American Food for American Schools Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would strengthen Buy American requirements across school nutrition programs. It tightens the definition of domestic products, limits when schools can buy foreign foods, and creates more transparency and penalties for noncompliance.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Stricter Buy American for school meals
If enacted, the bill would require school food authorities to buy domestic food for school lunch (including snacks), school breakfast, summer food service, child and adult care food, and the special milk program. It would define "domestic" as commodities grown in the U.S., or food processed in the U.S. and substantially made from U.S. farm products, and would count fish only if caught in the U.S. zone or by a U.S.-flagged vessel. SFAs would need a waiver from USDA before buying foreign items, and waivers would be capped at 5 percent of an SFA's annual commercial food cost for each meal component. SFAs would have to notify parents at least once per school year about foreign purchases, and USDA would publish a public waiver list and report instances of noncompliance.
Supplier penalties for Buy American breaches
If enacted, new supplier contracts for school food bought under this bill or the Child Nutrition Act would have to include a clause requiring Buy American compliance. Suppliers who sign that clause and then provide foreign items in violation would have to pay the Secretary back an amount equal to the federal funds used to buy those items. Those recovered funds would be available to USDA without further appropriation to enforce the rule. The contract clause requirement applies to contracts signed after the date of enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]
MT • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/30/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov