Bill > HR9587

This bill, titled the "Summer Meals Reaching Every Area’s Child Hunger Act of 2026" or "Summer Meals REACH Act of 2026," aims to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to make significant changes to the Summer Food Service Program for children. The key provisions include allowing meals served under the program to be consumed off-site, meaning children don't have to eat them at a designated location, and expanding eligibility so that all children can participate in the program. It also removes certain restrictions on how food service monitoring is conducted, allowing for both on-site and off-site checks, and clarifies that meals are provided for all children. Furthermore, the bill mandates that states prioritize areas with no existing congregate meal service when identifying needs for non-congregate meals and encourages service providers in those areas to offer them. The Secretary of Agriculture will be required to issue regulations to ensure the integrity of these non-congregate meals, drawing on lessons learned from previous demonstration projects and existing non-congregate meal provisions.