No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3669 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3669
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish
a pilot program to award grants to school food authorities to provide
100 percent plant-based food and milk options, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 15, 2026
Mr. Schiff (for himself, Ms. Alsobrooks, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Padilla)
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 pilot program to award grants to school food authorities to provide
100 percent plant-based food and milk options, 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 ``Plant-Powered School Meals Pilot
Act''.
SEC. 2. PLANT-BASED FOODS IN SCHOOLS.
Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. 1769) is amended by inserting after subsection (c) the
following:
``(d) Pilot Program for 100 Percent Plant-Based Food Options.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) 100 percent plant-based food option.--The
term `100 percent plant-based food option' means a
breakfast or lunch meal option or component that--
``(i) includes a meat alternate as
described in--
``(I) section 210.10 of title 7,
Code of Federal Regulations (or
successor regulations); or
``(II) appendix A to part 210 of
title 7, Code of Federal Regulations
(or successor regulations); and
``(ii) does not contain any animal product
or byproduct, such as meat, poultry, honey,
fish, dairy, or eggs.
``(B) Beginning farmer or rancher.--The term
`beginning farmer or rancher' has the meaning given the
term in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)).
``(C) Certified organic farm.--The term `certified
organic farm' has the meaning given the term in section
2103 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502).
``(D) Eligible school food authority.--The term
`eligible school food authority' means a school food
authority that serves students 50 percent or more of
which are eligible for free or reduced price lunch
under this Act or free or reduced price breakfast under
section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C.
1773).
``(E) Organically produced.--The term `organically
produced' has the meaning given the term in section
2103 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502).
``(F) Producer.--The term `producer' has the
meaning given the term in section 2103 of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. 6502).
``(G) Program.--The term `program' means the pilot
program established under paragraph (2).
``(H) Underserved producer.--The term `underserved
producer' means an individual (including a member of an
Indian Tribe) that is--
``(i) a beginning farmer or rancher;
``(ii) a veteran farmer or rancher (as
defined in section 2501(a) of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of
1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a))); or
``(iii) a socially disadvantaged farmer or
rancher (as defined in that section).
``(2) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of enactment of the Plant-Powered School Meals Pilot Act, the
Secretary shall establish a pilot program to award grants to
eligible school food authorities to carry out the activities
described in paragraph (5).
``(3) Grants.--
``(A) Term.--The term of a grant awarded under the
program shall be 3 years.
``(B) Amount.--The Secretary shall award grants
under the program in diverse amounts to the extent
practicable.
``(4) Application.--
``(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a
grant under the program, an eligible school food
authority shall submit to the Secretary an application
at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, including--
``(i) a participatory evaluation plan; and
``(ii) a plan for providing culturally
appropriate meals.
``(B) Priority.--To the maximum extent practicable,
in awarding grants under the program, the Secretary
shall give priority to an eligible school food
authority that will use the grant funds--
``(i) to serve a high proportion of
children who are eligible for free or reduced
price meals;
``(ii) to collaborate with nongovernmental
and community-based organizations, agricultural
producers, and other community partners with
respect to the activities described in
paragraph (5);
``(iii) to incorporate experiential and
culturally appropriate plant-based food,
nutrition, or agricultural education activities
related to 100 percent plant-based food options
in the classroom;
``(iv) to incorporate organically produced
100 percent plant-based food options; and
``(v) to meet any other criteria that the
Secretary determines appropriate.
``(5) Use of funds.--A grant awarded under the program may
be used for any of the following activities:
``(A) To contract with qualified third parties for
professional development training for food service
personnel relating to serving (including preparing,
procuring, marketing, and creating menus) 100 percent
plant-based food options.
``(B) To provide compensation to each employee who
participates in the professional development training
described in subparagraph (A) at the regular rate of
pay of such employee.
``(C) To provide technical assistance and student
engagement and education on 100 percent plant-based
food options, including providing taste tests, recipe
development, and culinary education.
``(D) To provide compensation for additional work
relating to serving meals that include a 100 percent
plant-based food option.
``(E) To conduct outreach to, and cover costs of
procurement of foods from, agricultural producers of
100 percent plant-based food options, including--
``(i) underserved producers;
``(ii) limited resource farmers or ranchers
(as defined by the Secretary);
``(iii) producers on a certified organic
farm; and
``(iv) local farmers.
