[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5459 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5459
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require
the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a grant program to make
grants to eligible local educational agencies to carry out food waste
reduction programs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 30, 2021
Ms. Pingree (for herself, Mr. Newhouse, and Ms. Bonamici) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education
and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require
the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a grant program to make
grants to eligible local educational agencies to carry out food waste
reduction programs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``School Food Recovery Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. SCHOOL FOOD WASTE REDUCTION GRANT PROGRAM.
Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. 1769) is amended by inserting before subsection (b) the
following:
``(a) School Food Waste Reduction Grant Program.--
``(1) Grant program established.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a
program to make grants, on a competitive basis, to
eligible local educational agencies to carry out food
waste measurement and reporting, prevention, education,
and reduction projects.
``(B) Regional balance.--In awarding grants under
this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the maximum
extent practicable, ensure that--
``(i) a grant is awarded to an eligible
local educational agency in each region served
by the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition
Service; and
``(ii) equitable treatment of rural, urban,
and tribal communities.
``(2) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this subsection, an eligible local educational agency shall
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
``(3) Priority.--In making grants under this subsection,
the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible local
educational agency that demonstrates in the application under
paragraph (2) that such eligible local educational agency will
use the grant to--
``(A) carry out experiential education activities
that encourage children enrolled in such eligible local
educational agency to participate in food waste
measurement and education;
``(B) prioritize the best use of food in accordance
with the Food Recovery Hierarchy published by the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
``(C) with respect to food waste prevention and
reduction, collaborate with other eligible local
educational agencies, tribes, nongovernmental and
community-based organizations, and other community
partners;
``(D) evaluate the activities described in
subparagraphs (A) through (C) and make evaluation
plans; and
``(E) establish a food waste measurement,
prevention, and reduction project with long-term
sustainability.
``(4) Federal share.--
``(A) In general.--The Federal share of a food
waste measurement, prevention, and reduction project
funded through a grant awarded under this subsection
shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of such
food waste reduction project.
``(B) Federal matching.--As a condition of
receiving a grant under this subsection, an eligible
local educational agency shall provide matching funds
in the form of cash or in-kind contributions, including
facilities, equipment, or services provided by State
and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and
private sources.
``(5) Use of funds.--An eligible local educational agency
that receives a grant under this section shall use funds under
such grant to carry out at least one of the following:
``(A) Planning a food waste measurement,
prevention, and reduction project.
``(B) Carrying out activities under such a project.
``(C) Providing training to support such a project.
``(D) Purchasing equipment to support such a
project.
``(E) Offering food waste education to students
enrolled in such eligible local educational agency.
``(6) Requirement.--A food waste measurement and reporting,
prevention, education, and reduction project funded by a grant
under this subsection shall comply with the nutrition
requirements of the school lunch program under this Act or the
school breakfast program established under section 4 of the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773), as applicable,
including by offering no less than the minimum quantities of
required food components.
``(7) Evaluation.--
``(A) Agreement.--As a condition of receiving a
grant under this subsection, each eligible local
educational agency shall agree to cooperate in an
evaluation by the Secretary of the project carried out
using grant funds.
``(B) Periodic evaluation.--Not later than 2 years
after the date of the enactment of this paragraph and
every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall carry out
an evaluation of the grants made under this section
that includes--
``(i) the amount of Federal funds used to
carry out such grants; and
``(ii) an evaluation of the outcomes of the
projects carried out pursuant to such grants.
``(8) Definition of eligible local educational agency.--In
this subsection, the term `eligible local educational agency'
means a local educational agency that participates in the
school lunch program under this Act or the school breakfast
program established under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act
of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).''.
SEC. 3. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
Section 21(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
(42 U.S.C. 1769b-1(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) food waste measurement, prevention, and reduction.''.
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