School Food Modernization Act Summary

The School Food Modernization Act is a bill introduced in the House of Representatives to provide loan guarantees and grants for improvements to school lunch facilities, training for school food service personnel, and other related purposes.

Loan Guarantees and Grants for School Lunch Facilities

The bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to issue loan guarantees to finance infrastructure improvements and purchase durable equipment for school meal programs. The Secretary will give preference to eligible entities with demonstrated need for improvements or equipment.

Equipment Grants

Starting in fiscal year 2024, grants will be provided to State agencies for subgrants to local educational agencies and schools to purchase equipment necessary for serving healthy meals. The State agency will prioritize entities with significant needs for improvements.

Training and Technical Assistance for School Food Service Personnel

A grant program will be established to provide support to third-party institutions in developing training programs for school food service personnel to meet nutrition standards and improve the school lunch program. Eligible institutions include non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, and career and technical education schools.

Study and Report on State Administrative Expense Funds

The bill also calls for a study on the use of State administrative expense funds by State agencies and a report to Congress on best practices for training and technical assistance in school nutrition.

Offset

An offset provision rescinds $45,000,000 from the unobligated balance available for administrative expenses of the Department of Education.

Rep. Julia Brownley

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