Stop Child Hunger Act of 2023
This bill expands the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT) to include coverage during a school closure period. (Summer EBT provides grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer.) Under the bill, a school closure period means a period in which an elementary school or secondary school is closed, operating remotely, or operating in a hybrid manner for five or more consecutive weekdays during a calendar year.
The bill also increases the daily value of the benefit to cover the cost of breakfast, lunch, and a snack for every day school is closed.
USDA must pay each state agency and covered tribal organization 100% of the administrative expenses (currently 50%) incurred in operating the program.
USDA must also provide grants to states to support the development or upgrading of data systems that are necessary to implement Summer EBT.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4379 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4379
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to expand the
summer electronic benefits transfer for children program to include
benefit transfer during school closures, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 27, 2023
Mr. Levin (for himself and Mrs. Hayes) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to expand the
summer electronic benefits transfer for children program to include
benefit transfer during school closures, 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 ``Stop Child Hunger Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF SUMMER ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER FOR CHILDREN
PROGRAM.
Section 13A of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. 1762) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
inserting ``and school closure period, as applicable,''
after ``for each summer''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by inserting ``and school closure
periods, as applicable,'' after ``summer
months''; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``or during a school closure
period.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by inserting ``for summer months or a
school closure period, as applicable,'' after
``pursuant to subsection (a)'';
(ii) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking ``be--'' and inserting ``be, for
calendar year 2024 and each year thereafter, in
an amount that is not less than the value of
breakfast, lunch, and a snack at the free rate
for each day of such summer months or school
closure period; and''; and
(iii) by striking clauses (i) and (ii) of
subparagraph (A); and
(B) in paragraph (4)(A), by inserting ``or a school
closure period, as applicable'' after ``summer
months'';
(3) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by inserting ``or a school
closure period, as applicable'' after ``with respect to
summer'';
(4) in subsection (d)--
(A) by striking ``50'' and inserting ``100'';
(5) in subsection (h)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by inserting ``or school closure period,
as applicable'' after ``summer'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking ``or during'' and
inserting ``, during''; and
(II) by inserting ``, or during the
calendar year in which such school
closure period began'' after
``operational period'';
(iii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause
(i), by inserting ``or during the
calendar year in which such school
closure period began'';
(II) in clause (i)--
(aa) by striking ``and'' at
the end and inserting ``or'';
and
(bb) by striking ``(i)
enrolled'' and inserting
``enrolled'';
(III) by striking clause (ii);
(B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph
(6); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) Free rate.--The term `free rate' has the meaning
given the term in section 1101(j)(4) of the Families First
Coronavirus Response Act (7 U.S.C. 2011 note).
``(5) School closure period.--The term `school closure
period' means a period in which an elementary school or
secondary school is closed, operating remotely, or operating in
a hybrid manner for 5 or more consecutive weekdays during a
calendar year.''; and
(6) by adding at the end the following:
``(i) Implementation Grants.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a program
to make grants to States to support the development of data
systems or upgrades to existing data systems that are necessary
to implement this section.
``(2) Funding.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations provided in advance in an appropriations Act
specifically for the purpose of carrying out this section, and
in addition to such appropriations, on October 1, 2024, out of
any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the
Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to
carry out this subparagraph $50,000,000, to remain available
until expended.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
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