``(6) Recordkeeping required.--Each eligible school food
authority awarded a grant under the program shall keep records
of the 100 percent plant-based food options served, as the
Secretary determines appropriate.
``(7) Reports.--
``(A) School food authorities.--Not later than 1
year after receiving a grant under the program, and
annually for the duration of the grant term, an
eligible school food authority shall submit to the
Secretary a report on the activities carried out using
the grant, including information on--
``(i) the number of 100 percent plant-based
food options that the eligible school food
authority served during the grant period
compared with the preceding school year;
``(ii) the number of schools served by the
eligible school food authority pursuant to the
grant; and
``(iii) the number of students served by
the eligible school food authority pursuant to
the grant.
``(B) Report by secretary.--With respect to each
school year during which the Secretary receives a
report under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall, not
later than 1 year after the date that is the last day
of that school year, submit to Congress a report that
includes--
``(i) a summary of the reports received
during that school year; and
``(ii) such information with respect to the
program as the Secretary determines to be
relevant.
``(8) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall provide
technical assistance and information to assist eligible school
food authorities receiving grants under the program--
``(A) to facilitate the coordination and sharing of
information and resources that may be applicable to the
activities described in paragraph (5); and
``(B) to collect and share information on best
practices.
``(9) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000 for
fiscal year 2026, to remain available through fiscal year
2030.''.
SEC. 3. ACCOMMODATING DIETARY REQUIREMENTS.
Section 9(a)(2) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
(42 U.S.C. 1758(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)(iii)--
(A) by inserting ``or other medical or special
dietary need'' after ``disability'' each place it
appears; and
(B) by striking ``or legal guardian'' and inserting
``legal guardian, or student'';
(2) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (E);
(3) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as
subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) Pilot program.--
``(i) Definition of eligible school food
authority.--In this subparagraph, the term
`eligible school food authority' has the
meaning given the term in section 18(d)(1).
``(ii) Establishment.--Not later than 90
days after the date of enactment of the Plant-
Powered School Meals Pilot Act, the Secretary
shall establish a pilot program to award grants
to eligible school food authorities to
reimburse the full cost incurred by the
eligible school food authority of providing
nondairy beverages as substitutes for fluid
milk under subparagraph (A)(ii).
``(iii) Priority.--In awarding grants under
this subparagraph, the Secretary may give
priority to--
``(I) an eligible school food
authority that serves high proportions
of students with lactose intolerance;
and
``(II) an eligible school food
authority that demonstrates, as part of
the application for a grant under this
subparagraph, a need for nondairy
beverages for students served by the
eligible school food authority due to
dietary reasons.
``(iv) Reports.--
``(I) Annual report by school food
authority.--Not later than 1 year after
receiving a grant under this
subparagraph, and on an annual basis
for the duration of the grant, an
eligible school food authority shall
submit to the Secretary a report on the
pilot grant program, including
information on--
``(aa) the number of
schools and students that were
provided nondairy beverages as
substitutes for fluid milk
under subparagraph (A)(ii) by
the eligible school food
authority; and
``(bb) in the case of the
final report submitted under
this subclause, the number of
such beverages that the
eligible school food authority
served during the grant period
compared with the number of
such beverages that the
eligible school food authority
served during the school year
immediately preceding the start
of the grant period.
``(II) Report by the secretary.--
Not later than 180 days after the date
described in clause (v), the Secretary
shall submit to Congress a report on
the pilot program carried out under
this subparagraph, including a summary
of the information included in the
reports received under this clause from
eligible school food authorities.
``(v) Sunset.--The authority to carry out
this subparagraph shall terminate on the date
that is 3 years after the date of enactment of
the Plant-Powered School Meals Pilot Act.
``(vi) Authorization of appropriations.--
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this subparagraph $2,000,000 for fiscal
year 2026, to remain available until the date
described in clause (v).
``(E) Definition of special dietary need.--In this
paragraph, the term `special dietary need' means a
dietary need that does not constitute a disability,
including a dietary need relating to religious or moral
conviction.''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line