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School MEALS Act of 2023
3/13/2024, 11:19 PM
Summary of Bill S 2772
One of the key provisions of the School MEALS Act is to increase funding for the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. This additional funding would allow schools to provide healthier and more nutritious meals to students, including more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
The bill also aims to address food insecurity among students by expanding eligibility for free and reduced-price meals. This would ensure that more students from low-income families have access to nutritious meals at school. In addition, the School MEALS Act includes provisions to improve the nutritional quality of school meals by setting standards for sodium, sugar, and fat content. Schools would also be required to offer plant-based meal options to accommodate students with dietary restrictions or preferences. Overall, the School MEALS Act of 2023 seeks to promote the health and well-being of students by ensuring that they have access to nutritious meals at school. This legislation has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of millions of students across the country.
Congressional Summary of S 2772
School Modernization and Efficient Access to Lunches for Students Act of 2023 or the School MEALS Act of 2023
This bill establishes programs and revises requirements relating to direct certification processes for the National School Lunch Program. Direct certification allows schools to use data matching procedures to approve school meals without the need for applications for children who receive assistance under other programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Agriculture to provide grants and technical assistance for states and tribal organizations to improve their direct certification processes, including with respect to children who receive assistance under a food distribution program on Indian reservations.
The bill also expands the time frame for schools to elect and gather eligibility data for the Community Eligibility Provision that permits schools in high-poverty areas to serve free meals to all enrolled students without the need for applications.
Further, the bill specifies that a state subject to a continuous improvement plan (for not directly certifying at least 95% of children eligible for direct certification because they receive SNAP benefits) must implement the improvement measures within three years.
