into remote technologies and 
                        platforms; and
                            (iv) securely manage program participant 
                        data.

SEC. 304. PAPERWORK REDUCTION.

    Section 17(d)(3) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(d)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) Paperwork reduction.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A State agency shall 
                        accept a single document that provides all of 
                        the information required under this paragraph 
                        unless the State agency determines there is a 
                        sufficient reason to doubt the authenticity of 
                        such document.
                            ``(ii) Electronic form.--A State agency 
                        shall accept documentation under this paragraph 
                        in support of a household's application in 
                        electronic form or provided electronically 
                        unless the State agency determines there is a 
                        sufficient reason to doubt the authenticity of 
                        such electronically provided document.''.

SEC. 305. NUTRITION EDUCATION MATERIALS RELATED TO FOOD ALLERGIES.

    Section 17(e)(3) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 USC 
1786(e)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Nutrition education materials related to food 
                allergies.--The nutrition education materials issued 
                under subparagraph (A) shall include nutrition 
                education materials with respect to--
                            ``(i) individuals with food allergies 
                        during pregnancy and in the postpartum period;
                            ``(ii) infants impacted by prenatal food 
                        allergy exposure;
                            ``(iii) introducing potential food 
                        allergens to infants; and
                            ``(iv) children with food allergies.''.

SEC. 306. BREASTFEEDING SUPPLY COVERAGE.

    Section 17(h)(1)(C)(ii) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
U.S.C. 1786(h)(1)(C)(ii)) is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by inserting ``and breastfeeding 
        supplies'' after ``Breast pumps''; and
            (2) by inserting ``and additional breastfeeding supplies'' 
        before the period at the end.

SEC. 307. WATER BENEFITS DURING DISASTERS.

    Section 17(h)(1)(C) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(h)(1)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) Water benefits during disasters.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--During an 
                                emergency period for which the 
                                Secretary determines that, with respect 
                                to a State, access to safe drinking 
                                water is impacted and provision of safe 
                                drinking water is reasonably necessary 
                                to ensure safe preparation of infant 
                                formula, a State or local agency may 
                                use amounts made available under clause 
                                (i) to purchase and distribute safe 
                                drinking water to program participants.
                                    ``(II) Emergency period defined.--
                                In this clause, the term `emergency 
                                period' means a period during which 
                                there exists--
                                            ``(aa) a major disaster 
                                        declared by the President under 
                                        section 401 of the Robert T. 
                                        Stafford Disaster Relief and 
                                        Emergency Assistance Act (42 
                                        U.S.C. 5170);
                                            ``(bb) an emergency 
                                        declared by the President under 
                                        section 501 of the Robert T. 
                                        Stafford Disaster Relief and 
                                        Emergency Assistance Act (42 
                                        U.S.C. 5191);
                                            ``(cc) a public health 
                                        emergency declared by the 
                                        Secretary of Health and Human 
                                        Services pursuant to section 
                                        319 of the Public Health 
                                        Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d); 
                                        or
                                            ``(dd) any renewal of such 
                                        a public health emergency 
                                        pursuant to such section 
                                        319.''.

SEC. 308. INFANT FORMULA PROCUREMENT ONLINE SOURCE OF INFORMATION.

    Section 17(h)(8)(A) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(h)(8)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(xi) Infant formula procurement online 
                        source of information.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Not later than 
                                180 days after the date of enactment of 
                                this clause, the Secretary shall make 
                                available to the public on a website of 
                                the Department of Agriculture the 
                                information described in items (aa) 
                                through (dd) of subclause (II) relating 
                                to bid solicitations of State agencies 
                                for infant formula under the program.
                                    ``(II) State agencies.--In 
                                soliciting bids for infant formula 
                                under the program, a State agency shall 
                                submit to the Secretary, not later than 
                                5 business days after the date of the 
                                bid solicitation, a description of the 
                                bid solicitation, including--
                                            ``(aa) the title of the bid 
                                        solicitation and the State 
                                        agency administering the bid 
                                        solicitation;
                                            ``(bb) the website 
                                        hyperlink and other information 
                                        needed for the purpose of 
                                        submitting a bid in response to 
                                        the bid solicitation;
                                            ``(cc) the contact 
                                        information and website 
                                        hyperlink for the State agency 
                                        administering the bid 
                                        solicitation, for the purpose 
                                        of gathering additional 
                                        information relating to the bid 
                                        solicitation; and
                                            ``(dd) the period during 
                                        which bids are accepted or the 
                                        due date for bids, as 
                                        applicable, under the bid 
                                        solicitation.
                                    ``(III) Publication.--Not later 
                                than 5 business days after receiving a 
                                description of a bid solicitation under 
                                subclause (II), the Secretary shall 
                                publish the information described in 
                                subclause (I).''.

SEC. 309. BREASTFEEDING PEER COUNSELOR PROGRAM.

    (a) Definition of Breastfeeding Peer Counselor.--Section 17(b) of 
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(b)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(25) Breastfeeding peer counselor.--The term 
        `breastfeeding peer counselor' means an individual who is 
        recruited and hired from the adult population described in 
        subsection (d)(1) who has--
                    ``(A) previous experience with breastfeeding, 
                including experience having breastfed at least one 
                infant; and
                    ``(B) provides mother-to-mother support to prenatal 
                and postpartum women under the program.''.
    (b) Special Nutrition Education.--Section 17(h)(10) of the Child 
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(10)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$139,000,000'' and 
        inserting ``$324,000,000''; and
            (2) by amending subparagraph (B)(iii) to read as follows:
                            ``(iii) $180,000,000 shall be used to--
                                    ``(I) establish State agency 
                                Breastfeeding Peer Counseling programs, 
                                which shall be administered as 
                                determined by the Secretary;
                                    ``(II) provide performance bonus 
                                payments under paragraph (4)(C); and
                                    ``(III) establish State and local 
                                partnerships to provide such education 
                                at locations--
                                            ``(aa) outside of the 
                                        clinic, such as hospitals or 
                                        physicians' offices; or
                                            ``(bb) in partnership with 
                                        eligible entities that deliver 
                                        services under early childhood 
                                        home visitation programs 
                                        pursuant to a grant under 
                                        section 511 of the Social 
                                        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
                                        711).''.

SEC. 310. PRODUCT PRICING.

    Section 17(h)(11)(B)(i)(II)(aa) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
(42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(11)(B)(i)(II)(aa)) is amended by striking ``the 
shelf prices of the vendor for all buyers'' and inserting ``the prices 
the vendor charges other customers''.

SEC. 311. WIC A50 STORES.

    Section 17(h) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(h)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (11)(E), by inserting ``more than 5 
        percent'' before ``higher than average''; and
            (2) in paragraph (14), by striking ``food or merchandise'' 
        and inserting ``food, merchandise, or food delivery''.

SEC. 312. WIC EBT MODERNIZATION.

    (a) Online Payment and Mobile Payment Options.--
            (1) Date of completion.--Section 17(h)(12) of the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(12)) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``food 
                delivery system that provides benefits using a card or 
                other access device'' and inserting ``benefit delivery 
                method'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking 
                        ``subparagraph (C)'' and inserting 
                        ``subparagraph (C)(i)''; and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) Vendor requirements.--Except in the 
                        case of an exemption granted with respect to a 
                        State agency under subparagraph (C)(iii), not 
                        later than October 1, 2025, each State agency 
                        shall authorize at least three vendors to 
                        process online payments under the electronic 
                        benefit systems in the State.''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (C), by adding at the end the 
                following:
                            ``(iii) Vendor requirements exemption.--To 
                        be eligible for an exemption from the vendor 
                        requirements of subparagraph (B)(iii), a State 
                        agency shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of 
                        the Secretary that the State agency is facing 
                        unusual barriers to implementing additional 
                        changes to the electronic benefit transfer 
                        system.''.
            (2) Report to congress.--Not later than January 1, 2026, 
        the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on 
        Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
        Representatives that--
                    (A) details the steps taken to establish and 
                implement online payment models through authorized 
                vendors participating in the special supplemental 
                nutrition program for women, infants, and children 
                under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
                U.S.C. 1786);
                    (B) identifies measures to ensure that additional 
                authorized vendors may establish and implement such 
                online payment models;
                    (C) outlines steps to implement additional modern 
                transaction models, including mobile payments, through 
                such authorized vendors;
                    (D) provides an explanation for each exemption 
                provided to a State agency under clause (iii) of 
                section 17(h)(12)(C) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
                (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(12)(C));
                    (E) includes a description of State and local 
                agency efforts to enhance collaboration with such 
                vendors, including the use of shopper helpers or vendor 
                liaison programs; and
                    (F) includes an analysis of measures that could be 
                taken at the Federal and State levels to streamline the 
                authorization process of such vendors under such 
                program and coordinate vendor authorizations with the 
                supplemental nutrition assistance program.
    (b) Smaller Vendors.--Section 17(h)(10)(B) of the Child Nutrition 
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(10)(B)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
                            ``(iv) $40,000,000 shall be used by State 
                        or local agencies to enhance vendor 
                        partnerships and streamline the shopping 
                        experience of participants, including by 
                        establishing and administering vendor liaison 
                        programs to support participants and vendor 
                        staff at retail grocery locations.''.
    (c) Equitable Access for WIC Shoppers.--Section 17(h)(12) of the 
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(12)) is further amended 
by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(H) Equitable access for wic shoppers.--To 
                facilitate the use of online payments under an 
                electronic benefit transfer system, a State agency 
                shall--
                            ``(i) with respect to such electronic 
                        benefit transfer system, allow--
                                    ``(I) transactions to be conducted 
                                without the presence of a cashier;
                                    ``(II) additional methods of 
                                authentication other than signature or 
                                entry of a personal identification 
                                number to be used; and
                                    ``(III) participants to receive 
                                supplemental foods after an electronic 
                                benefit transfer transaction has been 
                                processed;
                            ``(ii) ensure that no interchange or 
                        related transaction fees are collected from 
                        vendors;
                            ``(iii) issue program benefits remotely 
                        without receiving a participant signature;
                            ``(iv) authorize vendors that do not have a 
                        single, fixed location; and
                            ``(v) authorize vendors for a period not to 
                        exceed 5 years.''.
    (d) Repeal.--Paragraph (13) of section 17(h) of the Child Nutrition 
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)) is repealed.

SEC. 313. SPEND FORWARD AUTHORITIES.

    Section 17(i)(3) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(i)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) in clause (i)--
                            (i) in subclause (I), by striking ``1 
                        percent (except as provided in subparagraph 
                        (C))'' and inserting ``10 percent''; and
                            (ii) in subclause (II), by striking ``1 
                        percent'' and inserting ``10 percent''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii)--
                            (i) in subclause (I)--
                                    (I) by striking ``3 percent'' and 
                                inserting ``10 percent''; and
                                    (II) by inserting ``for nutrition 
                                services and administration'' before 
                                ``under this section''; and
                            (ii) in subclause (II)--
                                    (I) by striking ``for nutrition 
                                services and administration'' and 
                                inserting ``to carry out this 
                                section'';
                                    (II) by striking ``not more than 
                                \1/2\ of 1 percent'' and inserting 
                                ``not more than 3 percent''; and
                                    (III) by striking ``the development 
                                of a management information system, 
                                including an electronic benefit 
                                transfer system'' and inserting 
                                ``purposes related to food delivery, 
                                including breastfeeding services and 
                                supplies, electronic benefit transfer 
                                systems, and other technologies''; and
            (2) by repealing subparagraph (C).

SEC. 314. ADMINISTRATIVE SIMPLIFICATION.

    Section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (f)(1), by amending subparagraph (A) to 
        read as follows: (A) Each State agency shall submit to the 
        Secretary a plan of operation and administration. A State shall 
        be required to submit to the Secretary for approval any 
        substantive change in the plan and annual requirements as 
        specified by the Secretary.''; and
            (2) by repealing subsection (k).

SEC. 315. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 17(g)(1)(A) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1786(g)(1)(A)) is amended by striking ``2010 through 2015'' and 
inserting ``2023 through 2028''; and

SEC. 316. WIC FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM.

    Section 17(m) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (7 U.S.C. 1431) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and community 
        supported agriculture programs'' after ``roadside stands'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (3) and redesignating paragraphs 
        (4) through (10) as paragraphs (3) through (9), respectively;
            (3) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``paragraph (6)'' both places it appears and inserting 
        ``paragraph (5)'';
            (4) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``using 
                funds'' and all the follows through ``paragraph (3).'' 
                and inserting ``using funds provided under the 
                grant.'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``may not be'' 
                and all that follows through ``per year.'' and 
                inserting ``may not be less than $20 per year or more 
                than $100 per year.'';
                    (C) by amending subparagraph (E) to read as 
                follows:
            ``(E) The coupon redemption process under the program shall 
        be designed to ensure that the coupon may be redeemed--
                    ``(i) either--
                            ``(I) by producers authorized by the State 
                        to participate in the program; or
                            ``(II) through a central point of sale at a 
                        farmers' market authorized by the State to 
                        participate in the program; and
                    ``(ii) only to purchase fresh nutritious unprepared 
                food for human consumption.'';
                    (D) in subparagraph (F)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``clauses 
                        (ii) and (iii)'' and inserting ``clause (ii)'';
                            (ii) in clause (ii)--
                                    (I) by striking ``2 percent'' and 
                                inserting ``3 percent''; and
                                    (II) by inserting ``such market 
                                development or technical assistance 
                                will advance State efforts to develop 
                                efficient and appropriate electronic 
                                benefits systems or'' before ``the 
                                State intends''; and
                            (iii) by striking clause (iii);
            (5) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subparagraph 
                (G)'' and inserting ``paragraph (8)'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``if a State 
                        provides the amount of matching funds required 
                        under paragraph (3),'';
                            (ii) in clause (ii)--
                                    (I) by striking ``paragraph (10)'' 
                                and inserting ``paragraph (8)''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``paragraph (6)'' 
                                and inserting ``paragraph (5)'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``subparagraph 
                (G)(i)'' both places it appears and inserting 
                ``paragraph (8)'';
                    (D) in subparagraph (D)(ii)(II), by striking 
                ``paragraph (5)'' and inserting ``paragraph (4)''; and
                    (E) in subparagraph (F)(iii), by striking 
                ``paragraph (10)(B)(ii)'' and inserting ``paragraph 
                (8)(B)(ii)'';
            (6) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (D); and
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as 
                subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively;
            (7) in paragraph (8), as so redesignated--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``2010 through 
                2015'' and inserting ``2023 through 2028''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)(i)(II), by striking ``5 
                percent'' and inserting ``10 percent'';
            (8) in paragraph (9)(A), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``or other negotiable financial instrument'' and inserting 
        ``token, electronic benefit transfer card, mobile benefit 
        delivery system, or other forms or technologies as determined 
        by the Secretary''.

SEC. 317. SUPPORTING HEALTHY MOTHERS AND INFANTS.

    Section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``drug abuse'' and 
        inserting ``substance use disorder'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (8), by striking ``drug abuse'' 
                and inserting ``substance use disorder''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (16)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by striking ``Drug abuse education'' and 
                        inserting ``Substance use disorder education'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``dangers of drug abuse'' and inserting ``harm 
                        of substance use on pregnancy and lactation''; 
                        and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) by striking ``are suspected 
                                drug abusers'' and inserting ``may have 
                                a substance use disorder'';
                                    (II) by striking ``drug abuse 
                                clinics,''; and
                                    (III) by striking ``drug abuse 
                                professionals'' and inserting 
                                ``resources'';
            (3) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``drug abuse'' each place 
                        it appears and inserting ``substance use 
                        disorder''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``effects of drug and 
                        alcohol use by'' and inserting ``effects of a 
                        substance use disorder of''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``substance 
                abuse'' and inserting ``substance use disorder'';
            (4) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(C)(ix), by striking ``drugs'' 
                and inserting ``illicit or other harmful substances''; 
                and
                    (B) in paragraph (13), by striking ``drug abuse 
                education'' and inserting ``substance use disorder 
                education''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(t) Activities to Support WIC-Eligible Individuals Impacted by 
Substance Use Disorder.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) develop and disseminate nutrition education 
                materials for individuals eligible for the program; and
                    ``(B) conduct outreach to individuals who are 
                potentially eligible for the program and who are 
                impacted by a substance use disorder.
            ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of this subsection is to ensure 
        that individuals participating in the program who are impacted 
        by a substance use disorder receive accurate nutrition 
        education from trained staff in an effective and unbiased 
        manner.
            ``(3) Nutrition education materials.--The Secretary shall 
        collaborate with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
        develop appropriate evidence-based nutrition education 
        materials for individuals impacted by a substance use disorder, 
        including--
                    ``(A) nutrition education materials for individuals 
                with substance use disorder during pregnancy and in the 
                postpartum period; and
                    ``(B) nutrition education materials for infants 
                impacted by prenatal substance exposure and neonatal 
                abstinence syndrome.
            ``(4) Nutrition education clearinghouse.--The Secretary 
        shall make available to all State agencies through an online 
        clearinghouse any nutrition education and training materials 
        related to nutrition for individuals impacted by a substance 
        use disorder or neonatal abstinence syndrome that have been 
        produced by the Secretary or the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services (or produced by a State agency and approved by the 
        Secretary), including educational materials developed under 
        paragraph (15) of section 515(b) of the Public Health Service 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-21(b)) and guidance issued under section 
        1005 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1396a note).
            ``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection 
        $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, to remain available until 
        expended.''.

      TITLE IV--MODERNIZING THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM

SEC. 401. ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATION CRITERIA FOR PROPRIETARY CHILD CARE 
              CENTERS.

     Section 17(a)(6) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1766(a)(6)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
        ``criteria:'' and inserting ``criteria--'';
            (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (3) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) in the case of an institution described in 
                paragraph (2)(B), the eligibility of such institution 
                shall be determined on an annual basis in accordance 
                with this section.''.

SEC. 402. AUTOMATIC ELIGIBILITY FOR CHILDREN IN SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION 
              ASSISTANCE HOUSEHOLDS.

    Section 17(c) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1766(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) Automatic eligibility for children in supplemental 
        nutrition assistance households.--A child shall be considered 
        automatically eligible for benefits under this section without 
        further application or eligibility determination if the child 
        is a member of a household receiving assistance under the 
        supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the 
        Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).''.

SEC. 403. REVIEW OF SERIOUS DEFICIENCY PROCESS.

    Section 17(d)(5) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1766(d)(5)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
                    ``(F) Serious deficiency process.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 1 year 
                        after the date of the enactment of this 
                        subparagraph, the Secretary shall review and 
                        issue guidance and, as appropriate, regulations 
                        regarding the serious deficiency process for 
                        the program under this section.
                            ``(ii) Review.--In carrying out clause (i), 
                        the Secretary shall review, at a minimum, the 
                        processes involved in--
                                    ``(I) determining when there is a 
                                serious deficiency with respect to an 
                                institution, facility, or a family or 
                                group day care home by a State agency, 
                                including--
                                            ``(aa) what measures 
                                        automatically result in a 
                                        finding of serious deficiency; 
                                        and
                                            ``(bb) how to differentiate 
                                        between--

                                                    ``(AA) a reasonable 
                                                margin of human error 
                                                and systematic or 
                                                intentional 
                                                noncompliance; and

                                                    ``(BB) State-
                                                specific requirements 
                                                and Federal 
                                                regulations;

                                    ``(II) appealing and mediating a 
                                finding of serious deficiency with 
                                respect to an institution or a family 
                                or group day care home, including--
                                            ``(aa) findings related to 
                                        requirements and Federal 
                                        regulations; and
                                            ``(bb) processes for 
                                        ensuring officials involved in 
                                        appeals and mediation are fair 
                                        and impartial;
                                    ``(III) determining the 
                                circumstances under which a corrective 
                                action plan is acceptable;
                                    ``(IV) termination and 
                                disqualification, including maintenance 
                                of the list under subparagraph (E); and
                                    ``(V) determining opportunities for 
                                strengthening the processes intended to 
                                reduce additional State agency program 
                                requirements on institutions or family 
                                or group day care homes that are in 
                                addition to those required under 
                                Federal law, including--
                                            ``(aa) State evaluation of 
                                        practices used at the time of 
                                        review;
                                            ``(bb) regional approval of 
                                        such additional State agency 
                                        requirements; and
                                            ``(cc) oversight through 
                                        the management evaluation 
                                        process.
                            ``(iii) Guidance and regulations.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Not later than 1 
                                year after conducting the review under 
                                clause (ii), the Secretary shall make 
                                findings from the information collected 
                                and issue guidance and, as appropriate, 
                                regulations from such findings that 
                                will--
                                            ``(aa) streamline and 
                                        modernize the program; and
                                            ``(bb) assist sponsoring 
                                        organizations, State agencies, 
                                        and the Food and Nutrition 
                                        Service in ensuring a fair, 
                                        uniform, and effective 
                                        administration of the serious 
                                        deficiency process, while 
                                        retaining program integrity.
                                    ``(II) Scope.--The guidance or, as 
                                appropriate, regulations made or issued 
                                under subclause (I) shall include--
                                            ``(aa) clarity on the 
                                        required measures for 
                                        noncompliance, including--

                                                    ``(AA) an allowance 
                                                for a reasonable margin 
                                                of human error; and

                                                    ``(BB) a 
                                                distinction between a 
                                                reasonable margin of 
                                                human error and 
                                                systematic or 
                                                intentional 
                                                noncompliance;

                                            ``(bb) a formal appeals and 
                                        mediation process that--

                                                    ``(AA) is conducted 
                                                by a trained official 
                                                who is independent from 
                                                and not affiliated with 
                                                any person or agency 
                                                involved in the 
                                                determination being 
                                                appealed or mediated;

                                                    ``(BB) provides an 
                                                opportunity for a fair 
                                                hearing for any 
                                                institution or family 
                                                or group day care home 
                                                determined to have a 
                                                serious deficiency 
                                                finding or inadequate 
                                                corrective action plan; 
                                                and

                                                    ``(CC) provides for 
                                                the evaluation and 
                                                resolution of disputes 
                                                over State agency 
                                                program requirements on 
                                                institutions or family 
                                                or group day care homes 
                                                that are in addition to 
                                                those required under 
                                                Federal law;

                                            ``(cc) timeframes for 
                                        acceptable corrective action 
                                        plans for group or family day 
                                        care homes that are consistent 
                                        with corrective action 
                                        timeframes for child care 
                                        centers; and
                                            ``(dd) a process to dismiss 
                                        a serious deficiency upon 
                                        correction of such 
                                        deficiency.''.

SEC. 404. AUTHORIZATION OF REIMBURSEMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL MEAL OR SNACK.

    Section 17(f)(2) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1766(f)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B) of 
        this paragraph'' and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Disbursements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B)''; 
                and
            (2) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
                    ``(B) Limitation.--No reimbursement may be made to 
                any institution under this paragraph, or to family or 
                group day care home sponsoring organizations under 
                paragraph (3), for more than--
                            ``(i) 2 meals and 1 supplement or 1 meal 
                        and 2 supplements per day per child; or
                            ``(ii) 3 meals and 1 supplement or 2 meals 
                        and 2 supplements per day per child, in the 
                        case of child care during which there are 8 or 
                        more hours between the beginning of the first 
                        meal service period and the beginning of the 
                        fourth meal service period.''.

SEC. 405. ADJUSTMENTS.

    Section 17(f)(3) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1766(f)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) by amending clause (ii)(IV) to read as follows:
                                    ``(IV) Adjustments.--The 
                                reimbursement factors under this 
                                subparagraph shall be adjusted on July 
                                1, 1997, and each July 1 thereafter, to 
                                reflect changes in the Consumer Price 
                                Index for food away from home for the 
                                12-month period ending on the preceding 
                                April 30. The reimbursement factors 
                                under this subparagraph shall be 
                                rounded to the nearest lower cent 
                                increment and based on the unrounded 
                                adjustment in effect on April 30 of the 
                                preceding school year.''; and
                    (B) by amending clause (iii)(I)(bb) to read as 
                follows:
                                            ``(bb) Adjustments.--The 
                                        factors shall be adjusted on 
                                        July 1, 1997, and each July 1 
                                        thereafter, to reflect changes 
                                        in the Consumer Price Index for 
                                        food away from home for the 12-
                                        month period ending on the 
                                        preceding April 30. The 
                                        reimbursement factors under 
                                        this item shall be rounded down 
                                        to the nearest lower cent 
                                        increment and based on the 
                                        unrounded adjustment in effect 
                                        on April 30 of the preceding 
                                        12- month period.''; and
            (2) by amending subparagraph (B)(ii) to read as follows:
                            ``(ii) Annual adjustment.--The 
                        administrative reimbursement levels specified 
                        in clause (i) shall be adjusted July 1 of each 
                        year to reflect changes in the 12-month period 
                        ending on the preceding April 30 in the 
                        Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers 
                        published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of 
                        the Department of Labor.''.

SEC. 406. AGE LIMITS IN HOMELESS SHELTERS AND EMERGENCY SHELTERS.

    Section 17(t)(5)(A)(i) of the Richard B. Russell National School 
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766(t)(5)(A)(i)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter before subclause (I), by inserting ``or 
        individuals'' after ``children'' both places it appears; and
            (2) in subclause (I), by striking ``18 years of age'' and 
        inserting ``25 years of age''.

SEC. 407. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PAPERWORK REDUCTION.

    Section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1766) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(v) Advisory Committee on Paperwork Reduction.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall 
        establish an advisory committee (referred to in this subsection 
        as the `Advisory Committee') to carry out the duties described 
        in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Duties.--The duties of the Advisory Committee shall 
        be to--
                    ``(A) examine the feasibility of reducing 
                unnecessary or duplicative paperwork resulting from 
                regulations and recordkeeping requirements, including 
                paperwork resulting from additional State requirements, 
                for those participating or seeking to participate in 
                the program under this section, including State 
                agencies, family child care homes, child care centers, 
                and sponsoring organizations; and
                    ``(B) provide recommendations to the Secretary to 
                reduce such paperwork for participants in the program 
                under this section while ensuring that proper 
                accountability and program integrity are maintained and 
                make such recommendations publicly available.
            ``(3) Membership.--The Advisory Committee shall be composed 
        of not fewer than 14 members, of whom:
                    ``(A) 1 shall be a representative of a public 
                nonprofit center.
                    ``(B) 1 shall be a representative of a private 
                nonprofit center.
                    ``(C) 1 shall be a representative of a family or 
                group day care home.
                    ``(D) 1 shall be a representative of a Head Start 
                center.
                    ``(E) 1 shall be a representative of a for-profit 
                center.
                    ``(F) 1 shall be a representative of an emergency 
                shelter.
                    ``(G) 1 shall be a representative of an adult day 
                care center.
                    ``(H) 1 shall be a representative of a State 
                agency.
                    ``(I) 1 shall be a representative of a sponsoring 
                organization for the entities referred to in 
                subparagraphs (A), (B), (D), (E), (F), and (G).
                    ``(J) 1 shall be a representative of a sponsoring 
                organization of family or group day care homes.
                    ``(K) 1 shall be a representative of an anti-hunger 
                advocacy organization.
                    ``(L) 1 shall be a representative of an at-risk, 
                after school program.
                    ``(M) 1 shall be a representative of a child care 
                advocacy organization.
                    ``(N) 1 shall be a representative of an advocacy 
                organization representing parents with young children.
            ``(4) Considerations.--In developing the recommendations 
        described in paragraph (2)(B), the Advisory Committee shall 
        consider--
                    ``(A) information, recommendations, and reports 
                from the Paperwork Reduction Work Group established by 
                the Food and Nutrition Service pursuant to section 
                119(i) of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization 
                Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. 1766);
                    ``(B) the use of electronic systems and 
                recordkeeping technologies to reduce paperwork for 
                program participants and program operators; and
                    ``(C) duplicative requirements across multiple 
                Federal programs.
            ``(5) Guidance and regulations.--Not later than 3 years 
        after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall issue guidance and, as appropriate, regulations 
        based on the recommendations described in paragraph (2)(B) for 
        streamlined and consolidated paperwork and recordkeeping 
        requirements for the program, including actions taken to reduce 
        paperwork for parents and program operators by--
                    ``(A) streamlining and modernizing applications; 
                and
                    ``(B) streamlining and modernizing the monitoring 
                and auditing of programmatic documentation and 
                recordkeeping, including--
                            ``(i) eliminating the use of the enrollment 
                        form for the purpose of claiming meals;
                            ``(ii) allowing the use of direct 
                        certification in all States;
                            ``(iii) requiring States to accept as 
                        documentation digital forms, digitized and 
                        electronic signatures, and electronic records;
                            ``(iv) allowing the use of electronic data 
                        collection systems containing all required 
                        Federal child and adult care food program 
                        standards;
                            ``(v) addressing non-mandated State-
                        specific requirements; and
                            ``(vi) requiring the adoption of generally 
                        accepted technologies for client-facing 
                        technology, virtual visits, and technology used 
                        for administrative functions by the child and 
                        adult care food program to reduce the burden on 
                        participants and program operators and 
                        administrators.
            ``(6) Report.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after 
                issuing the guidance and, as appropriate, regulations 
                described in paragraph (5), the Secretary shall submit 
                a report to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
                and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on 
                Education and Labor of the House of Representatives 
                containing the information described in subparagraph 
                (B).
                    ``(B) Contents.--The report under subparagraph (A) 
                shall contain the following:
                            ``(i) With respect to each instance in 
                        which the Secretary did not implement a 
                        recommendation of the Advisory Committee, an 
                        explanation with respect to why such 
                        recommendation was not implemented.
                            ``(ii) Additional recommendations with 
                        respect to legislative action that may further 
                        strengthen and streamline the program 
                        application and monitoring process and reduce 
                        administrative burdens on grantees, program 
                        participants, and local, State, and Federal 
                        governments.''.

      TITLE V--ADDRESSING CHILD FOOD INSECURITY DURING THE SUMMER

SEC. 501. SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN.

    (a) Better Integrate Summer Education and Summer Meals Program.--
Section 13(a)(1)(A)(i) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(a)(1)(A)(i)) is amended by striking ``50 percent'' 
each place it appears and inserting ``40 percent''.
    (b) Public-Private Partnerships.--Section 13(a) of the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(a)) is amended by 
striking paragraph (8) and inserting the following:
            ``(8) Year-round meal service.--
                    ``(A) Seamless summer option for schools.--Except 
                as otherwise determined by the Secretary, a service 
                institution that is a public or private nonprofit 
                school food authority may provide summer or school 
                vacation food service in accordance with applicable 
                provisions of law governing the school lunch program 
                established under this Act or the school breakfast 
                program established under the Child Nutrition Act of 
                1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.).
                    ``(B) Year-round meal service for other service 
                institutions.--Each service institution (other than a 
                service institution described in subparagraph (A)), in 
                addition to being eligible for reimbursement for meals 
                described in subsection (b)(2) served during each day 
                of operation during the periods described in subsection 
                (c)(1), may be reimbursed for up to 1 meal and 1 snack 
                per child served at sites that provide educational or 
                enrichment activities during the regular school year 
                during--
                            ``(i) afterschool hours;
                            ``(ii) weekends; and
                            ``(iii) school holidays.''.
    (c) Improve Nutrition in Underserved, Hard-to-reach Areas.--Section 
13(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
1761(a)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraphs (9) and (10);
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:
            ``(9) Improve nutrition in underserved, hard-to-reach 
        areas.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
                appropriations specifically for the purpose of carrying 
                out this paragraph, the Secretary may award competitive 
                grants to States to award subgrants to service 
                institutions in accordance with subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Subgrants.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A State that receives a 
                        grant under subparagraph (A) shall use such 
                        grant funds to award competitive subgrants to 
                        service institutions selected by the State to 
                        increase participation in the program--
                                    ``(I) at congregate feeding sites; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) through--
                                            ``(aa) innovative 
                                        approaches to addressing 
                                        barriers in transportation to 
                                        such sites; and
                                            ``(bb) mobile meal 
                                        delivery.
                            ``(ii) Eligibility.--To be selected to 
                        receive a subgrant under this subparagraph, a 
                        service institution shall--
                                    ``(I) be located in the State;
                                    ``(II) submit to the State an 
                                application at such time, in such 
                                manner, and containing such information 
                                as the State may require;
                                    ``(III) meet criteria established 
                                by the State; and
                                    ``(IV) agree to the terms and 
                                conditions of the subgrant, as 
                                established by the State.
                            ``(iii) Priority.--In awarding subgrants 
                        under this subparagraph, the State shall give 
                        priority to service institutions that--
                                    ``(I) serve both breakfast and 
                                lunch; or
                                    ``(II) offer educational or 
                                enrichment programs.
                            ``(iv) Travel reimbursement.--A service 
                        institution that receives a subgrant under this 
                        subparagraph may use subgrant funds to provide 
                        reimbursement for travel to satellite 
                        congregate feeding sites.
                    ``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
                authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to make 
                competitive grants under this paragraph, $10,000,000 
                for each fiscal year.''; and
            (3) by redesignating paragraphs (11) and (12) as paragraphs 
        (10) and (11), respectively.
    (d) Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Outreach Regarding 
Summer Food Service Program.--Paragraph (10)(B) of section 13(a) of the 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(a)), as 
redesignated by subsection (c)(3), is amended by inserting ``culturally 
and linguistically appropriate'' after ``dissemination of'' both places 
it appears.
    (e) Timing of Adjustments.--Section 13(b)(1)(B) of the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(b)(1)(B)) is amended 
by striking ``ending the preceding November'' and inserting ``ending on 
the preceding October''.
    (f) Third Meal.--Section 13(b)(2) of the Richard B. Russell 
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(b)(2)) is amended by striking 
``only serve lunch'' and all that follows through ``migrant children 
may''.
    (g) Meal Service During Unanticipated School Closures.--Section 
13(c)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
1761(c)(1)) is amended by striking ``at non-school sites''.
    (h) Non-school Sponsors.--Section 13(f)(7) of the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(f)(7)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``school food authority participating as 
        a'';
            (2) by striking ``, under rules that the school uses for 
        school meals programs''; and
            (3) by striking ``to a school'' and inserting ``to a 
        service institution''.
    (i) Summer Nutrition Standards.--Section 13(f) of the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(f)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(8) Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of 
this paragraph and in accordance with paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall promulgate proposed regulations to update the nutrition standards 
for the summer food service program authorized under this Act to be 
guided by the goals of the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans 
published under section 301 of the National Nutrition Monitoring and 
Related Research Act of 1990 (7.U.S.C. 5341), taking into account the 
structure of the Program.''.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 13(r) of the Richard 
B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(r)) is amended by 
striking ``2015'' and inserting ``2028''.

SEC. 502. SUMMER ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM.

    The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is amended by 
inserting after section 13 (42 U.S.C. 1761) the following:

``SEC. 13A. SUMMER ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Program Established.--The Secretary shall establish a program 
under which States and covered Indian Tribal organizations 
participating in such program shall, beginning with summer 2024 and 
annually for each summer thereafter, issue to eligible households 
summer EBT benefits--
            ``(1) in accordance with this section; and
            ``(2) for the purpose of providing nutrition assistance 
        through electronic benefits transfer during the summer months 
        for eligible children, to ensure continued access to food when 
        school is not in session for the summer.
    ``(b) Summer EBT Benefits Requirements.--
            ``(1) Purchase options.--
                    ``(A) Benefits issued by states.--
                            ``(i) WIC participation states.--In the 
                        case of a State that participated in a 
                        demonstration program under section 749(g) of 
                        the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
                        Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
                        Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111-80; 
                        123 Stat. 2132) during calendar year 2018 using 
                        a WIC model, summer EBT benefits issued 
                        pursuant to subsection (a) by such a State may 
                        only be used by the eligible household that 
                        receives such summer EBT benefits to purchase--
                                    ``(I) supplemental foods from 
                                retailers that have been approved for 
                                participation in--
                                            ``(aa) the special 
                                        supplemental nutrition program 
                                        for women, infants, and 
                                        children under section 17 of 
                                        the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
                                        (42 U.S.C. 1786); or
                                            ``(bb) the program under 
                                        this section; or
                                    ``(II) food (as defined in section 
                                3(k) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 
                                2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011(k))) from retail 
                                food stores that have been approved for 
                                participation in the supplemental 
                                nutrition assistance program 
                                established under such Act, in 
                                accordance with section 7(b) of such 
                                Act (7 U.S.C. 2016(b)).
                            ``(ii) Other states.--Summer EBT benefits 
                        issued pursuant to subsection (a) by a State 
                        not described in clause (i) may only be used by 
                        the eligible household that receives such 
                        summer EBT benefits to purchase food (as 
                        defined in section 3(k) of the Food and 
                        Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011(k))) from 
                        retail food stores that have been approved for 
                        participation in the supplemental nutrition 
                        assistance program established under such Act, 
                        in accordance with section 7(b) of such Act (7 
                        U.S.C. 2016(b)).
                    ``(B) Benefits issued by covered indian tribal 
                organizations.--Summer EBT benefits issued pursuant to 
                subsection (a) by a covered Indian Tribal organization 
                may only be used by the eligible household that 
                receives such summer EBT benefits to purchase 
                supplemental foods from retailers that have been 
                approved for participation in--
                            ``(i) the special supplemental nutrition 
                        program for women, infants, and children under 
                        section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
                        (42 U.S.C. 1786); or
                            ``(ii) the program under this section.
            ``(2) Amount.--Summer EBT benefits issued pursuant to 
        subsection (a)--
                    ``(A) shall be--
                            ``(i) for calendar year 2024, in an amount 
                        equal to $75 for each child in the eligible 
                        household per month during the summer; and
                            ``(ii) for calendar year 2025 and each year 
                        thereafter, in an amount equal to the amount 
                        described in clause (i), adjusted to the 
                        nearest lower dollar increment to reflect 
                        changes to the cost of the thrifty food plan 
                        (as defined in section 3(u) of the Food and 
                        Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(u)) for 
                        the 12-month period ending on November 30 of 
                        the preceding calendar year; and
                    ``(B) may be issued--
                            ``(i) in the form of an EBT card; or
                            ``(ii) through electronic delivery.
    ``(c) Enrollment in Program.--
            ``(1) State requirements.--States participating in the 
        program under this section--
                    ``(A) shall, with respect to summer, automatically 
                enroll eligible children who, in the school year 
                immediately preceding the summer, are directly 
                certified, are identified students (as defined in 
                section 11(a)(1)(F)(i)), or are otherwise determined by 
                a local educational agency to be eligible to receive 
                free or reduce price meals in the program under this 
                section, without further application from households;
                    ``(B) may provide an application for children who 
                do not meet the criteria specified in subparagraph (A) 
                and make eligibility determinations using the same 
                eligibility criteria for free or reduced price lunches 
                under this Act;
                    ``(C) shall establish procedures to carry out the 
                enrollment described in subparagraph (A); and
                    ``(D) shall require local educational agencies to 
                allow eligible households to opt out of participation 
                in the program under this section and establish 
                procedures for opting out of such participation.
            ``(2) Covered indian tribal organization requirements.--
        Covered Indian Tribal organizations participating in the 
        program under this section shall, to the maximum extent 
        practicable, meet the requirements under subparagraphs (A) 
        through (C) of paragraph (1).
    ``(d) Implementation Grants.--Not later than October 1, 2022, the 
Secretary shall carry out a program to make grants to States and 
covered Indian Tribal organizations to build capacity for implementing 
the program under this section.
    ``(e) Alternate Plans in the Case of Continuous School Calendar.--
The Secretary shall establish alternative plans for when summer EBT 
benefits may be issued pursuant to subsection (a) in the case of 
children who are under a continuous school calendar.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Covered indian tribal organization.--The term 
        `covered Indian Tribal organization' means an Indian Tribal 
        organization that participates in the special supplemental 
        nutrition program for women, infants, and children under 
        section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786).
            ``(2) Eligible child.--The term `eligible child' means, 
        with respect to a summer, a child who--
                    ``(A) was, during the school year immediately 
                preceding such summer--
                            ``(i) certified to receive free or reduced 
                        price lunch under the school lunch program 
                        under this Act;
                            ``(ii) certified to receive free or reduced 
                        price breakfast under the school breakfast 
                        program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition 
                        Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773); or
                            ``(iii) certified by the State through the 
                        process described in subsection (c)(1)(B); or
                    ``(B)(i) was, during the school year immediately 
                preceding such summer, enrolled in a school described 
                in subparagraph (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F) of section 
                11(a)(1); and
                    ``(ii) either--
                            ``(I) is an identified student (as defined 
                        in section 11(a)(1)(F)(i)); or
                            ``(II) otherwise meets the requirements to 
                        receive free or reduced price lunch as 
                        determined by a local educational agency 
                        through an application process using the same 
                        eligibility criteria for free or reduced price 
                        lunches under this Act.
            ``(3) Eligible household.--The term `eligible household' 
        means a household that includes at least 1 eligible child.
            ``(4) Supplemental foods.--The term `supplemental foods'--
                    ``(A) means foods--
                            ``(i) containing nutrients determined by 
                        nutritional research to be lacking in the diets 
                        of children; and
                            ``(ii) that promote the health of the 
                        population served by the program under this 
                        section, as indicated by relevant nutrition 
                        science, public health concerns, and cultural 
                        eating patterns, as determined by the 
                        Secretary; and
                    ``(B) includes foods not described in subparagraph 
                (A) substituted by State agencies, with the approval of 
                the Secretary, that--
                            ``(i) provide the nutritional equivalent of 
                        foods described in such subparagraph; and
                            ``(ii) allow for different cultural eating 
                        patterns than foods described in such 
                        subparagraph.''.

