114th Congress: Child Nutrition Bills Introduced

This page is provided as a reference to child nutrition related bills introduced in the 114th Congress and does not necessarily imply endorsement by the School Nutrition Association.

• H.R. 3772 Stop Obesity in Schools Act of 2015
  Sponsor: Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)
  (introduced 10/20/2015)
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  Establishing a national strategy to reduce childhood obesity by 10% by the year 2020 and directing CDC to provide grants to LEA’s so they may adopt wellness policies and anti-obesity initiatives.

• H.Con.Res. 80 Expressing the sense of the Congress on Hunger in our Communities
  Sponsor: Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC)
  (introduced 09/30/2015)
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  Expresses the sense of Congress on hunger in our communities by resolving that Congress should permit nonprofit organizations that serve children through the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program to operate one program year-round and for other purposes.

• H.R. 3532 Fruit and Vegetable Access for Children Act
  Sponsor: Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME)
  (introduced 09/14/2015)
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  This bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to allow federal grant-funded fresh fruit and vegetable programs carried out by states to include canned, dried, frozen, or pureed fruits and vegetables.

• H.R.3502 Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act of 2015
  Sponsor: Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM)
  (introduced 9/11/2015)
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  To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to improve nutrition in tribal areas, and for other purposes.

• S. 1966 Hunger-Free Summer for Kids Act
  Sponsor: Sen. John Boozman (R-AR)
  (introduced 8/5/2015)
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  This bill would give states the ability to use electronic benefit transfer to give eligible families up to $30 a month per child to buy certain foods and allow states more flexibility in implementing the Summer Food Service Program by loosening the requirement for a centralized feed site

• H.R. 3316 School Food Modernization Act
  Sponsor: Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA)
  (introduced 8/5/2015)
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  A House bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to make loan guarantees and grants to finance certain improvements to school lunch facilities, to train school food service personnel, and for other purposes.

• S. 1937 Act to Improve Nutrition in Tribal Areas
  Sponsor: Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)
  (introduced 8/4/2015)
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  This bill would amend the Richard D. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to improve nutrition in tribal areas, and for other purposes.

• H.R. School Lunch Affordability Act
  Sponsor: Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO)
  (introduced 7/29/2015)
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  This bill would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act by repealing the paid lunch equity requirements.

• S. 1833 Access to Healthy Food for Young Children Act
  Sponsor: Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)
  (introduced 7/22/2015)
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  This bill would reduce the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) eligibility test from 50 to 40 percent allowing more children to be eligible for food assistance. Among other provisions, this bill would also allow daycares to serve 3rd meals during the day for children who are there eight hours or more.

• H.R.2660 Wise Investment (WIC) in our Children Act
  Sponsor: Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
  (introduced 6/4/2015)
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  This bill aims to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to increase the age of eligibility for children (to age 6) to receive benefits under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children. The bill is proposed in response to the some children experiencing a nutritional gap of almost 12 months, in which time their nutrition is neither supported by WIC nor by school meals.

• H.R.2627 Salad Bars in Schools Expansion Act
  Sponsor: Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
  (introduced 6/3/2015)
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  This bill would direct USDA to create a plan to promote salad bars, including a new five-year grant program and more training and technical assistance for schools.

• H.R.2407 School Milk Nutrition Act of 2015
  Sponsor: Rep. G.T Thompson (R-PA)
  (introduced 5/19/2015)
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  A bill that aims to increase dairy consumption in schools by reaffirming the requirement that milk is offered with each school meal. The legislation would allow schools to serve low-fat, 1 percent flavored milk along with the fat-free skim flavored milk already permitted under current regulations. In addition, the bill would urge USDA to address the needs of lactose-intolerant students by offering lactose-free milk.

• Healthy School Meals Flexibility Act
  Sponsor: Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND)
  (introduced 4/30/2015)
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  A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to prohibit further reductions in sodium levels and to reinstate the grain-rich requirements applicable to the national school lunch and breakfast programs.

• Safe Chicken and Meat for Children Act
  Sponsor: Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
  (introduced 4/30/2015)
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  This bill prevents Chinese meat and chicken from being used in federal nutrition programs including school lunch, breakfast, Child and Adult Care Food and Summer Food Service Programs.

• H.R.1411 ENRICH Act
  Sponsor: Rep. Ryan, Tim (OH-13)
  (introduced 3/17/2015)
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  This bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration to establish a program of three-year competitive grants to accredited medical schools for the development or expansion of an integrated nutrition and physical activity curriculum.

• H.R. 1504 Reducing Federal Mandates on School Lunch Act
  Sponsor: Rep. Noem, Kristi (SD)
  (introduced 3/19/2015)
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  The bill would prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from enforcing maximum limits on calories, grains or meat/meat alternates; block implementation of Target 2 and Final Target sodium limits; and restore the 2012 requirement that half of all grains offered with school meals be whole grain rich. In addition, the bill would prohibit USDA from enforcing new school meal and Smart Snacks standards and Paid Lunch Equity mandates for any school food authority that certifies that complying with the new rules would increase costs.

• H.R.1363 No Hungry Kids Act
  Sponsor: Rep. King, Steve (IA-4)
  (introduced 3/13/2015)
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  Nullifies the rule published by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) on January 26, 2012, establishing nutrition standards for the school lunch and breakfast programs.

• H.R.881 Bringing Awareness and Knowledge to Exempt Schools Against Legislative Encroachment Act
  Sponsor: Rep. Poe, Ted (TX-2)
  (introduced 2/11/2015)
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  Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from applying the rule entitled "National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in School as Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010" to food sold as a fundraiser that takes place on the grounds of a school, including by limiting the number of such fundraisers by state agencies or the Secretary.

• S.613 Summer Meals Act of 2015
  Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. (NY)
  (introduced 2/27/2015)
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  Senate bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve the efficiency of summer meals.

• H.R. 1728 Summer Meals Act of 2015
  Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don (AK-At Large)
  (Introduced 03/26/2015)
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  House bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve the efficiency of summer meals.

• S.540 School Food Modernization Act
  Sponsor: Sen Collins, Susan M. (ME)
  (introduced 2/24/2015)
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  Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to direct the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue loan guarantees to local educational agencies (LEAs) or school food authorities administering or operating a school lunch program, tribal organizations, or consortia of such entities to finance the construction, remodeling, or expansion of infrastructure or the purchase of durable equipment that will facilitate their provision of healthy meals through the school lunch program.

• S.569 Farm to School Act of 2015
  Sponsor: Sen Leahy, Patrick J. (VT )
  (introduced 2/25/2015)
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  Senate bill to reauthorize the farm to school program, and for other purposes.

• H.R.1061 Farm to School Act of 2015
  Sponsor: Rep. Fortenberry, Jeff(NE-1)
  (introduced 2/25/2015)
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  House bill to reauthorize the farm to school program, and for other purposes.

• H.R. 1519 Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act
  Sponsor: Rep Titus, Dina (NV-1)
  (introduced 3/19/2015)
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  Directs the Secretary of Education to award National Classified School Employee of the Year Awards to classified public school employees within certain occupational specialties who provide exemplary service to students in prekindergarten through higher education.

• S.418 Promoting Health as Youth Skills in Classrooms and Life Act
  Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom (NM)
  (introduced 2/9/2015)
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  Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to include health education and physical education in the definition of "core academic subjects."

• H.R.1687 : Sugar Sweetened Beverages Tax (SWEET) Act
  Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa (CT-3)
  (introduced 3/26/2015)
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  To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, to dedicate the revenues from such tax to the prevention, treatment, and research of diet-related health conditions in priority populations, and for other purposes.