Keeping School Meals Flexible Act

Keeping School Meals Flexible Act

This bill extends authority through June 30, 2023, for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to waive certain requirements for the school meal programs to address COVID-19.

The bill extends the authority for USDA to

• issue a single waiver of child nutrition program requirements to all states under the National School Lunch Program for purposes of providing meals and snacks with appropriate safety measures with respect to COVID-19;
• grant waivers of requirements to allow non-congregate feeding in the Child and Adult Care Food Program for purposes of providing meals and snacks with appropriate safety measures with respect to COVID-19; and
• grant waivers related to the nutritional content of meals served in child nutrition programs if it determines the waiver is necessary to provide meals and snacks, and there is a food supply chain disruption due to COVID-19.

Bill 117 hr 6613, also known as the Keeping School Meals Flexible Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The main purpose of this bill is to provide flexibility to schools in implementing the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.

The bill aims to address concerns raised by schools and stakeholders regarding the strict regulations and requirements of the current school meal programs. It seeks to give schools more autonomy in deciding what foods to serve to students, as well as how to prepare and present those foods.

One of the key provisions of the Keeping School Meals Flexible Act is the elimination of certain restrictions on the types of foods that can be served in school meals. This includes allowing schools to serve flavored milk, white potatoes, and refined grains, which are currently limited under the existing regulations. Additionally, the bill aims to streamline the administrative processes involved in the school meal programs, making it easier for schools to comply with the regulations and provide nutritious meals to students. It also includes provisions to address food waste and encourage the donation of excess food to food banks and other charitable organizations. Overall, the Keeping School Meals Flexible Act is intended to provide schools with the flexibility they need to effectively implement the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, while still ensuring that students receive healthy and nutritious meals.