       TITLE VI--IMPROVING CAPACITY AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY

SEC. 601. VALUES-ALIGNED PROCUREMENT.

    Section 9(j) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1758(j)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``to purchase unprocessed 
                agricultural products, both locally grown and locally 
                raised''; and
                    (B) by striking the semicolon at the end and 
                inserting the following: ``, to purchase unprocessed 
                agricultural products that were--
                    ``(A) locally grown and locally raised;
                    ``(B) produced in an environmentally sustainable 
                manner;
                    ``(C) produced by a certified organic farm or 
                ranch;
                    ``(D) produced by an underserved or limited 
                resource producer;
                    ``(E) produced by a small or mid-sized farm that is 
                structured as a family farm;
                    ``(F) produced by a farm with employees who, as 
                permitted by law, are represented by a collective 
                bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding;
                    ``(G) produced by a farm participating in a worker 
                justice certification program; or
                    ``(H) produced by a farm participating in an 
                independent animal welfare certification program;'';
            (2) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
            ``(3) allow institutions receiving funds under this Act and 
        the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), 
        including the Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable 
        Program, to--
                    ``(A)(i) use a geographic preference for the 
                procurement of unprocessed agricultural products, both 
                locally grown and locally raised; or
                            ``(ii) use locally grown, locally raised, 
                        or locally caught as a product specification; 
                        and
                    ``(B) procure unprocessed agricultural products 
                that are produced--
                            ``(i) in an environmentally sustainable 
                        manner;
                            ``(ii) by a certified organic farm or 
                        ranch;
                            ``(iii) by an underserved or limited 
                        resource producer;
                            ``(iv) by a small or mid-sized farm that is 
                        structured as a family farm;
                            ``(v) by a farm with employees who, as 
                        permitted by law, are represented by a 
                        collective bargaining agreement or memorandum 
                        of understanding;
                            ``(vi) by a farm participating in a worker 
                        justice certification program; or
                            ``(vii) by a farm participating in an 
                        independent animal welfare certification 
                        program.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Beginning farmer or rancher.--The term 
                `beginning farmer or rancher' has the meaning given 
                such term in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm 
                and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)).
                    ``(B) Family farm.--The term `family farm' has the 
                meaning given such term in section 4284.902 of title 7, 
                Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date 
                of the enactment of this paragraph).
                    ``(C) Underserved producer.--The term `underserved 
                producer' means an individual (including a member of an 
                Indian Tribe) that is--
                            ``(i) a beginning farmer or rancher;
                            ``(ii) a veteran farmer or rancher; or
                            ``(iii) a socially disadvantaged farmer or 
                        rancher.
                    ``(D) Veteran farmer or rancher.--The term `veteran 
                farmer or rancher' has the meaning given such term in 
                section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
                and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)).''.

SEC. 602. PROCUREMENT TRAINING.

    Section 12(m)(4) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(m)(4)) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2010 
through 2015'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2023 through 2028''.

SEC. 603. BUY AMERICAN.

    Section 12(n) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1760(n)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Administrative reviews.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In conducting the reviews 
                required under section 22(b)(1)(C)(i) of the Richard B. 
                Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
                1769c(b)(1)(C)(i)), a State agency located in Puerto 
                Rico, Hawaii, or the contiguous United States shall 
                include the information described in subparagraph (B) 
                regarding compliance with the requirements under this 
                subsection.
                    ``(B) Information required.--The information 
                required under subparagraph (A) shall include, with 
                respect to a school food authority served by the State 
                agency--
                            ``(i) the 10 commodities or food products 
                        purchased by such school food authority that--
                                    ``(I) are not domestic commodities 
                                or food products; and
                                    ``(II) make up the largest share of 
                                the school food authority's spending 
                                with respect to commodities or food 
                                products; and
                            ``(ii) whether each such commodity or food 
                        product--
                                    ``(I) is not produced domestically 
                                in sufficient quantities of 
                                satisfactory quality to meet the needs 
                                of meals provided under the school 
                                lunch program under this Act or the 
                                school breakfast program under section 
                                4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
                                (42 U.S.C. 1773); and
                                    ``(II) would be significantly 
                                higher in price if purchased 
                                domestically; and
                            ``(iii) whether the school food authority 
                        experienced suspected, alleged, or confirmed 
                        noncompliance on the part of a distributor in 
                        the last 12 months.
            ``(6) Annual nationally representative evaluation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall--
                            ``(i) annually evaluate in a nationally 
                        representative study the extent to which school 
                        food authorities are in compliance with the 
                        requirements of this subsection; and
                            ``(ii) publish the findings of such 
                        evaluation on the publicly available website of 
                        the Department.
                    ``(B) Requirements.--The Secretary shall require 
                each school food authority that participates in the 
                evaluation under subparagraph (A) to disclose, as part 
                of such evaluation--
                            ``(i) the 10 commodities or food products 
                        purchased by such school food authority that--
                                    ``(I) are not domestic commodities 
                                or food products; and
                                    ``(II) make up the largest share of 
                                the school food authority's spending 
                                with respect to commodities or food 
                                products;
                            ``(ii) whether each such commodity or food 
                        product--
                                    ``(I) is not produced domestically 
                                in sufficient quantities of 
                                satisfactory quality to meet the needs 
                                of meals provided under the school 
                                lunch program under this Act or the 
                                school breakfast program under section 
                                4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
                                (42 U.S.C. 1773); and
                                    ``(II) would be significantly 
                                higher in price if purchased 
                                domestically; and
                            ``(iii) whether the school food authority 
                        experienced suspected, alleged, or confirmed 
                        noncompliance on the part of a distributor in 
                        the last 12 months.
            ``(7) Study and report.--The Secretary, in consultation 
        with the Secretary of Labor and the heads of other Federal 
        agencies determined by the Secretary to be necessary, shall 
        conduct a study that examines whether the requirement under 
        this subsection has an impact on the supply of commodities or 
        food products in schools, including with respect to--
                    ``(A) the availability of domestic commodities or 
                food products;
                    ``(B) the wages, occupational safety and health, 
                and access to and quality of benefits of agricultural 
                workers;
                    ``(C) the price of locally grown and locally raised 
                domestic commodities or food products as compared to 
                commodities or food products that are not domestic 
                commodities or food products;
                    ``(D) the prevalence of seasonal foods in schools; 
                and
                    ``(E) the extent to which schools rely on processed 
                commodities and food products.''.

SEC. 604. PLANT-BASED FOODS IN SCHOOLS.

    Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1769) is amended by adding after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Pilot Grant Program for 100 Percent Plant-based Food 
Options.--
            ``(1) Program authorized.--The Secretary shall establish 
        and carry out a pilot grant program to award grants to eligible 
        school food authorities to carry out the activities described 
        in paragraph (4).
            ``(2) In general.--
                    ``(A) Term.--The term of a grant awarded under this 
                subsection shall be 3 years.
                    ``(B) Grant amount.--In awarding grants under this 
                subsection, the Secretary shall, to the extent 
                practicable, award grants of diverse amounts.
            ``(3) Application.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a 
                grant under this subsection, an eligible school food 
                authority shall submit to the Secretary an application 
                at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
                information as the Secretary may require, including--
                            ``(i) a participatory evaluation plan; and
                            ``(ii) a plan for providing culturally 
                        appropriate meals.
                    ``(B) Priority.--To the maximum extent practicable, 
                in awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary 
                shall give priority to an eligible school food 
                authority that--
                            ``(i) will use the grant funds to--
                                    ``(I) serve a high proportion of 
                                children who are eligible for free or 
                                reduced price meals;
                                    ``(II) demonstrate collaboration 
                                with nongovernmental and community-
                                based organizations, agricultural 
                                producers, and other community partners 
                                on the activities described in 
                                paragraph (4); and
                                    ``(III) incorporate experiential 
                                and culturally appropriate food, 
                                nutrition, or agricultural education 
                                activities related to 100 percent 
                                plant-based food options in the 
                                classroom; and
                            ``(ii) meets any other criteria that the 
                        Secretary determines appropriate.
            ``(4) Use of funds.--A grant awarded under this subsection 
        may be used for any of the following activities:
                    ``(A) To contract with qualified third parties for 
                professional development training for food service 
                personnel on serving (including preparing, procuring, 
                marketing, and creating menus) 100 percent plant-based 
                food options.
                    ``(B) To provide compensation, for each employee 
                who participates in the professional development 
                training described in subparagraph (A), at the regular 
                rate of pay of each such employee.
                    ``(C) To provide technical assistance and student 
                engagement and education on 100 percent plant-based 
                food options, including providing taste tests, recipe 
                development, and culinary education.
                    ``(D) To provide compensation for additional work 
                relating to serving meals that include a 100 percent 
                plant-based food option.
                    ``(E) To conduct outreach to, and cover costs of 
                procurement of foods from, agricultural producers of 
                100 percent plant-based food options, including--
                            ``(i) underserved or limited resource 
                        producers; and
                            ``(ii) local farmers.
            ``(5) Reports.--
                    ``(A) Recordkeeping required.--Each eligible school 
                food authority awarded a grant under this subsection 
                shall keep records of the 100 percent plant-based food 
                options served pursuant to this subsection as the 
                Secretary determines appropriate.
                    ``(B) Report required by school food authorities.--
                Not later than 1 year after receiving a grant under 
                this subsection, and annually for the duration of the 
                pilot grant program thereafter, a school food authority 
                shall submit to the Secretary a report on the pilot 
                grant program, including information on--
                            ``(i) the number of 100 percent plant-based 
                        food options that the school food authority 
                        served during the grant period compared with 
                        the preceding school year;
                            ``(ii) the number of schools served by the 
                        school food authority pursuant to the grant;
                            ``(iii) the number of students served by 
                        the school food authority pursuant to the 
                        grant; and
                            ``(iv) how the school food authority used 
                        the grant funds.
                    ``(C) Report by secretary.--Not later than 1 year 
                after the end of a school year during which the 
                Secretary receives reports required under subparagraph 
                (B), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
                that includes a summary of such reports received and 
                such information with respect to the pilot program as 
                the Secretary determines to be relevant.
            ``(6) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall provide 
        technical assistance and information to assist school food 
        authorities--
                    ``(A) to facilitate the coordination and sharing of 
                information and resources that may be applicable to the 
                activities described in paragraph (4); and
                    ``(B) to collect and share information on best 
                practices.
            ``(7) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2024, to remain available through fiscal year 2028.
            ``(8) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) 100 percent plant-based food option.--The 
                term `100 percent plant-based food option' means a 
                breakfast or lunch meal option or component that--
                            ``(i) includes a meat alternate as 
                        described in--
                                    ``(I) section 210.10 of title 7, 
                                Code of Federal Regulations (or 
                                successor regulations); or
                                    ``(II) appendix A to part 210 of 7, 
                                Code of Federal Regulations (or 
                                successor regulations); and
                            ``(ii) does not contain any animal products 
                        or byproducts, such as meat, poultry, honey, 
                        fish, dairy, or eggs.
                    ``(B) Beginning farmer or rancher.--The term 
                `beginning farmer or rancher' has the meaning given 
                such term in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm 
                and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)).
                    ``(C) Eligible school food authority.--The term 
                `eligible school food authority' means a school food 
                authority for which 50 percent or more of the students 
                served by such school food authority are eligible for 
                free or reduced price lunch under this Act or free or 
                reduced price breakfast under section 4 of the Child 
                Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).
                    ``(D) Underserved producer.--The term `underserved 
                producer' means an individual (including a member of an 
                Indian Tribe) that is--
                            ``(i) a beginning farmer or rancher;
                            ``(ii) a veteran farmer or rancher; or
                            ``(iii) a socially disadvantaged farmer or 
                        rancher.
                    ``(E) Veteran farmer or rancher.--The term `veteran 
                farmer or rancher' has the meaning given such term in 
                section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
                and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)).''.

