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119-hr-7542119th CongressWALLET

Kids Need Lunch Act

Sponsored By: Representative Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create universal free lunch for every child in participating schools and set a federal system to stop and reimburse school meal debt. It replaces income-based pricing with a single federal payment rate and a new debt-reimbursement process.

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  • The federal payment for each free lunch would be fixed at $4.86 and adjusted yearly using the Consumer Price Index for food away from home.
  • Schools must not collect unpaid lunch charges as a condition of program participation. The Secretary of Agriculture would have 60 days after the law's effective date to set up a reimbursement program and 180 days to complete reimbursements for delinquent meal debt.
  • The Secretary would collect delinquent-debt data from State agencies and school food authorities and a Comptroller General report to Congress would follow within 2 years.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Free school lunches for every student

If enacted, the bill would make every child in a participating school eligible for free lunch. This would take effect one year after enactment. It would set the federal payment for each free lunch at $4.86. Each year the rate would be adjusted by the Consumer Price Index for food away from home. Starting July 1, 2027, each new rate would be computed then rounded down to the nearest cent. The bill would remove reduced-price categories from the law and would keep existing school breakfast rules unchanged.

No collection, federal payback for lunch debt

If enacted, schools would be barred from collecting unpaid lunch charges as a condition of program participation. That ban would begin on the date of enactment. The Agriculture Secretary would set up a federal reimbursement program to pay schools for delinquent meal debt. The Secretary must design a data form for states and start the program within 60 days after the Act's effective date. Reimbursements must be completed within 180 days after the Act's effective date. A Comptroller General report would be due to Congress within two years. Funding is authorized as "such sums as are necessary" to carry out the program.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

IL • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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