“A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to reauthorize the farm to school program, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section revises the Patrick Leahy Farm to School program to broaden eligibility from eligible schools to eligible institutions; add definitions of agricultural producer (i.e., farmer, rancher, or fisher, including of farm-raised fish) and farm to school program (i.e., activities such as farm or garden maintenance, local procurement, or related educational activities); and expand assistance to include land-grant colleges and universities, research, and evaluation. It further (1) adds allowable grant uses including educational activities on agriculture, nutrition, or food and innovative approaches to local food aggregation, processing, transportation, and distribution; (2) limits grants to $500,000 maximum per recipient for up to 3 years and prohibits awards solely for conferences; (3) permits waivers or modifications of matching funds requirements for high-priority projects and allows Tribal agencies to use certain federal funds (e.g., from the Indian Health Service) for matching; and (4) revises and expands funding priorities to emphasize experiential and culturally appropriate education, serving socially disadvantaged children, Tribal producers and traditional foods, expanding local commodities, and addressing chronic diet-related health issues.