SEC. 605. FOOD WASTE AND NUTRITION EDUCATION.

    Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1769(e)) is amended by adding after subsection (d), as added by 
section 604 of this Act, the following:
    ``(e) School Food Waste Reduction Grant Program.--
            ``(1) Grant program established.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a 
                program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
                school food authorities to carry out food waste 
                measurement and reporting, prevention, education, and 
                reduction projects.
                    ``(B) Regional balance.--In awarding grants under 
                this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the maximum 
                extent practicable, ensure that--
                            ``(i) a grant is awarded to a school food 
                        authority in each region served by the 
                        Administrator of the Food and Nutrition 
                        Service; and
                            ``(ii) there is equitable treatment of 
                        rural, urban, and tribal communities.
            ``(2) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this subsection, a school food authority shall submit an 
        application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary may require.
            ``(3) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subsection, 
        the Secretary shall give priority to a school food authority 
        that demonstrates in the application under paragraph (2) that 
        such school food authority will use the grant to--
                    ``(A) carry out experiential education activities 
                that encourage children served by such school food 
                authority to participate in food waste measurement and 
                reporting, prevention, education, and reduction 
                projects;
                    ``(B) prioritize the best use of food in accordance 
                with the Food Recovery Hierarchy published by the 
                Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
                    ``(C) with respect to food waste measurement and 
                reporting, prevention, education, and reduction 
                projects, collaborate with other school food 
                authorities, tribes, nongovernmental and community-
                based organizations, and other community partners;
                    ``(D) make evaluation plans and evaluate the 
                activities carried out using grant funds; and
                    ``(E) establish a food waste measurement and 
                reporting, prevention, education, and reduction project 
                with the goal of long-term project sustainability.
            ``(4) Use of funds.--A school food authority that receives 
        a grant under this section shall use funds under such grant to 
        carry out at least one of the following:
                    ``(A) Planning and carrying out a food waste 
                measurement and reporting, prevention, education, and 
                reduction project.
                    ``(B) Providing training to support such a project.
                    ``(C) Purchasing equipment to support such a 
                project.
                    ``(D) Offering food waste education to students 
                served by such school food authority.
            ``(5) Requirement.--A food waste measurement and reporting, 
        prevention, education, and reduction project funded by a grant 
        under this subsection shall comply with the nutrition standards 
        for the school lunch program authorized under this Act and the 
        school breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773), as applicable.
            ``(6) Reports.--
                    ``(A) School food authority report.--Not later than 
                1 year after receiving a grant under this subsection, 
                and on an annual basis thereafter, a school food 
                authority shall submit to the Secretary a report that 
                includes an evaluation of the outcomes of the projects 
                carried out pursuant to such grant.
                    ``(B) Secretary report.--Not later than 1 year 
                after the end of a school year during which the 
                Secretary receives reports required under subparagraph 
                (B), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
                that includes a summary of the reports received under 
                subparagraph (B) and such information with respect to 
                the program as the Secretary determines to be relevant.
            ``(7) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2024, to remain available through fiscal year 
        2028.''.

SEC. 606. FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM.

    Section 18(g) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1769(g)) is amended--
            (1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Agricultural producer.--The term 
                `agricultural producer' means a farmer, rancher, or 
                fisher (including of farm-raised fish).
                    ``(B) Beginning farmer or rancher.--The term 
                `beginning farmer or rancher' has the meaning given 
                such term in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm 
                and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)).
                    ``(C) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible 
                institution' means a school or institution that 
                participates in a program under this Act or the school 
                breakfast program established under section 4 of the 
                Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).
                    ``(D) Farm to school program.--The term `farm to 
                school program' means a program that--
                            ``(i) benefits an eligible institution, as 
                        determined by the Secretary; and
                            ``(ii) carries out--
                                    ``(I) planting and maintenance of 
                                farms or gardens;
                                    ``(II) procurement from local 
                                agricultural producers; or
                                    ``(III) educational activities 
                                relating to agriculture, nutrition, or 
                                food.
                    ``(E) Underserved producer.--The term `underserved 
                producer' means an individual (including a member of an 
                Indian Tribe) that is--
                            ``(i) a beginning farmer or rancher;
                            ``(ii) a veteran farmer or rancher; or
                            ``(iii) a socially disadvantaged farmer or 
                        rancher.
                    ``(F) Veteran farmer or rancher.--The term `veteran 
                farmer or rancher' has the meaning given such term in 
                section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
                and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)).'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking ``schools'' each place it appears 
                and inserting ``institutions'';
                    (B) by inserting ``land-grant colleges and 
                universities,'' before ``and nonprofit''; and
                    (C) by striking ``grants and technical assistance'' 
                and inserting ``grants, technical assistance, research, 
                and evaluation'';
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by inserting ``and 
                        technical assistance'' after ``training'';
                            (ii) by redesignating clauses (vi) and 
                        (vii) as clauses (viii) and (ix), respectively; 
                        and
                            (iii) by inserting after clause (v) the 
                        following:
                            ``(vi) implementing educational activities 
                        relating to agriculture, nutrition, or food;
                            ``(vii) implementing innovative approaches 
                        to aggregation, processing, transportation, and 
                        distribution of food;''; and
                    (B) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as 
                follows:
                    ``(C) Awards.--
                            ``(i) Maximum amount.--The total amount 
                        provided to a grant recipient under this 
                        subsection shall not exceed $500,000.
                            ``(ii) Term.--The term of an award shall 
                        not exceed 3 years.
                            ``(iii) Purpose and scope.--In making 
                        awards under this subsection, the Secretary 
                        shall, to the extent practicable, make awards 
                        of diverse amounts and duration in order to 
                        best match the award to the purpose and scope 
                        of the project to be funded.'';
            (4) by striking paragraph (4);
            (5) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (9) as 
        paragraphs (4) through (8), respectively;
            (6) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``Criteria for 
                selection'' and inserting ``Priority'';
                    (B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                striking ``To the maximum extent practicable'' and 
                inserting the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--To the maximum extent 
                practicable'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``school'' and 
                inserting ``institution'';
                    (D) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``lunches'' 
                and inserting ``meals'';
                    (E) by striking subparagraph (C);
                    (F) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``eligible 
                schools'' and all that follows through ``partners'' and 
                inserting ``eligible institutions, State and local 
                agencies, Tribal organizations and agencies, 
                agricultural producers or groups of agricultural 
                producers, land-grant colleges and universities, and 
                nonprofit entities on the activities described in 
                paragraph (3)'';
                    (G) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (H) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
                clauses (i) and (ii) and adjusting the margins 
                accordingly;
                    (I) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (F) 
                as clauses (iv) through (vi), respectively, and 
                adjusting the margins accordingly;
                    (J) by inserting after clause (ii), as so 
                redesignated by subparagraph (H), the following:
                            ``(iii) incorporate experiential, 
                        traditional, and culturally appropriate food, 
                        nutrition, or agricultural education activities 
                        in curriculum planning;''.
                    (K) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as clause 
                (ix);
                    (L) by inserting after clause (vi) (as so 
                redesignated) the following:
                            ``(vii) expand the selection of local 
                        commodities for eligible institutions;
                            ``(viii) identify and address chronic diet-
                        related health issues of children served by 
                        eligible institutions; and''; and
                    (M) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Tribal community projects.--In the case of 
                projects serving Tribal communities, the Secretary 
                shall, to the maximum extent practicable, give priority 
                to projects that best utilize products, including 
                traditional foods, from Tribal agricultural producers, 
                as determined by the Secretary.'';
            (7) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                striking ``The Secretary'' and all that follows through 
                ``nonprofit entities'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall provide 
                technical assistance and information to assist eligible 
                institutions, State and local agencies, Indian Tribal 
                organizations, agricultural producers or agricultural 
                producer groups, and nonprofit entities'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (C) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and'';
                    (D) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) 
                as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and 
                adjusting the margins accordingly;
                    (E) by adding after clause (iii), as so 
                redesignated by subparagraph (D), the following:
                            ``(iv) to increase awareness of, and 
                        participation in, farm to school programs among 
                        agricultural producers or agricultural producer 
                        groups, including--
                                    ``(I) underserved or limited 
                                resource producers; and
                                    ``(II) local farmers.''; and
                    (F) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Review.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 1 year 
                        after the date of enactment of the Healthy 
                        Meals, Healthy Kids Act, and every 3 years 
                        thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the 
                        Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
                        Representatives, the Committee on Education and 
                        Labor of the House of Representatives, and the 
                        Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
                        Forestry of the Senate a report that describes 
                        the progress that has been made in identifying 
                        and eliminating barriers related to developing 
                        farm to school programs.
                            ``(ii) Requirements.--In preparing the 
                        report, the Secretary shall examine--
                                    ``(I) the direct and indirect 
                                regulatory compliance costs affecting 
                                the production and marketing of locally 
                                or regionally produced agricultural 
                                food products to child nutrition 
                                programs;
                                    ``(II) barriers to local and 
                                regional child nutrition program market 
                                access for small-scale production;
                                    ``(III) barriers to funding 
                                projects that meet the criteria 
                                described in paragraph (5)(A);
                                    ``(IV) barriers to local and 
                                regional child nutrition market access 
                                for Tribal farmers and ranchers; and
                                    ``(V) barriers to funding Tribal 
                                projects under farm to school 
                                programs.'';
            (8) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$5,000,000'' 
                and inserting ``$15,000,000''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Administration.--Of the funds provided to the 
                Secretary under subparagraph (A), not more than 5 
                percent may be used to pay administrative costs 
                incurred by the Secretary in carrying out this 
                subsection.''; and
            (9) in paragraph (8), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``2011 through 2015'' and inserting ``2023 through 2028''.

       TITLE VII--SUPPORTING TRIBES AND FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES

SEC. 701. TRIBALLY OPERATED MEAL AND SNACK PILOT PROJECT.

    Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1769) is amended by inserting after subsection (e), as added by 
section 605 of this Act, the following:
    ``(f) Tribally Operated Meal and Snack Pilot Project.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
        establish a pilot project to award grants to up to 10 eligible 
        entities to prepare such entities to administer or operate and 
        implement, in covered schools--
                    ``(A) the school lunch program authorized under 
                this Act;
                    ``(B) the child and adult care food program 
                established by section 17 of this Act;
                    ``(C) the summer food service program for children 
                established by section 13 of this Act; and
                    ``(D) the school breakfast program established by 
                section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                1773).
            ``(2) Application.--To be eligible to participate in the 
        pilot project under this subsection, an eligible entity shall 
        submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such 
        manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
        require.
            ``(3) Criteria for selection.--In selecting participants 
        under this subsection, the Secretary shall select up to 10 
        eligible entities that--
                    ``(A) are located in diverse geographic areas; and
                    ``(B) serve Indian tribes of varying population 
                size.
            ``(4) Grants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall award, to 
                each eligible entity selected to participate in the 
                project under this subsection, a grant, of an amount 
                negotiated with such eligible entity, that is not less 
                than $10,000 and not more than $200,000.
                    ``(B) Sunset.--The authority of the Secretary to 
                award grants under this subsection shall terminate on 
                the date that is 5 years after the date on which the 
                first grant is awarded under this subsection.
            ``(5) Reimbursements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
                provision of law, an eligible entity participating in 
                the project under this subsection--
                            ``(i) may carry out the programs referenced 
                        in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph 
                        (1);
                            ``(ii) with respect to the school lunch 
                        program authorized under this Act, shall be 
                        reimbursed as if it were a State under section 
                        12(f);
                            ``(iii) with respect to the child and adult 
                        care food program established under this Act, 
                        shall be reimbursed as if it were a State under 
                        section 17, including audit funds under 
                        subsection (i) of such section;
                            ``(iv) with respect to the summer food 
                        service program for children established under 
                        this Act, shall be reimbursed as if it were a 
                        State under section 13, including 
                        administrative funds under subsection (k) of 
                        such section; and
                            ``(v) with respect to the school breakfast 
                        program established by section 4 of the Child 
                        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1733), shall 
                        be reimbursed as if it were a State under such 
                        section.
                    ``(B) Administrative funds.-- An eligible entity 
                that participates in the project under this subsection 
                may receive administrative funds at a rate that is 
                consistent with the amount received by a State under 
                section 7 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                1776).
                    ``(C) Tribal operators.--An eligible entity that is 
                an Indian tribe that participates in the project under 
                this subsection as direct program operators shall be 
                reimbursed by the Department.
            ``(6) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Bureau-funded school.--The term `Bureau-
                funded school' has the meaning given such term in 
                section 1141 of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 
                U.S.C. 2021).
                    ``(B) Covered school.--The term `covered school' 
                means--
                            ``(i) a Bureau-funded school;
                            ``(ii) a school--
                                    ``(I) on or in proximity to a 
                                reservation; or
                                    ``(II) that primarily serves Native 
                                American students; and
                            ``(iii) early care and education 
                        facilities, including facilities that 
                        participate in a Head Start program authorized 
                        under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et 
                        seq.).
                    ``(C) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' 
                means--
                            ``(i) an Indian tribe or tribal 
                        organization approved by an Indian tribe;
                            ``(ii) a consortium of Indian tribes; and
                            ``(iii) a partnership between--
                                    ``(I) an Indian tribe; and
                                    ``(II) either--
                                            ``(aa) a State educational 
                                        agency;
                                            ``(bb) a local educational 
                                        agency;
                                            ``(cc) a tribal educational 
                                        agency; or
                                            ``(dd) the Bureau of Indian 
                                        Education.
                    ``(D) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has 
                the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian 
                Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
                U.S.C. 5304).
                    ``(E) School.--The term `school' has the meaning 
                given such term in section 12(d) of the Richard B. 
                Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(d)).
                    ``(F) Tribal educational agency.--The term `tribal 
                educational agency' has the meaning given such term in 
                section 6132(b) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7452(b)).''.

SEC. 702. ISLAND AREAS ELIGIBILITY FEASIBILITY STUDY UNDER THE RICHARD 
              B. RUSSELL NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT.

    Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1769) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(l) Island Areas Eligibility Feasibility Study.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 12 months after the date 
        of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall begin 
        a feasibility study to assess the ability and preparedness of 
        the freely associated States to operate--
                    ``(A) the school lunch program authorized under 
                this Act;
                    ``(B) the child and adult care food program 
                established by section 17 of this Act;
                    ``(C) the summer food service program for children 
                established by section 13 of this Act; and
                    ``(D) the school breakfast program established by 
                section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                1773).
            ``(2) Contents.--In conducting the study described in 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider--
                    ``(A) any new or additional administrative 
                processes and technology needed to implement each 
                program listed under paragraph (1);
                    ``(B) an assessment of preparedness to--
                            ``(i) comply with management evaluations 
                        conducted by the Secretary, acting through the 
                        Administrator of the Food and Nutrition 
                        Service; and
                            ``(ii) cooperate in Federal audits and 
                        evaluations;
                    ``(C) administrative and financial capability to 
                meet the requirements of each program listed under 
                paragraph (1);
                    ``(D) ability to oversee each program listed under 
                paragraph (1);
                    ``(E) statutory requirements that require waiver or 
                modification by the Secretary and the feasibility of 
                carrying out such waivers or modifications; and
                    ``(F) any other relevant considerations, as 
                determined by the Secretary.
            ``(3) Submission.--Not later than 24 months after the date 
        on which the Secretary begins the study under paragraph (1), 
        the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) complete such study; and
                    ``(B) submit the findings of such study to the 
                Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
                Representatives and the Senate Committee on 
                Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
            ``(4) Freely associated state defined.--In this subsection, 
        the term `freely associated State' means--
                    ``(A) the Federated States of Micronesia;
                    ``(B) the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and
                    ``(C) the Republic of Palau.''.

       TITLE VIII--ADDRESSING LUNCH SHAMING AND UNPAID MEAL DEBT

SEC. 801. UNPAID MEAL DEBT.

    (a) Retroactive Reimbursement.--Section 9(b)(9)(C) of the Richard 
B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(9)(C)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``Except'' and inserting the following:
                            ``(i) In general.--Except'';
            (2) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) 
        and (II); and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(ii) Retroactivity.--A local educational 
                        agency shall revise a previously submitted meal 
                        claim to reflect the eligibility approval of a 
                        child for free or reduced price meals for the 
                        period that begins on the first day of the 
                        current school year.
                            ``(iii) Meal claim defined.--In this 
                        subsection, the term `meal claim' means any 
                        documentation provided by a school food 
                        authority to a State agency in order to receive 
                        reimbursement for the cost of a meal served to 
                        a child by such school food authority.''.
    (b) Reducing Stigma Associated With Unpaid School Meal Fees.--
Section 9(b)(10) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(10)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(10) Reducing stigma associated with unpaid school meal 
        fees.--
                    ``(A) Overt identification prohibited.--A local 
                educational agency or school food authority may not, 
                based on the status of a child as a covered child--
                            ``(i) physically segregate or otherwise 
                        discriminate against such covered child;
                            ``(ii) overtly identify such covered 
                        child--
                                    ``(I) through the use of special 
                                tokens or tickets; or
                                    ``(II) by an announcement or a 
                                published list of names; or
                            ``(iii) identify or stigmatize such covered 
                        child by any other means.
                    ``(B) Eligibility determination by local 
                educational agency.--For any covered child who is a 
                member of a household that owes a week or more of 
                unpaid school meal fees, a local educational agency 
                shall--
                            ``(i) attempt to directly certify such 
                        covered child for free meals under paragraph 
                        (4) or (5); or
                            ``(ii) in a case where the local 
                        educational agency is not able to directly 
                        certify such covered child under paragraph (4) 
                        or (5), provide to the household of such 
                        covered child--
                                    ``(I) a household application and 
                                applicable descriptive material; and
                                    ``(II) written and oral 
                                communications to encourage submission 
                                of the application.
                    ``(C) Collection of unpaid school meal fees.--In 
                attempting to collect unpaid school meal fees from a 
                household, a local educational agency or school food 
                authority may not--
                            ``(i) except as described in subparagraph 
                        (D), direct any communication regarding unpaid 
                        school meal fees to a covered child who is a 
                        member of such household;
                            ``(ii) withhold educational opportunities 
                        (including grades and participation in 
                        extracurricular activities or local educational 
                        agency programs or services) from, or otherwise 
                        stigmatize, a covered child due to the status 
                        of the covered child as a covered child; or
                            ``(iii) use a debt collector (as such term 
                        is defined in section 803 of the Consumer 
                        Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1692a)).
                    ``(D) Letters.--A school food authority may require 
                that a covered child deliver a sealed letter addressed 
                to a parent or guardian of the covered child that 
                contains a communication relating to unpaid school meal 
                fees, subject to the condition that the letter shall 
                not be distributed to the covered child in a manner 
                that stigmatizes the covered child.
                    ``(E) Eliminating stigma in meal service.--In 
                providing a meal to a covered child, a local 
                educational agency or school food authority may not, 
                based on the status of the covered child as a covered 
                child, dispose of or take away from the covered child 
                any food that has already been served to such covered 
                child.
                    ``(F) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
                            ``(i) Covered child.--The term `covered 
                        child' means a child who--
                                    ``(I) is--
                                            ``(aa) enrolled in a school 
                                        that participates in the school 
                                        lunch program under this Act or 
                                        the school breakfast program 
                                        under section 4 of the Child 
                                        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
                                        U.S.C. 1773); and
                                            ``(bb) is a member of a 
                                        household that owes unpaid 
                                        school meal fees; or
                                    ``(II) is eligible for a free or 
                                reduced price lunch under this section.
                            ``(ii) Unpaid school meal fees.--The term 
                        `unpaid school meal fees' means outstanding 
                        fees owed by a household to a school food 
                        authority or local educational agency (or both) 
                        for lunches under this Act or breakfasts under 
                        section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 
                        (42 U.S.C. 1773).''.

SEC. 802. NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON UNPAID MEAL DEBT IN CHILD 
              NUTRITION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a National Advisory 
Council on Unpaid Meal Debt in Child Nutrition Programs (in this 
section referred to as the ``Council'').
    (b) Duties.--The Council shall provide recommendations, in 
accordance with subsection (g), to the Administrator of the Food and 
Nutrition Service with respect to addressing unpaid school meal fees by 
ensuring that--
            (1) students are not stigmatized; and
            (2) school food authorities can maintain fiscal solvency in 
        order to ensure the long-term viability of school meal 
        programs.
    (c) Membership.--
            (1) Number and appointment.--The Council shall be composed 
        of 14 members appointed by the Secretary as follows:
                    (A) 2 members shall be school nutrition State 
                agency directors who are employed in different States;
                    (B) 2 members shall be school food service 
                directors of a school meal program in an urban area who 
                are employed in different States;
                    (C) 2 members shall be school food service 
                directors of a school meal program in a rural area who 
                are employed in different States;
                    (D) 2 members shall be officials of the Food and 
                Nutrition Service office of the Department of 
                Agriculture;
                    (E) 2 members shall be parents or guardians (who 
                are not related to one another or to the same child) of 
                children who are eligible for free and reduced price 
                school meals;
                    (F) 2 members shall represent organizations with 
                expertise in the school meal programs; and
                    (G) 2 members shall be food service professionals 
                who--
                            (i) work in school cafeterias; and
                            (ii) maintain daily contact with students, 
                        including by preparing or serving meals or 
                        working at registers.
            (2) Terms.--
                    (A) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for 
                the life of the Council.
                    (B) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a 
                vacancy occurring before the expiration of the life of 
                the Council shall be appointed for the remainder of the 
                life of the Council.
    (d) Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--Members shall serve without pay.
            (2) Travel expenses.-- Each member shall receive travel 
        expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
        accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of 
        chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
            (3) Parents or guardians.--In the case of a member who is a 
        parent or guardian appointed under subsection (c)(1)(E), such 
        member, in addition to reimbursement under paragraph (2), 
        shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, be compensated in 
        advance for other personal expenses related to participation on 
        the Council, including child care expenses and lost wages 
        during scheduled Council meetings.
            (4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $1,500,000, to 
        remain available through the date described in subsection (h).
    (e) Chairperson; Vice Chairperson.--
            (1) Eligibility.--To be eligible for election to 
        Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the Council, an individual 
        must be a member of the Council described in subsection (c)(1).
            (2) Election.--The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the 
        Council shall be elected by such members.
    (f) Meetings.--
            (1) In general.--The Council shall meet not fewer than 2 
        times per year at the call of the Chairperson.
            (2) Quorum.--5 members of the Council shall constitute a 
        quorum.
    (g) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the 
        establishment of the Council under subsection (a), the Council 
        shall submit to the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition 
        Service a report containing the recommendations described in 
        subsection (b).
            (2) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the submission 
        of the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting 
        through the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service, 
        shall use the recommendations contained in such report to issue 
        guidance with respect to addressing unpaid school meal fees.
    (h) Termination.--The Council shall terminate on the date that is 1 
day after the submission of the report required under subsection (g).
    (i) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide the Council 
with such technical and other assistance, including secretarial and 
clerical assistance, as may be required to carry out its functions.
    (j) Unpaid School Meal Fees Defined.--In this section, the term 
``unpaid school meal fees'' means outstanding fees owed by a household 
to a local educational agency for lunches under this Act or breakfasts 
under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).

       TITLE IX--STRENGTHENING EVIDENCE-BASED NUTRITION STANDARDS

SEC. 901. UPDATING NUTRITION STANDARDS FOR MEAL PATTERNS.

