II
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3637
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 15, 2018
Mr. Wyden introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
A BILL
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a program for the procurement of domestically grown unprocessed fruits and vegetables to provide healthier school meals, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Local School Foods Expansion Act of 2018
.
Program for procurement of domestically grown unprocessed fruits and vegetables
Section 6(f) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755(f)) is amended—
in the subsection heading, by striking Pilot project for procurement of
and inserting Program for procurement of domestically grown
;
in paragraph (1)—
by striking pilot project
and inserting program (referred to in this subsection as the
;program
)
by striking conduct
and inserting carry out
;
by inserting domestically grown
before unprocessed
; and
by striking more than 8
and inserting less than 15
;
by striking pilot project
each place it appears and inserting program
;
in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting domestically grown
before unprocessed
;
in paragraph (4)—
in subparagraph (B), by striking and
at the end;
in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
the demonstrated ability of the States to competitively procure domestically grown unprocessed fruits and vegetables.
;
in paragraph (5)—
in the paragraph heading, by striking Recordkeeping and reporting
and inserting Recordkeeping, reporting, and evaluation
;
in subparagraph (B)—
in clause (i), by striking and
at the end;
in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
the challenges and opportunities presented by the program in the State.
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Program evaluation
In general
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall evaluate the impact of the program, including with respect to—
the quantity and cost of each type of unprocessed fruit and vegetable procured by each State under the program;
the benefit of the procured unprocessed fruits and vegetables to school food service in each State, including the benefit to meeting school meal requirements; and
the economic impact of the program on agricultural producers in the State.
Report
Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that describes the results of the evaluation conducted under clause (i) and an analysis of that evaluation.
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Funding
Mandatory funding
There is appropriated to carry out this subsection $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.
Reservation
Of the funds appropriated under subparagraph (A) for each fiscal year, $10,000,000 shall be reserved for States selected under the program under paragraph (1) to carry out the activities described in subparagraph (C)(i).
Administrative costs; technical assistance
In general
The funds reserved under subparagraph (B) shall be used—
for the administrative costs of carrying out the program; and
to provide technical assistance and outreach to vendors to become certified to participate in the program.
Minimum allotment
Of the funds reserved under subparagraph (B), each State selected under paragraph (3)(A) shall receive not less than $300,000 for each fiscal year during which the State participates in the program.
.