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S5432119th CongressWALLET

Food for Thought Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

Introduced

Summary

The Food for Thought Act of 2026 creates a federally administered grant program to fund free meals for low-income college students. Grants back campus meal programs and community providers and prioritize community colleges, Tribal colleges, Historically Black colleges, Hispanic-serving and other minority-serving institutions.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Free college meals for low-income students

If enacted, the bill would create a competitive federal grant program for eligible colleges and community partners to give low-income students free meals and snacks. Grants could pay for 1 to 10 free meals per student each week, and each award could last up to 2 years. Schools must meet a 20% Pell-eligible undergraduate threshold to qualify, prioritize Pell recipients and students facing food or housing insecurity, and may use up to 20% of a grant to buy equipment. Grantees would also need to report within one year after the grant ends on food insecurity, program use, and impacts on degree completion.

Meals won’t reduce federal aid need

If enacted, the bill would change the Higher Education Act so meals received through this program would not count as 'other financial assistance' when schools calculate a student's federal financial aid need. This would help preserve students' access to need-based aid while participating in the meal program.

Data sharing and program reports

If enacted, USDA/FNS and the Department of Education would sign an MOU within 120 days to share education data (obeying FERPA) and to help identify eligible schools and low-income students. The MOU would support State outreach and provide annual technical help for meal infrastructure and SNAP outreach. The Secretary would also send two reports to Congress: one within 2 years evaluating food insecurity and expansion options, and another within 4 years on retention and completion for students served, with data broken down by school type, enrollment, Pell and SNAP status, housing and first-generation status, and open-admissions.

Funding authorized through 2032

If enacted, the bill would authorize such sums as are necessary to run the program for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2032. This gives statutory authority to fund the grants but does not itself appropriate money; Congress would still need to pass appropriations.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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