Stop Child Hunger Act of 2025
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.
For FY2026, USDA must pay each state agency and covered tribal organization 100% of the administrative expenses (currently 50%) incurred in operating the program. The rate that USDA must pay for administrative expenses decreases each fiscal year until it reaches 50% of the expenses for FY2031 and each fiscal year thereafter.
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 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3217 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3217
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
May 6, 2025
Mr. Levin (for himself and Mrs. Hayes) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Education and 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 2025''.
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 2025 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)--
(A) by inserting `` or a school closure period, as
applicable'' after ``with respect to summer''; and
(B) by inserting ``or the instructional year in
which the school closure period begins, as
applicable,'' before ``or during'';
(4) in subsection (d)--
(A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--The Secretary'';
(B) by striking ``an amount equal to 50 percent
of'' and inserting ``, for'';
(C) by striking the period at the end and inserting
``, an amount calculated in accordance with paragraph
(2).''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Calculation.--The amount to be paid by the Secretary
to each State agency and covered Indian Tribal organization for
the administrative expenses described in paragraph (1) shall be
equal to--
``(A) for fiscal year 2026, 100 percent of such
expenses;
``(B) for fiscal year 2027, 90 percent of such
expenses;
``(C) for fiscal year 2028, 80 percent of such
expenses;
``(D) for fiscal year 2029, 70 percent of such
expenses;
``(E) for fiscal year 2030, 60 percent of such
expenses; and
``(F) for fiscal year 2031 and each fiscal year
thereafter, 50 percent of such expenses.'';
(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''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in clause (i)--
(aa) by striking ``and'' at
the end and inserting ``or'';
and
(bb) by striking ``(i)
enrolled'' and inserting ``or
during the calendar year in
which such school closure
period began, enrolled''; and
(II) 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, 2025, out of
any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the
Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to
carry out this subsection $50,000,000, to remain available
until expended.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
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