FORK Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced
Summary
Expands summer meal delivery via mobile vehicles to rural and underserved students. This pilot would fund vehicles and test delivery methods for noncongregate summer meals under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.
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- Students and families: Makes it easier for children in rural or economically distressed areas to get summer meals delivered by vans or buses. Grantees must report the number of sites and children served.
- Service institutions: Eligible service institutions could receive one-year grants up to $100,000 to buy, retrofit, or repair vehicles. Administrative costs may not exceed 10 percent and recipients must provide periodic use and impact reports.
- Rural and disadvantaged communities and USDA: Grants get priority for areas with poor economic conditions, areas outside core-based statistical areas, and areas serving many socially disadvantaged students. The Secretary must provide technical assistance and submit a program summary to Congress within four years.
*Authorizes $1.0 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2029 for the pilot program.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Pilot grants for summer meal vehicles
This bill would create a summer meal vehicle pilot under the National School Lunch Act. The Secretary would award one-year grants to ‘‘service institutions’’ to buy, retrofit, or repair vehicles to deliver noncongregate summer meals. Grants would be up to $100,000 each and recipients could use up to 10% for administrative costs. The pilot would start the first summer after 180 days from enactment. Congress would be authorized $1,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2029. Grant awards would prioritize poor areas, places outside core metro areas, and areas serving many socially disadvantaged students. Recipients would report periodically on sites and the number of children served, and the Secretary would provide technical help and send Congress a program report within four years.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
VT • D
Sponsored 7/30/2026
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/30/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov