Bill > S3669

This bill, titled the "Plant-Powered School Meals Pilot Act," aims to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a pilot program that awards grants to school food authorities, which are entities responsible for providing meals in schools, to offer 100 percent plant-based food and milk options. A "100 percent plant-based food option" is defined as a meal or meal component that includes a meat substitute but contains no animal products or byproducts like meat, poultry, honey, fish, dairy, or eggs. The pilot program, to be established within 90 days of the bill's enactment, will provide grants for three years to eligible school food authorities, defined as those serving students where at least 50 percent are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. These grants can be used for training food service personnel, providing technical assistance and student education on plant-based options, and procuring food from various producers, including underserved, organic, and local farmers. The bill also includes provisions to accommodate dietary requirements, specifically establishing a separate pilot program to reimburse eligible school food authorities for the full cost of providing non-dairy beverages as substitutes for fluid milk, with a focus on students with lactose intolerance or other dietary reasons. Both pilot programs require reporting from the school food authorities and the Secretary of Agriculture to Congress, and the non-dairy beverage program will sunset three years after enactment, while the plant-based program has an appropriation authorized through fiscal year 2030.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3669/all-info