Federal School Meals Parity Act

Bill: 116-hr-1352
Sponsor: full_name: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
Introduced: 2019-02-25
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Alaska

Child safety and welfare

Elementary and secondary education

Food assistance and relief

Government studies and investigations

Guam

Hawaii

Poverty and welfare assistance

Virgin Islands
Latest action: action_date: 2019-02-25
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-02-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Federal School Meals Parity Act </b></p> <p>This bill increases the reimbursement rates for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam under the Department of Agriculture (USDA) school meal and child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. The bill also requires USDA to report on the reimbursement rates and costs for providing meals and supplements under the programs in U.S. territories and in the states. </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1352 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 25, 2019 Ms. Plaskett (for herself and Mr. San Nicolas ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To provide for parity for Guam and the United States Virgin Islands under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Federal School Meals Parity Act . 2. Parity for the United States Virgin Islands and Guam (a) In general Notwithstanding section 12(f) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760(f) ), in providing meals and supplements under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 ), the Secretary shall apply to— (1) Guam the average of the reimbursement rates applied to Alaska and Hawaii during each fiscal year under such provisions of law, respectively; and (2) the United States Virgin Islands the same reimbursement rates applied to Puerto Rico during each fiscal year under such provisions of law, respectively. (b) Severability Notwithstanding section 12(f) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760(f) ), in the case of a fiscal year in which the Secretary applies the national average reimbursement rate for meals and supplements under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 ) to— (1) Alaska or Hawaii, the Secretary shall apply to Guam the greatest reimbursement rate applied to any other State or territory— (A) with respect to meals and supplements provided under the school lunch program, under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.); and (B) with respect to the meals and supplements provided under the school breakfast program, under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 ); or (2) Puerto Rico, the Secretary shall apply to the United States Virgin Islands the greatest reimbursement rate applied to any other State or territory— (A) with respect to meals and supplements provided under the school lunch program, under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.); and (B) with respect to meals and supplements provided under the school breakfast program, under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 ). (c) Rate adjustment Notwithstanding section 12(f) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760(f) ), the Secretary may apply the national average reimbursement rate prescribed under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 ) to Guam or the United States Virgin Islands, or both, if— (1) the Secretary— (A) determines such application is appropriate in a report published pursuant to section 3; and (B) the Secretary publishes such a determination in the Federal Register with an opportunity for a public comment period of at least 60 days; and (2) on a date that is after the termination of the public comment period required under paragraph (1)(B) and at least 30 days before applying such reimbursement rate Guam or the United States Virgin Islands, the Secretary provides notice— (A) to the Congressional committees specified in section 3(b)(2)(A); (B) to each of the delegates to the House of Representatives from Guam and the United States Virgin Islands, as applicable; and (C) to the Governors of Guam and the United States Virgin Islands, as applicable. 3. USDA report on school meals reimbursement rates in U.S. territories (a) USDA report Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and once every 10 years thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare and publish a report on— (1) the cost differences between— (A) providing meals and supplements under the Richard B. Russell National School Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 ) in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands, respectively; (B) the average cost of providing meals and supplements under such provisions of law in the contiguous 48 States and the District of Columbia; and (C) the cost of providing meals and supplements under such provisions of law in Alaska and Hawaii; (2) the relationship between the cost differences under paragraph (1) and the national average payment rates for meals and supplements under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 ); and (3) the number and percentage of students who are eligible for— (A) a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.); and (B) the breakfast program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1773 ). (b) Public availability The report required under subsection (a) shall be— (1) published on the Internet website of the Federal Register for public comment for no fewer than 60 days; and (2) finalized within 180 days after the end of the public comment period and— (A) submitted to the Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, and each of the delegates or resident commissioner to the House of Representatives from American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands, respectively; and (B) made readily available on a public Government Internet website.