7 U.S.C. § 2026a: Healthy fluid milk…

Summary

The Agriculture Secretary must run projects that give people who use SNAP extra credit or discounts at checkout to buy healthy fluid milk. Fluid milk here means pasteurized cow’s milk that is unflavored, follows current dietary guidance, is sold in liquid form, and has vitamins A and D at levels that meet FDA, state, and local rules. The Secretary must award competitive grants or cooperative agreements to government or nonprofit groups that apply. Projects are chosen using public criteria and must use a science-based plan to boost milk purchases and improve diet. Funds cannot be used to reduce SNAP benefits. An independent evaluation must measure health and nutrition impacts with strong methods (for example, random assignment). Up to 7 percent of the money can pay for evaluation. Reports are due to Congress by December 31, 2020 and every two years after, and results must also be shared with the public. Congress authorized $20,000,000 for these projects and their evaluation, available until spent, and only money specifically appropriated for this purpose may be used.

Title 7, §2026a

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Definition of fluid milk

In this section the term “fluid milk” means all varieties of pasteurized cow’s milk that—

(1)is without flavoring or sweeteners,

(2)is consistent with the most recent dietary recommendations,

(3)is packaged in liquid form, and

(4)contains vitamins A and D at levels consistent with the Food and Drug Administration, State, and local standards for fluid milk.

(b)Projects

The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out, under such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers to be appropriate, healthy fluid milk incentive projects to develop and test methods to increase the purchase and consumption of fluid milk by members of households that receive supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits by providing an incentive for the purchase of fluid milk at the point of purchase to members of households purchasing food with supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits.

(c)Grants or cooperative agreements

(1)In general

To carry out this section, the Secretary, on a competitive basis, shall enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide grants to, governmental entities or nonprofit organizations for projects that meet the purpose and selection criteria specified in this subsection.

(2)Application

To be eligible to enter into a cooperative agreement or receive a grant under this subsection, a government entity or nonprofit organization shall submit to the Secretary an application containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(3)Selection criteria

Projects proposed in applications shall be evaluated against publicly disseminated criteria that shall incorporate a scientifically based strategy that is designed to improve diet quality and nutritional outcomes through the increased purchase of fluid milk by members of households that participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

(4)Use of funds

Funds made available to carry out this section shall not be used for any project that limits the use of benefits provided under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 [7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.].

(d)Evaluation and reporting

(1)Evaluation

(A)Independent evaluation

(i)In general

The Secretary shall provide for an independent evaluation of projects selected under this section that measures, to the maximum extent practicable, the impact on health and nutrition.

(ii)Requirement

The independent evaluation under this subparagraph shall use rigorous methodologies, particularly random assignment or other methods that are capable of producing scientifically valid information regarding which activities are effective.

(B)Costs

The Secretary may use funds not to exceed 7 percent of the funding provided to carry out this section to pay costs associated with evaluating the outcomes of the healthy fluid milk incentive projects.

(2)Reporting

Not later than December 31 of 2020, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that includes a description of— (A)

(B)the results of any completed evaluation that—

(i)include, to the maximum extent practicable, the impact of the healthy fluid milk incentive projects on health and nutrition outcomes among households participating in such projects, and

(ii)have not been submitted in a previous report under this paragraph.

(3)Public dissemination

In addition to the reporting requirements under paragraph (2), evaluation results shall be shared publicly to promote wide use of successful strategies.

(e)Funding

(1)Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 to carry out and evaluate the outcomes of projects under this section, to remain available until expended.

(2)Appropriations in advance

Only funds appropriated under paragraph (1) in advance specifically to carry out this section shall be available to carry out this section.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, referred to in subsec. (c)(4), is Pub. L. 88–525, Aug. 31, 1964, 78 Stat. 703, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2011 of this title and Tables. Codification Section was enacted as part of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, and not as part of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 which comprises this chapter.

§2026a Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives Projects