Healthy Food Choices for Kids Act - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to award grants to up to 10 states and, through them, subgrants to up to 10 schools in each of those states for a pilot program requiring schools to: (1) post nutritional content information in school cafeterias regarding the food they serve; and (2) teach students how to make healthy food selections.
Requires the Secretary to encourage such schools to post the nutritional content information, including caloric information, on their websites.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2322 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2322
To amend section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
to establish a pilot program that requires schools to post nutritional
content information regarding foods served at schools and to teach
students how to make healthy food selections, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 7, 2009
Mr. Braley of Iowa (for himself, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Loebsack, and Mr.
Hare) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
to establish a pilot program that requires schools to post nutritional
content information regarding foods served at schools and to teach
students how to make healthy food selections, 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 ``Healthy Food Choices for Kids Act''.
SEC. 2. SCHOOL LUNCH LABELING AND NUTRITIONAL AWARENESS PILOT PROGRAM.
Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. 1769) is amended by adding at the end the following--
``(j) School Lunch Labeling and Nutritional Awareness Pilot
Program.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of funds
under paragraph (7), the Secretary shall award grants to not
more than 10 States to assist not more than 10 schools in each
of such States in carrying out a pilot program in accordance
with paragraph (5) that requires schools--
``(A) to post nutritional content information in
school cafeterias regarding the food items served in
the cafeterias; and
``(B) to teach students about how to make healthy
food selections.
``(2) Grant amounts.--The Secretary shall ensure that each
grant awarded is of sufficient size and scope to carry out the
pilot program described in this subsection.
``(3) Duration of grants.--The Secretary may award grants
for multiple years to States that meet the grant requirements
described in paragraph (4).
``(4) Grant requirements.--To qualify to receive a grant
under this subsection, a State shall submit an application to
the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information and assurances as the Secretary may require,
including--
``(A) an assurance that the State will ensure that
each school awarded a subgrant under this subsection
meets the pilot program requirements described in
paragraph (5) within 1 year of such subgrant award;
``(B) a plan to inform all the schools within the
State about the pilot program and the school
application requirements described in paragraph (5);
``(C) an assurance that the State will use not less
than 95 percent of the grant funds to award subgrants
to schools in accordance with this subsection;
``(D) an assurance that the State will award such
subgrants to at least 3, but not more than 5, schools
in such State that have in effect at the date of the
enactment of this subsection a program to provide
nutritional content information regarding food items
served in the cafeterias of such schools to students
attending such schools; and
``(E) an assurance that the State will award such
subgrants to at least 3, but not more than 5, schools
that are located in the rural areas of such State.
``(5) Subgrant requirements.--To qualify to receive a
subgrant under this subsection, a school shall submit an
application to a State receiving a grant under this subsection
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
and assurances as the Secretary may require, including--
``(A) a plan for implementing the pilot program,
including--
``(i) efforts to ensure that nutritional
content information, including caloric
information, regarding the food items served in
the school's cafeteria is posted in a visible
location at the point of decision in the
cafeteria and that such information is readable
and appropriate for the students who attend the
school and the parents or legal guardians of
such students;
``(ii) efforts to develop and implement, or
expand a school wellness program or other
nutritional awareness program in effect at the
date of enactment of this subsection to include
an educational program to teach students at the
school about making healthy food selections;
and
``(iii) efforts to consult with a licensed
nutritionist, registered dietitian, school
nutrition specialist, or professional with
similar qualifications at least once a year
regarding the pilot program requirements
described in clauses (i) and (ii) and any
related nutritional matters;
``(B) a certification of support for participation
in the pilot program signed by the school food manager,
school nurse, school principal, and district
superintendent (or equivalent positions, as determined
by the school); and
``(C) whether the school plans to post the
nutritional content information described in
subparagraph (A)(i) on the school's website.
``(6) Guidance; encouragement.--
``(A) Guidance.--The Secretary shall provide
guidance to the States and schools receiving grants or
subgrants under this subsection to assist such States
and schools in meeting the requirements of this
subsection.
``(B) Encouragement.--The Secretary shall encourage
schools receiving subgrants under this subsection to
post the nutritional content information, including
caloric information, regarding food items served at the
school on the school's website.
``(7) Reports.--
``(A) Each State receiving grant funds under this
subsection shall submit a report at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require.
``(B) Not later than 1 year after the effective
date of this subsection and every 2 years thereafter,
the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on
Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry of
the Senate that contains--
``(i) the number of schools receiving
subgrants under this subsection; and
``(ii) a detailed description of the status
of the pilot program carried out by each school
under this subsection, including a list of
program accomplishments and challenges, and an
evaluation of the effectiveness of the program,
in each school.
``(8) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated such funds as necessary to carry
out this subsection.
``(9) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Licensed nutritionist.--The term `licensed
nutritionist' means any person who meets the
educational and training requirements under applicable
State law and the credentialing requirements of the
applicable professional association, if any, to become
a licensed nutritionist.
``(B) Registered dietitian.--The term `registered
dietitian' means any person who meets the educational
and training requirements to become credentialed as a
registered dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic
Registration.
``(C) School nutrition specialist.--The term
`school nutrition specialist' means any person who
meets the educational and training requirements to
become credentialed as a school nutrition specialist by
the School Nutrition Association.''.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect not
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.
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