Bill > S2778

This bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a permanent program for procuring domestically grown, unprocessed fruits and vegetables for school meals, expanding a previous pilot project from 8 to 14 states. The program will prioritize states that demonstrate commitment to supporting small, local, socially disadvantaged, and Tribal agricultural producers, and those serving children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Secretary of Agriculture is required to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the program within two years, assessing factors such as procurement quantities, costs, benefits to school food services, economic impacts on agricultural producers, and potential participation barriers. The bill provides $25 million in mandatory funding annually through 2030, with $10 million reserved for administrative costs and technical assistance to participating states, ensuring each selected state receives at least $500,000 per fiscal year. Additionally, $1 million is set aside to provide technical assistance to states seeking to join the program, with the goal of increasing participation and supporting local agricultural producers while improving the nutritional quality of school meals.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2778/all-info