    (a) Nutrition Standards for School Meals.--
            (1) Amendments to the richard b. russell national school 
        lunch act.--Section 9(f) of the Richard B. Russell National 
        School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(f)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``Schools that are 
                        participating'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) Schools participating in meal programs.--
                Schools that are participating'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) by striking ``nutrient'' and 
                                inserting ``dietary''; and
                                    (II) by striking `` and food 
                                insecurity'' and inserting ``, food and 
                                nutrition insecurity, or chronic 
                                disease'';
                            (iii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
                        and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, 
                        and adjusting the margins accordingly; and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Updating standards.--Not later than 1 year 
                after the first publication of the Dietary Guidelines 
                for Americans under section 301 of the National 
                Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 
                (7 U.S.C. 5341) that occurs after the date of the 
                enactment of this subparagraph, and not less frequently 
                than once every 10 years, or not later than 1 year 
                after the publication of 2 consecutive updates to the 
                Dietary Guidelines for Americans published under 
                section 301 of the National Nutrition Monitoring and 
                Related Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341) 
                thereafter, whichever occurs first, the Secretary 
                shall:
                            ``(i) Enter into an agreement with the 
                        National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, 
                        and Medicine to--
                                    ``(I) conduct a review of the 
                                nutrition standards and requirements 
                                under paragraph (1); and
                                    ``(II) recommend updates to such 
                                requirements so that they are 
                                substantially similar to the Dietary 
                                Guidelines for Americans published 
                                under section 301 of the National 
                                Nutrition Monitoring and Related 
                                Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341), 
                                taking into account the practical 
                                application for implementation.
                            ``(ii) Not later than 1 year after the 
                        conclusion of the review described in clause 
                        (i)(I), promulgate regulations to update the 
                        school nutrition standards and requirements 
                        pursuant to paragraph (1) to align with the 
                        recommendations under clause (i)(II).  
                    ``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
                authorized to be appropriated to carry out subparagraph 
                (B), $3,000,000, for the fiscal year in which the first 
                publication of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 
                under section 301 of the National Nutrition Monitoring 
                and Related Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341) occurs 
                after the date of the enactment of this Act, to remain 
                available until expended.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking ``To assist schools in 
                        meeting the requirements of this subsection, 
                        the Secretary'' and inserting ``Assistance to 
                        schools.'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) by striking ``shall'' and 
                                inserting ``Assistance required.--To 
                                assist schools in meeting the 
                                requirements of this subsection, the 
                                Secretary shall'';
                                    (II) in clause (i), by striking 
                                ``and'' at the end;
                                    (III) in clause (ii), by striking 
                                ``and'' at the end;
                                    (IV) by adding at the end of 
                                subparagraph (A) the following:
                            ``(iii) develop and provide to schools best 
                        practices, trainings (including peer-to-peer 
                        trainings), and other resources;
                            ``(iv) implement healthier school 
                        environment recognition programs; and
                            ``(v) work with food manufacturers and 
                        retailers to support development and increased 
                        availability and affordability of products that 
                        meet the nutrition standards; and'';
                            (iii) by amending subparagraph (B) to read 
                        as follows:
                    ``(B) Assistance permitted.--
                            ``(i) In general.--To assist schools in 
                        meeting the requirements of this subsection, 
                        the Secretary may--
                                    ``(I) provide to schools 
                                information regarding other approaches, 
                                as determined by the Secretary; and
                                    ``(II) award grants and monetary 
                                incentives to carry out 1 or more of 
                                the following:
                                            ``(aa) Improving the 
                                        nutritional quality of meals 
                                        and snacks served under a child 
                                        nutrition program.
                                            ``(bb) Enhancing the 
                                        nutrition and wellness 
                                        environment of institutions 
                                        participating in a child 
                                        nutrition program, including by 
                                        reducing the availability of 
                                        less healthy foods during the 
                                        school day.
                                            ``(cc) Supporting food 
                                        systems that supply nutritious 
                                        foods and beverages for 
                                        children in both schools and 
                                        retail markets, including those 
                                        in underserved communities.
                                            ``(dd) Funding a statewide 
                                        nutrition education coordinator 
                                        to support individual school 
                                        food authority nutrition 
                                        education efforts and to 
                                        facilitate collaboration with 
                                        other nutrition education 
                                        efforts in the State.
                            ``(ii) Recipients.--Grants provided 
                        pursuant to clause (i) may be made available to 
                        third party entities that have experience 
                        working with school food service personnel 
                        participating in the school lunch program 
                        authorized under this Act and the school 
                        breakfast program established by section 4 of 
                        the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                        1773) to provide technical assistance to 
                        schools in meeting the goals of this 
                        subparagraph.
                            ``(iii) Authorization of appropriations.--
                        There is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
                        out grants and monetary incentives pursuant to 
                        clause (i) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, to 
                        be available until expended.''; and
                    (C) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4).
            (2) Amendments to the child nutrition act of 1966.--Section 
        10(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1779) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``(b) National School Nutrition 
                Standards.--'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) in clause (i)--
                                            (aa) by inserting ``that 
                                        are consistent with the goals 
                                        of the most recent Dietary 
                                        Guidelines for Americans 
                                        published under section 301 of 
                                        the National Nutrition 
                                        Monitoring and Related Research 
                                        Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341)'' 
                                        after ``nutrition standards''; 
                                        and
                                            (bb) by striking ``; and'' 
                                        and inserting a period;
                                    (II) by striking ``Secretary 
                                shall--'' and inserting ``Secretary 
                                shall'';
                                    (III) by striking ``(i) establish 
                                science-based'' and inserting 
                                ``establish science-based''; and
                                    (IV) by striking clause (ii);
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (D);
                            (iii) by redesignating paragraph (1) as 
                        subsection (b) and adjusting the margins 
                        accordingly; and
                            (iv) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
                        through (C) as paragraphs (1) through (3), 
                        respectively, and adjusting the margins 
                        accordingly;
                    (C) by adding at the end of subsection (b) (as so 
                redesignated) the following:
            ``(4) Updating standards.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        first publication of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans under 
        section 301 of the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related 
        Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341) that occurs after the date 
        of the enactment of this subparagraph, and not less frequently 
        than once every 10 years or not later than 1 year after the 
        publication of 2 consecutive updates to the Dietary Guidelines 
        for Americans published under section 301 of the National 
        Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
        5341), thereafter, whichever occurs first, the Secretary shall:
                    ``(A) Enter into an agreement with the National 
                Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to--
                            ``(i) conduct a review of the school 
                        nutrition standards and requirements 
                        established under this subsection; and
                            ``(ii) recommend updates to such standards 
                        and requirements so that they are substantially 
                        similar to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 
                        published under section 301 of the National 
                        Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act 
                        of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341), taking into account 
                        the practical application for implementation.
                    ``(B) Not later than 1 year after the conclusion of 
                the review described in subparagraph (A)(i), promulgate 
                regulations to update the school nutrition standards 
                and requirements established under this subsection to 
                align with the recommendations under subparagraph 
                (A)(ii).  
            ``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out paragraph (4), 
        $3,000,000, for the fiscal year in which the first publication 
        of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans under section 301 of 
        the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 
        1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341) occurs after the date of the enactment of 
        this Act, to remain available until expended.''; and
                    (D) by striking paragraph (2).
            (3) Applicability.--This subsection and the amendments made 
        by this subsection shall apply on and after the date on which 
        the first publication of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 
        under section 301 of the National Nutrition Monitoring and 
        Related Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341) occurs after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.
            (4) Regulations.--Regulations promulgated pursuant to 
        amendments made by this subsection to update the nutrition 
        standards and requirements under the Richard B. Russell 
        National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the 
        Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) shall not 
        prohibit any variety of milk that is consistent with the most 
        recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
    (b) Additional Reimbursement.--Section 4(b)(3)(D) of the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(3)(D)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``To be eligible'' and inserting the 
        following:
                            ``(i) In general.--To be eligible''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(ii) Report.--The Secretary shall make 
                        publicly available on the website of the 
                        Department and update on an annual basis a list 
                        of school food authorities certified to be in 
                        compliance in accordance with clause (i).''.

SEC. 902. NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENERS, SYNTHETIC DYES, AND OTHER 
              POTENTIALLY HARMFUL SUBSTANCES IN SCHOOL MEALS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall seek to enter into an 
agreement with the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and 
Medicine (referred to in this section as the ``National Academy'') 
under which the National Academy shall create and publish the report 
described in subsection (b).
    (b) Report.--The report shall include recommendations for nutrition 
standards for the school lunch program authorized under the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the 
school breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child 
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) with respect to non-nutritive 
sweeteners, synthetics dyes, and other potentially harmful substances 
in school meals.
    (c) Publication.--
            (1) National academy.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
        on which the Secretary and the National Academy enter into the 
        agreement described in subsection (a), the National Academy 
        shall--
                    (A) submit the report to the Secretary; and
                    (B) publish the report.
            (2) Secretary.--Not later than 30 days after the submission 
        of the report under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall make 
        such report publicly available in an easily identifiable place 
        on the website of the Department.
    (d) Non-nutritive Sweeteners, Synthetic Dyes, and Other Potentially 
Harmful Substances Standards.--Not later than 18 months after the 
submission of the report under subsection (c)(1)(A), the Secretary may 
promulgate proposed regulations to include standards for non-nutritive 
sweeteners, synthetic dyes, and other potentially harmful substances 
for the school lunch program authorized under the Richard B. Russell 
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school 
breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act 
of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) based on recommendations made in such report.

                         TITLE X--OTHER MATTERS

Subtitle A--Programs Under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
                                  Act

SEC. 1001. ACCOMMODATING DIETARY REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 9(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1758(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by amending clause (i) to 
                read as follows:
            ``(i) shall not--
                    ``(I) be construed to prohibit the substitution of 
                foods to accommodate the medical needs of individual 
                students; or
                    ``(II) be construed to prohibit the nutritionally-
                equivalent substitution of foods to accommodate 
                religiously-based or other special dietary needs of 
                individual students; and''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``lower-fat 
                versions of foods commonly used in the school lunch 
                program under this Act'' and inserting ``foods that 
                comply with the meal patterns prescribed by the 
                Secretary''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by amending subparagraph (A)(iii) to read as 
                follows:
                            ``(iii) as a reasonable accommodation under 
                        the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 
                        12101 et seq.) and section 504 of the 
                        Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), 
                        shall provide a substitute for fluid milk for a 
                        student whose disability restricts their 
                        diet.''; and
                    (B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as 
                follows:
                    ``(B) Other substitutions.--
                            ``(i) Standards for required 
                        substitution.--
                                    ``(I) A school shall substitute, 
                                for the fluid milk provided under 
                                subparagraph (A), a nondairy beverage 
                                that meets the nutritional needs of a 
                                student for whom fluid milk is not 
                                nutritionally appropriate due to a 
                                medical or other special dietary need 
                                other than a disability described in 
                                subparagraph (A)(iii), as determined by 
                                the school in consultation with the 
                                parent or legal guardian of such 
                                student.
                                    ``(II) A school shall substitute, 
                                for the fluid milk provided under 
                                subparagraph (A), a nondairy beverage 
                                that is nutritionally equivalent to 
                                fluid milk and meets nutritional 
                                standards established by the Secretary 
                                if the substitution is requested by 
                                written statement by a parent or legal 
                                guardian of such student.
                            ``(ii) Standards for discretionary 
                        substitution.--A school may offer all students 
                        a nondairy beverage as a substitute for fluid 
                        milk that is nutritionally equivalent to fluid 
                        milk and meets nutritional standards 
                        established by the Secretary.
                            ``(iii) Excess expenses.--Except as 
                        provided in clause (iv), expenses incurred by 
                        providing substitutions under clauses (i) and 
                        (ii) that are in excess of expenses covered by 
                        reimbursements under this Act shall be paid by 
                        the school food authority.
                            ``(iv) Pilot program.--
                                    ``(I) Program authorized.--Not 
                                later than 90 days after the date of 
                                the enactment of this subparagraph, the 
                                Secretary shall establish and carry out 
                                a pilot grant program to award grants 
                                to eligible school food authorities to 
                                carry out subclause (III).
                                    ``(II) Priority.--In awarding 
                                grants under this clause, the Secretary 
                                may give priority to--
                                            ``(aa) an eligible school 
                                        food authority that serves high 
                                        proportions of children who 
                                        demonstrate high rates of 
                                        lactose intolerance; and
                                            ``(bb) an eligible school 
                                        food authority that--

                                                    ``(AA) submits, as 
                                                part of the application 
                                                for a grant, a need for 
                                                nondairy beverages 
                                                among its student 
                                                population due to 
                                                dietary reasons; and

                                                    ``(BB) demonstrates 
                                                a need for providing 
                                                nondairy beverages to 
                                                children by serving a 
                                                sufficient number (as 
                                                determined by the 
                                                Secretary) of such 
                                                children.

                                    ``(III) Use of funds.--A school 
                                food authority shall use grant funds 
                                awarded under this clause to reimburse 
                                the full cost of providing nondairy 
                                beverages as substitutes for fluid milk 
                                under clause (i)(I) incurred by such 
                                school food authority.
                                    ``(IV) Reports.--
                                            ``(aa) Annual report by 
                                        school food authority.--Not 
                                        later than 1 year after 
                                        receiving a grant under this 
                                        clause, and on an annual basis 
                                        for the duration of the pilot 
                                        program thereafter, a school 
                                        food authority shall submit to 
                                        the Secretary a report on the 
                                        pilot grant program, including 
                                        information with respect to--

                                                    ``(AA) the number 
                                                of schools served by 
                                                the school food 
                                                authority pursuant to 
                                                the grant; and

                                                    ``(BB) the number 
                                                of students served by 
                                                the school food 
                                                authority pursuant to 
                                                the grant.

                                            ``(bb) Final report by 
                                        school food authority.--The 
                                        report that is the final report 
                                        submitted under item (aa) shall 
                                        include, in addition to the 
                                        information required under 
                                        subitems (AA) and (BB) of such 
                                        item--

                                                    ``(AA) the number 
                                                of nondairy beverages 
                                                as substitutes for 
                                                fluid milk that the 
                                                school food authority 
                                                served during the grant 
                                                period; compared with

                                                    ``(BB) the number 
                                                of nondairy beverages 
                                                as substitutes for 
                                                fluid milk that the 
                                                school food authority 
                                                served during the 
                                                school year immediately 
                                                preceding the start of 
                                                the grant period.

                                            ``(cc) Report by the 
                                        secretary.--Not later than 6 
                                        months after the date described 
                                        in subclause (V), the Secretary 
                                        shall submit to Congress a 
                                        report that includes a summary 
                                        of the information included in 
                                        the reports received under this 
                                        subclause and any such 
                                        information with respect to the 
                                        pilot program the Secretary 
                                        determines to be relevant.
                                    ``(V) Sunset.--The authority to 
                                carry out this clause shall terminate 
                                on the date that is 3 years after the 
                                date of the enactment of this 
                                subparagraph.
                                    ``(VI) Eligible school food 
                                authority defined.--In this clause, the 
                                term `eligible school food authority' 
                                means a school food authority for which 
                                50 percent or more of the students 
                                served by such school food authority 
                                are eligible for free or reduced price 
                                lunch under this Act or free or reduced 
                                price breakfast under section 4 of the 
                                Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
                                1773).
                                    ``(VII) Authorization of 
                                appropriations.--There is authorized to 
                                be appropriated to carry out this 
                                clause $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, 
                                to remain available until the date 
                                described in subclause (V).''.

SEC. 1002. DATA PROTECTIONS FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLICATIONS.

    Section 9(b)(3)(B) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(3)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
                            ``(iii) Confidentiality standards.--The 
                        confidentiality standards established by the 
                        Secretary shall ensure--
                                    ``(I) the maintenance of reasonable 
                                and appropriate administrative, 
                                technical, and physical safeguards to 
                                ensure the integrity and 
                                confidentiality of information 
                                submitted through electronic 
                                applications described in clause (ii);
                                    ``(II) protection against security 
                                threats or unauthorized uses or 
                                disclosures of the information 
                                submitted through such electronic 
                                applications; and
                                    ``(III) that data collected by such 
                                electronic applications shall be used 
                                only as permitted under paragraph 
                                (6).''.

SEC. 1003. EATING DISORDER PREVENTION.

    Section 9A of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1758b) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``mental health 
                promotion and education, including awareness of eating 
                disorders'' after ``physical activity,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``childhood 
                obesity'' and inserting ``diet-related illnesses''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``school-based 
                registered dietitians, school-based mental health 
                services providers,'' after ``school administrators,'';
            (2) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting ``and the Administrator of 
                        the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
                        Administration'' after ``Prevention''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, school health 
                        professionals (including school-based mental 
                        health services providers when available)'' 
                        after ``school food authorities'';
                    (B) by amending paragraph (2)(C) to read as 
                follows:
                    ``(C) includes such other technical assistance as 
                is required to--
                            ``(i) promote sound nutrition and establish 
                        healthy school nutrition environments; and
                            ``(ii) promote mental health, encourage 
                        mental health assessments, and establish 
                        resilient school environments; and''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) by striking ``conjunction'' and 
                                inserting ``consultation''; and
                                    (II) by inserting ``and the 
                                Administrator of the Substance Abuse 
                                and Mental Health Services 
                                Administration'' after ``Centers for 
                                Disease Control and Prevention'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                        ``January 1, 2014,'' and inserting ``4 years 
                        after the date on which funds are first 
                        appropriated to carry out this section after 
                        the date of the enactment of the Healthy Meals, 
                        Healthy Kids Act,''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (D)--
                                    (I) by striking ``$3,000,000'' and 
                                inserting ``$5,000,000''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``2011'' and 
                                inserting ``2024''.

SEC. 1004. COMPLIANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

    Section 22(d) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1769c) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2011 through 
2015'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2023 through 2028''.

SEC. 1005. NATIONAL HUNGER HOTLINE AND CLEARINGHOUSE.

    Section 26(d) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1769g(d)) is amended by striking ``$250,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2010 through 2023'' and inserting ``$500,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2023 through 2028''.

SEC. 1006. ENSURING ADEQUATE MEAL TIME.

    The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 30. 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, recess 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
                    ``(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 2024, 
to remain available until expended.''.

       Subtitle B--Programs Under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966

SEC. 1011. ENHANCING NUTRITION EDUCATION.

    Section 19 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1788) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, including 
                training on scratch cooking,'' after ``provide 
                training''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``helping 
                children to maintain a healthy weight by'';
            (2) in subsection (h)--
                    (A) in paragraph (5)(B)--
                            (i) in clause (i)--
                                    (I) by striking ``educate'' and 
                                inserting ``conduct evidence-based 
                                nutrition education for''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``of a poor diet 
                                and inactivity to obesity and other 
                                health problems'' and inserting 
                                ``between diet, activity, and health'';
                            (ii) in clause (iv), by inserting `` other 
                        classroom education,'' after ``health 
                        education,'';
                            (iii) in clause (viii), by striking ``and'' 
                        at the end;
                            (iv) in clause (ix), by striking the period 
                        at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (v) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(x) conduct projects that--
                                    ``(I) hire qualified food and 
                                nutrition educators to carry out 
                                programs in schools; and
                                    ``(II) have the goal of improving 
                                student health and nutrition through 
                                such programs.''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (6);
            (3) by striking subsection (k); and
            (4) by redesignating subsection (l) as subsection (k).

                  Subtitle C--Improving Food Donations

SEC. 1021. FOOD DONATION IN SCHOOLS.

    Section 9(l) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1758(l)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``local educational agency'' and 
                inserting ``school food authority'';
                    (B) by striking ``eligible local food banks or 
                charitable organizations'' and inserting ``nonprofit 
                organizations or individuals in need as determined by 
                such school or school food authority'';
                    (C) by striking ``general.--Each'' and inserting 
                the following: ``general.--
                    ``(A) Food donations permissible.--Each''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Use of school campus.--The food donated by a 
                school through the school food authority serving such 
                school pursuant to this paragraph may be received, 
                stored, and distributed on the campus of such 
                school.'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``local educational 
        agencies'' in each place it appears and inserting ``school food 
        authorities'';
            (3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``local educational 
        agency'' and inserting ``school food authority''; and
            (4) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
            ``(4) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `nonprofit 
        organization' means an incorporated or unincorporated entity 
        that--
                    ``(A) is operating for religious, charitable, or 
                educational purposes; and
                    ``(B) does not provide net earnings to operate in 
                any other manner that inures to the benefit of any 
                officer, employee, or shareholder of the entity.''.

SEC. 1022. BILL EMERSON GOOD SAMARITAN FOOD DONATION ACT.

    Section 22 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1791) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``quality and labeling'' 
                        and inserting ``safety and safety-related 
                        labeling''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``being past date 
                        label,'' after ``surplus,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking ``quality and labeling'' 
                        and inserting ``safety and safety-related 
                        labeling''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``being past date 
                        label,'' after ``surplus,'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3), by adding ``or is charged a 
                good Samaritan Reduced Price'' before the period at the 
                end;
                    (D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``for human'' and 
                inserting the following: ``for--
                    ``(A) human consumption; or
                    ``(B) pet, emotional support animal, or service 
                animal consumption.'';
                    (E) in paragraph (6), by adding ``pet supply,'' 
                after ``cleaning product,'';
                    (F) in paragraph (10), by inserting ``pet food 
                supplier, school, school food authority,'' after 
                ``caterer, farmer,'';
                    (G) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(11) Emotional support animal.--The term `emotional 
        support animal' means an animal that is covered by the 
        exclusion specified in section 5.303 of title 24, Code of 
        Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation) and that is not 
        a service animal.
            ``(12) Good samaritan reduced price.--The term `good 
        Samaritan reduced price' means, with respect to an apparently 
        wholesome food or an apparently fit grocery product, a price 
        that is an amount not greater than the cost of handling, 
        administering, and distributing such food or grocery product.
            ``(13) Pet.--The term `pet' means a domesticated animal 
        that is kept for pleasure rather than for commercial purposes.
            ``(14) Pet supplies.--The term `pet supplies' means 
        tangible personal property used for the caring of pets.
            ``(15) Qualified direct donor.--The term `qualified direct 
        donor' means a retail grocer, wholesaler, agricultural 
        producer, restaurant, caterer, school food authority, or 
        institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 or 
        102(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1001; 1002(a)(1)(B))).
            ``(16) Service animal.--The term `service animal' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 36.104 of title 28, Code of 
        Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).''; and
                    (H) by reordering paragraphs (1) through (10) and 
                the paragraphs added by subparagraph (G) of this 
                paragraph in alphabetical order based on the headings 
                of such paragraphs, and renumbering such paragraphs as 
                so reordered;
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting ``or State or unit of 
                        local government'' after ``nonprofit 
                        organization''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``or sale at a good 
                        Samaritan reduced price'' after ``ultimate 
                        distribution'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``or sale at a 
                good Samaritan reduced price'' after ``ultimate 
                distribution'';
                    (C) by adding after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) Liability of state or unit of local government.--A 
        State or unit of local government shall not be subject to 
        liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition 
        of apparently wholesome food or an apparently fit grocery 
        product that the State or unit of local government received as 
        a donation in good faith from a person, gleaner, or nonprofit 
        organization for ultimate distribution to needy individuals.
            ``(4) Direct donations to needy individuals.--A qualified 
        direct donor shall not be subject to civil or criminal 
        liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition 
        of apparently wholesome food or an apparently fit grocery 
        product that the qualified direct donor donates in good faith 
        to needy individuals.
            ``(5) Liability with respect to pets.--
                    ``(A) Donations made.--A person or gleaner shall 
                not be subject to civil or criminal liability arising 
                from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of food 
                described in subsection (b)(4)(B) or pet supplies that 
                the person or gleaner donates in good faith to a 
                nonprofit organization or State or unit of local 
                government for direct distribution to pets.
                    ``(B) Donations received.--A nonprofit organization 
                or State or unit of local government shall not be 
                subject to civil or criminal liability arising from the 
                nature, age, packaging, or condition of food described 
                in subsection (b)(4)(B) or pet supplies that the 
                nonprofit organization or State or unit of local 
                government received as a donation in good faith from a 
                person or gleaner for direct distribution to pets.'';
                    (D) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
                (6); and
                    (E) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated by 
                subparagraph (D)--
                            (i) by striking ``Paragraphs (1) and (2)'' 
                        and inserting ``Paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), 
                        and (5)''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``qualified direct donor, 
                        State or local government,'' after ``person, 
                        gleaner,''; and
            (3) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) by inserting ``or State or unit of local 
                government'' after ``the nonprofit organization''; and
                    (B) by striking ``quality and labeling'' in each 
                place it appears and inserting ``safety and safety-
                related labeling''.

SEC. 1023. REGULATIONS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
section, the Secretary shall--
            (1) in consultation with the Secretary of Health Human 
        Services, issue regulations with respect to the safety and 
        safety-related labeling standards of apparently wholesome food 
        and an apparently fit grocery product under section 22 of the 
        Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1791);
            (2) issue guidance with respect to section 22 of the Child 
        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1791), including promoting 
        awareness of food donation under such section.

                       Subtitle D--Miscellaneous

SEC. 1031. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Committee on Education and Labor.--The following Acts are 
amended by striking ``Committee on Education and the Workforce'' each 
place such term appears in heading and text and inserting ``Committee 
on Education and Labor'':
            (1) The Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et 
        seq.).
            (2) The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1751 et seq.).
    (b) Other Amendments.--Section 17(h)(4)(A)(vi) of the Child 
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(4)(A)(vi)) is amended by 
striking ``and'' at the end.
    (c) Citation to Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973.--Section 
12(d)(3) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
1760(d)(3)) is amended by striking ``in the'' and all that follows 
through the period at the end and inserting ``in section 7 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 705).''
                                                 Union Calendar No. 394

117th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 8450

                          [Report No. 117-548]

_______________________________________________________________________