Bill > HR8450

This bill, the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act, aims to reauthorize and modernize child nutrition programs. Key provisions include: Expanding access to school meals by allowing emergency waivers, expanding direct certification for Medicaid-eligible children, and increasing the community eligibility threshold. Ensuring the long-term viability of school meal programs by increasing reimbursement rates, improving technology and infrastructure, and enhancing professional development. Modernizing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) by extending certification periods, allowing remote services, and enhancing coordination with other benefit programs. Modernizing the Child and Adult Care Food Program by improving eligibility criteria and reimbursements. Addressing child food insecurity during the summer by expanding the Summer Food Service Program and establishing a new Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children program. Promoting sustainability and building capacity through initiatives like values-aligned procurement, farm to school grants, and a pilot program for 100% plant-based food options in schools. Supporting Tribes and Freely Associated States by establishing a pilot program and conducting a feasibility study. Addressing lunch shaming and unpaid meal debt through policies to protect student dignity. Strengthening evidence-based nutrition standards by requiring regular updates to meal patterns.