Summer Meals Act of 2024

Bill: 118-hr-9406
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
Introduced: 2024-08-23
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Latest action: action_date: 2024-08-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9406 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 23, 2024 Mr. Larsen of Washington (for himself, Mr. Smith of New Jersey , and Mrs. Peltola ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve the efficiency of summer meals.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Summer Meals Act of 2024 . 2. 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) Reduce red tape for 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 during each day of operation during— (i) afterschool hours; (ii) weekends; and (iii) school holidays during the regular school calendar. . (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) and inserting the following: (9) Improve nutrition in underserved, hard-to-reach areas (A) In general Subject to the availability of appropriations provided in advance in an appropriations Act specifically for the purpose of carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary may award competitive grants to service institutions selected by the Secretary to increase participation in the program at congregate feeding sites through— (i) innovative approaches to limited transportation; and (ii) mobile meal trucks. (B) Eligibility To be selected to receive a grant under this paragraph, a service institution— (i) may be located in any State; and (ii) shall— (I) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require; (II) meet criteria established by the Secretary; and (III) agree to the terms and conditions of the grant, as established by the Secretary. (C) Priority In awarding grants under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to service institutions that— (i) serve both breakfast and lunch; or (ii) offer educational or enrichment programs. (D) Travel reimbursement A service institution that receives a grant under subparagraph (A)(i) may use grant funds to provide reimbursement for travel to satellite congregate feeding sites. (E) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to make competitive grants under this paragraph $10,000,000 for each fiscal year. ; and (2) by redesignating paragraphs (11) and (12) as paragraphs (10) and (11), respectively. (d) 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 .