7 U.S.C. § 7633: Food and agriculture service…

Summary

The Agriculture Secretary, through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and working with other national service agencies, must run a competitive grant program (if money is provided) to help kids learn about farming and to improve their nutrition. The program will fund groups that teach food, garden, cooking, and nutrition in schools and cafeterias, support farm-to-school work and school meal programs, and grow community volunteer efforts. Grants will favor groups with proven experience, work in underserved rural or city areas, use hands-on learning, and link schools with local farmers. The Department can require partners to collect data, will regularly evaluate projects, and must report results to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. Congress authorized $25,000,000 for the program, to remain available until spent. Those funds must add to existing federal support for nutrition, research, and extension programs, not replace it. Certain existing competitive-grant rules will apply.

Title 7, §7633

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

Subject to the availability of appropriations under subsection (e), the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and working in consultation with other appropriate Federal agencies that oversee national service programs, shall administer a competitively awarded food and agriculture service learning grant program (referred to in this section as the “Program”) to increase knowledge of agriculture and improve the nutritional health of children.

(b)Purposes

The purposes of the Program are—

(1)to increase capacity for food, garden, and nutrition education within host organizations or entities and school cafeterias and in the classroom;

(2)to complement and build on the efforts of the farm to school programs implemented under section 18(g) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769(g));

(3)to complement efforts by the Department and school food authorities to implement the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school breakfast program established by section 1773 of title 42;

(4)to carry out activities that advance the nutritional health of children and nutrition education in elementary schools and secondary schools (as those terms are defined in section 7801 of title 20); and

(5)to foster higher levels of community engagement and support the expansion of national service and volunteer opportunities.

(c)Grants

(1)In general

In carrying out the Program, the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture shall make competitive grants to eligible entities that carry out the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (b).

(2)Priorities

In making grants under this section, the Secretary may consider projects that are carried out by entities that—

(A)have a proven track record in carrying out the purposes described in subsection (b);

(B)work in underserved rural and urban communities;

(C)teach and engage children in experiential learning about agriculture, gardening, nutrition, cooking, and where food comes from; and

(D)facilitate a connection between elementary schools and secondary schools and agricultural producers in the local and regional area.

(d)Accountability

(1)In general

The Secretary may require a partner organization or other qualified entity to collect and report any data on the activities carried out under the Program, as determined by the Secretary.

(2)Evaluation

The Secretary shall—

(A)conduct regular evaluations of the activities carried out under the Program; and

(B)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 the results of each evaluation conducted under subparagraph (A).

(e)Funding

(1)Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program $25,000,000, to remain available until expended.

(2)Administration

Paragraphs (4), (7), (8), and (11)(B) of subsection (b) of section 3157 of this title shall apply with respect to the making of a competitive grant under this section.

(3)Maintenance of effort

Funds made available under paragraph (1) shall be used only to supplement, not to supplant, the amount of Federal funding otherwise expended for nutrition, research, and extension programs of the Department.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is act June 4, 1946, ch. 281, 60 Stat. 230, which is classified generally to chapter 13 (§ 1751 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1751 of Title 42 and Tables.

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 114–95 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 7801 of title 20.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education.

§7633 Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program