Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022
Floor Speech
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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2089) to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that grants provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for State veterans' cemeteries do not restrict States from authorizing the interment of certain deceased members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces in such cemeteries, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: S. 2089
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 ``Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022''. SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--
(1) Temporary lunch reimbursement.--Each lunch served under the school lunch program authorized under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) shall receive an additional reimbursement in the amount of 40 cents.
(2) Temporary breakfast reimbursement.--Each breakfast served under the school breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) shall receive an additional reimbursement in the amount of 15 cents.
(3) Limitation.--The additional reimbursement amounts authorized under this subsection shall only be available for the school year beginning July 2022.
(4) Temporary guidelines.--Notwithstanding any provision of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), for the school year beginning July 2022, the income guidelines for determining eligibility for free lunch under the school lunch program authorized under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and free breakfast under the school breakfast program established by section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) shall be 185 percent of the applicable family size income levels contained in the nonfarm income poverty guidelines prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget, as adjusted annually in accordance with section 9(b)(1)(B) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(1)(B)).
(5) Appropriations.--
(A) In general.--There is appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection.
(B) Disbursement.--A State agency shall disburse funds made available under subparagraph (A) to school food authorities participating in the school meal programs described in paragraphs (1) and (2).
(b) Extension of Waivers.--Section 2202 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (42 U.S.C. 1760 note; Public Law 116-127) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting ``due to the COVID-19 pandemic'' after ``(42 U.S.C. 1760(l))'';
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon and inserting ``or''; and
(C) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
``(B) ensuring continuity of program operation under a qualified program.'';
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) by striking paragraph (2); and
(B) by striking ``the following:'' in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and all that follows through ``A summary'' in paragraph (1) and inserting ``a summary''; and
(3) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
``(e) Sunset.--
``(1) Nationwide waivers.--The authority of the Secretary to establish or grant a waiver under subsection (a) shall expire on September 30, 2022.
``(2) Waiver restriction.--After June 30, 2022, a waiver established or granted under subsection (a) shall only apply to schools or summer food service program food service sites--
``(A) operating--
``(i) the qualified program described in subsection (f)(1)(D); or
``(ii) the option described in section 13(a)(8) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(a)(8)); and
``(B) not operating the qualified program described in subsection (f)(1)(A).
``(3) Other waivers.--
``(A) Child and adult care food program waiver.--The authority of the Secretary to establish or grant a waiver under subsection (b) shall expire on June 30, 2022.
``(B) Meal pattern waiver.--The authority of the Secretary to establish or grant a waiver under subsection (c) shall expire on June 30, 2023.
``(4) Limitations.--A waiver authorized by the Secretary under this section shall not be in effect after the date on which the authority of the Secretary to establish or grant that waiver under this subsection expires.''.
(c) Appropriation.--There are appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as are necessary to provide waivers under section 2202(a) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (42 U.S.C. 1760 note; Public Law 116-127) that apply--
(1) only during the months of May through September in 2022; and
(2) to--
(A) the summer food service program for children under section 13 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761); or
(B) the option described in section 13(a)(8) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(a)(8)).
(d) Nationwide Waiver for School Year 2022-2023.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of school year 2022-2023, the Secretary of Agriculture may establish waivers under section 12(l) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(l))--
(A) on a nationwide basis; and
(B) without regard to the requirements under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of such section that a State or eligible service provider shall submit an application for a waiver request.
(2) Sunset.--A nationwide waiver established by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 12(l) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(l)) pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not be in effect after June 30, 2023. SEC. 3. CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--
(1) Temporary additional reimbursement for 2022-2023 school year.--Each meal and supplement served under the program authorized by section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766) shall receive additional reimbursement in the amount of 10 cents.
(2) Limitation.--The additional reimbursement amount authorized under paragraph (1) shall only be available for the school year beginning July 2022.
(b) Tier Determinations for 2022-2023 School Year.--For the school year beginning July 2022, a tier II family or group day care home described in subsection (f)(3)(A)(iii) of section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766) shall be considered a tier I family or group day care home for purposes of the program authorized under that section.
(c) Appropriations.--There are appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as are necessary to carry out this section. SEC. 4. RESCISSIONS AND SUNSET.
(a) Rescissions.--
(1) USDA.--
(A) Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available to the Department of Agriculture in section 1001(a) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (7 U.S.C. 7501 note; Public Law 117-2), $1,000,000,000 are hereby permanently rescinded.
(B) Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available to the Department of Agriculture in section 751 of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116- 260; 134 Stat. 2105), $400,000,000 are hereby permanently rescinded.
(2) Department of education.--Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available to the Department of Education in section 2003 of title II of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2; 135 Stat. 23) and allocated to institutions of higher education as defined in section 102(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(b)), $400,000,000 are hereby permanently rescinded.
(3) SBA.--Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available to the Small Business Administration in section 5005 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117- 2; 135 Stat. 91) and in section 323(d)(1)(H) of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116- 260; 134 Stat. 2021) to carry out section 324 of such division of such Act (15 U.S.C. 9009a), $1,500,000,000 are hereby permanently rescinded.
(b) Additional Rescission.--Of the unobligated balances from amounts made available to the Department of Agriculture under the heading ``Agricultural Programs--Office of the Secretary'' in title I of division B of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136; 134 Stat. 505), $600,000,000 are hereby permanently rescinded.
(c) Sunset.--Section 756 of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (7 U.S.C. 2254c), is amended by striking ``for fiscal year'' and all that follows through ``thereafter'' and inserting ``for each of fiscal years 2021 and 2022''. SEC. 5. OPERATIONALLY READY.
