School Food Modernization Act

Bill: 116-hr-3444
Sponsor: Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-11]
Introduced: 2019-06-24 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Appropriations
Child health
Congressional oversight
Department of Education
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Executive agency funding and structure
Food assistance and relief
Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Nutrition and diet
Poverty and welfare assistance
School administration
State and local finance
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-24
text: 

School Food Modernization Act 

 
This bill provides for loan guarantees and grants to support healthy meals under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.
 
The bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue loan guarantees to local educational agencies (LEAs), school food authorities, tribal organizations, and other eligible entities to finance infrastructure improvements or equipment purchases to facilitate their provision of healthy meals through the school meal programs. 
 
USDA must also award competitive matching grants to assist LEAs, school food authorities, and tribal organizations in purchasing the durable equipment and infrastructure they need to serve healthier meals and improve food safety.
 
USDA must give preference under both programs to applicants that demonstrate a substantial or disproportionate need for food service infrastructure or durable equipment, and shall establish fees for the loan guarantee program.
 
In addition, USDA must award competitive matching grants to experienced third-party training institutions to provide school food service personnel with the training and technical assistance they need to (1) meet or exceed nutrition standards under the school meal programs, and (2) improve the efficacy and efficiency of the school meal programs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-07-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.
action_date: 2019-06-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-06-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-06-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-06-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-06-24
text: Introduced in House