[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7639 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7639
To establish a National Advisory Council on Unpaid School Meal Debt in
Child Nutrition Programs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 12, 2024
Ms. Omar (for herself, Ms. Adams, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Carson, Ms. Garcia of
Texas, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. McGovern, Ms.
Norton, Ms. Porter, Ms. Salinas, Mr. Takano, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Velazquez,
and Mrs. Watson Coleman) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a National Advisory Council on Unpaid School Meal Debt in
Child Nutrition 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 ``National Advisory Council on Unpaid
School Meal Debt Act''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON UNPAID SCHOOL MEAL DEBT IN CHILD
NUTRITION PROGRAMS.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a National Advisory
Council on Unpaid School Meal Debt in Child Nutrition Programs (in this
section referred to as the ``Council'').
(b) Duties.--The Council shall provide recommendations, in
accordance with subsection (g), to the Administrator of the Food and
Nutrition Service with respect to addressing unpaid school meal fees by
ensuring that--
(1) students are not stigmatized; and
(2) school food authorities can maintain fiscal solvency in
order to ensure the long-term viability of school meal
programs.
(c) Membership.--
(1) Number and appointment.--The Council shall be composed
of 14 members appointed by the Secretary as follows:
(A) 2 members shall be school nutrition State
agency directors who are employed in different States;
(B) 2 members shall be school food service
directors of a school meal program in an urban area who
are employed in different States;
(C) 2 members shall be school food service
directors of a school meal program in a rural area who
are employed in different States;
(D) 2 members shall be officials of the Food and
Nutrition Service office of the Department of
Agriculture;
(E) 2 members shall be parents or guardians (who
are not related to one another or to the same child) of
children who are eligible for free and reduced price
school meals;
(F) 2 members shall represent organizations with
expertise in the school meal programs; and
(G) 2 members shall be food service professionals
who--
(i) work in school cafeterias; and
(ii) maintain daily contact with students,
including by preparing or serving meals or
working at registers.
(2) Terms.--
(A) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for
the life of the Council.
(B) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a
vacancy occurring before the expiration of the life of
the Council shall be appointed for the remainder of the
life of the Council.
(d) Compensation.--
(1) In general.--Members shall serve without pay.
(2) Travel expenses.-- Each member shall receive travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
(3) Parents or guardians.--In the case of a member who is a
parent or guardian appointed under subsection (c)(1)(E), such
member, in addition to reimbursement under paragraph (2),
shall, at the discretion of the Secretary, be compensated in
advance for other personal expenses related to participation on
the Council, including child care expenses and lost wages
during scheduled Council meetings.
(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $1,500,000, to
remain available through the date described in subsection (h).
(e) Chairperson; Vice Chairperson.--
(1) Eligibility.--To be eligible for election to
Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the Council, an individual
must be a member of the Council described in subsection (c)(1).
(2) Election.--The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the
Council shall be elected by such members.
(f) Meetings.--
(1) In general.--The Council shall meet not fewer than 2
times per year at the call of the Chairperson.
(2) Quorum.--5 members of the Council shall constitute a
quorum.
(g) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the
establishment of the Council under subsection (a), the Council
shall submit to the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition
Service a report containing the recommendations described in
subsection (b).
(2) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the submission
of the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting
through the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service,
shall use the recommendations contained in such report to issue
guidance with respect to addressing unpaid school meal fees.
(h) Termination.--The Council shall terminate on the date that is 1
day after the submission of the report required under subsection (g).
(i) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide the Council
with such technical and other assistance, including secretarial and
clerical assistance, as may be required to carry out its functions.
(j) Unpaid School Meal Fees Defined.--In this section, the term
``unpaid school meal fees'' means outstanding fees owed by a household
to a local educational agency for lunches under this Act or breakfasts
under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).
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