Summer Meals Act of 2021

Summer Meals Act of 2021

This bill revises provisions related to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), which provides meals to children and teens in low-income areas during the summer months when school is not in session.

The bill redefines areas in which poor economic conditions exist, where the SFSP may operate, as areas in which at least 40% (currently, 50%) of the children have been determined to be eligible for free or reduced price school meals under the school lunch and breakfast programs.

The bill reimburses service institutions (other than school food authorities) for up to one meal and one snack per child each day during after-school hours, weekends, and school holidays during the regular school calendar. Currently, such institutions are reimbursed for meals and snacks served to children over the summer months or to children who are on vacation under a continuous school calendar.

USDA may award competitive grants to service institutions to increase participation in the summer food service program for children at congregate feeding sites through innovative approaches to limited transportation and mobile meal trucks.

Service institutions that are participating in the summer food service program for children may serve up to three meals, or two meals and one snack, during each day of operation. Currently, this option is reserved for camps and service institutions that serve meals primarily to migrant children.

Bill 117 HR 783, also known as the Summer Meals Act of 2021, aims to address the issue of childhood hunger during the summer months when school is not in session. The bill seeks to expand access to nutritious meals for children in low-income communities by increasing funding for the Summer Food Service Program.

The Summer Food Service Program provides free meals to children in need during the summer months, but currently, many children do not have access to these meals due to limited funding and resources. The Summer Meals Act of 2021 aims to address this issue by increasing funding for the program and expanding eligibility criteria to ensure that more children have access to nutritious meals during the summer.

The bill also includes provisions to improve the quality of meals served through the program, including requirements for more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Additionally, the bill seeks to increase outreach and participation in the program to ensure that more children are aware of and able to access the meals. Overall, the Summer Meals Act of 2021 is aimed at addressing childhood hunger and food insecurity during the summer months by expanding access to nutritious meals for children in low-income communities. The bill has bipartisan support and is seen as a positive step towards addressing this important issue.