The Secretary of Agriculture shall ensure that technical assistance is made available to States and school food authorities for purposes of assisting parents and school leaders with respect to the transition of operating school meal programs not pursuant to a waiver under section 2(d) or section 2202 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (42 U.S.C. 1760 note; Public Law 116-127).
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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. 2089.
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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, S. 2089 was amended to replace the language of that bill with the language of H.R. 8150, the bipartisan and bicameral Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022, in order to send the bill to the Senate for expedited passage.
Roughly 2 years ago, our communities experienced an unprecedented surge in child hunger, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Just weeks into the pandemic, more than one of every three households with children, and nearly half of all mothers with young children, struggled with food insecurity.
In response, Congress took decisive action to ensure that child nutrition programs, our best tools for addressing child hunger, could continue feeding hungry children during the pandemic.
One of the most important steps we took was providing child nutrition programs with the flexibility they needed to expand access to school meals and address the challenges of serving students who are not physically in the school buildings.
This relief made a measurable difference in our fight against child hunger. By expanding access to child nutrition programs, we allowed an additional 10 million students to receive free school meals each day. From January 2021 to April 2021, food shortages among households with children fell by more than 40 percent.
Regrettably, unless Congress acts, these key flexibilities would expire at the end of this month.
The bipartisan and bicameral Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 is likely our best and last opportunity to preserve relief for child nutrition programs. This legislation would:
Maintain school meal flexibilities that do not increase costs;
Continue flexibilities to support summer food programs this year;
Provide additional support for child and adult care feeding programs; and
Increase school meal reimbursement rates for this upcoming school year.
As we continue to recover from the pandemic, the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 would take a critical step to support child nutrition programs and prevent children from going hungry during the ongoing public health emergency. This is a step well worth taking.
I thank the ranking member of the full committee, Dr. Foxx, and Senators Stabenow and Boozman for working with me on this legislation.
Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar), a distinguished member of the Committee on Education and Labor and a leading advocate to reduce and eliminate child hunger.
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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams), a member of the Committee on Education and Labor and chair of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Mrvan), the distinguished member of the Committee on Education and Labor.
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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I include in the Record two letters from No Kid Hungry and the Food Research and Action Center, better known as FRAC. [From Share Our Strength] Share Our Strength's Lisa Davis on the Introduction of the `Keep Kids Fed' Act To Extend Child Nutrition Waivers
Washington, DC.--This afternoon, leadership from the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the House Committee on Education and Labor announced an agreement to extend nationwide child nutrition waivers, which are set to expire on June 30. The Keep Kids Fed Act would extend some of these waivers through the 2022-2023 school year and provide school nutrition programs with additional funding to help address food price inflation and supply chain challenges. The following is a statement from No Kid Hungry Senior Vice President Lisa Davis:
``We are grateful that a deal has come together to help address the immense challenges facing schools and community organizations working tirelessly to feed kids this summer and during the school year. This issue couldn't be more urgent with waivers expiring in nine days and summer meals programs already up and running.
``Time is of the essence, especially for those operating summer meals sites without the certainty and flexibility of the waivers who will face difficulties turning on a dime. We know these waivers are needed and that they work. The reach of the summer meals program increased dramatically with them, doubling in 2021 and even tripling in 2020.
``While these waivers don't solve supply chain issues, lower the rising cost of food and gas, or solve our nation's inflation problem, they do help soften their impact on schools and community organizations and, ultimately, keep kids fed and nourished.
``As we know with legislation like this, there can be miles to go before it gets across the finish line. We urge Congress to move quickly on the Keep Kids Fed Act before nationwide child nutrition waivers expire on June 30.'' ____
[From Luis Guardia, president, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)] Hungry Children Can't Wait: Congress Must Act Quickly To Pass Critical Legislation
Washington, June 21, 2022.--FRAC commends the bi-partisan legislation introduced today by Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) and House Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-NC), to help support children, families, schools, and child care providers as they struggle to recover from the fallout of the pandemic. Provisions in the Keep Kids Fed Act would increase reimbursements to schools and child care, support access to summer meals by extending the summer waivers, allow children eligible for reduced-price school meals to receive free school meals, and streamline access to healthy meals for children in family child care.
We and our network of anti-hunger advocates all across the country call on Congress to pass this legislation immediately as time is running out. The child nutrition waivers that have been available since the onset of the pandemic are set to expire on June 30. This legislation would help mitigate the impact of the loss of the waivers and also would be critical to supporting children's access to summer meals and meals at childcare. The provisions in the legislation are only temporary and do not go as far as we would like, but they are a critical first step to help shield some of the impact of inflation, supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages.
Still, more must be done. FRAC looks forward to working with Congress to make much-needed, long-term improvements to the child nutrition programs to more fully address our nation's hunger crisis.
Hungry children can't wait.
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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, as I said at the beginning of the debate, the legislation before us is likely our last and best opportunity to protect millions of students' access to nutrition programs, which have been critical to feeding hungry children during the pandemic.
The simple reality is that schools, children, and families are still dealing with the impacts of COVID-19. As school meal programs continue to endure supply chain disruptions, inflation, and other challenges, the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 would provide school meal programs that are urgently needed for stability and will help continue providing students with nutritious meals that they need.
We know this bill alone will not end all hunger in America, but it will be an important step to stand up for our Nation's children and fulfill our basic responsibility to keep them from going hungry.
Again, I thank the ranking member of the committee, Dr. Foxx, and I thank the gentlewoman from California, Mrs. Steel, for helping to bring this bipartisan, bicameral legislation to the floor. I also thank Senators Stabenow and Boozman for their work in bringing this legislation to reality.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 2089, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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