US Congress Senate Bill 540 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-2)
Status: Introduced on February 24 2015 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2015-02-24 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1077)
Pending: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, And Forestry Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

School Food Modernization Act Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to direct the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue loan guarantees to local educational agencies (LEAs) or school food authorities administering or operating a school lunch program, tribal organizations, or consortia of such entities to finance the construction, remodeling, or expansion of infrastructure or the purchase of durable equipment that will facilitate their provision of healthy meals through the school lunch program. Requires USDA to give a preference to applicants that demonstrate a substantial or disproportionate need for food service infrastructure or durable equipment. Prohibits a loan guarantee from covering more than 80% of a loan's principal. Requires USDA to establish fees for the loan guarantee program that: (1) are sufficient to cover the federal government's administrative costs in operating the program, and (2) may be based on the risk premium associated with the particular loan or loan guarantee. Directs USDA to award competitive matching grants to assist LEAs or school food authorities administering or operating a school lunch program, tribal organizations, or consortia of such entities in purchasing the durable equipment and infrastructure they need to serve healthier meals and improve food safety. Requires USDA to give grant priority to applicants that: (1) have identified and are reasonably expected to meet an unmet local or community need, and (2) are located in states that have enacted funding measures to assist them with such purchases. Prohibits such a grant from covering more than 80% of the total cost of the durable equipment and infrastructure. Directs USDA to award competitive matching grants to experienced third-party training institutions to provide school food service personnel with the training and technical assistance they need to: (1) meet school lunch program nutrition standards, and (2) improve the efficacy and efficiency of the school lunch and breakfast programs. Prohibits such a grant from covering more than 80% of the total cost of the training and technical assistance.

School Food Modernization Act

Sen. Susan Collins [R-ME]	Sen. Heidi Heitkamp [D-ND]	Sen. Robert Casey [D-PA]	Sen. Thad Cochran [R-MS]
Sen. Jack Reed [D-RI]	Sen. Patty Murray [D-WA]	Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D-NY]	Sen. Mazie Hirono [D-HI]
Sen. Barbara Boxer [D-CA]

Date	Chamber	Action
2015-02-24	Senate	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1077)

HB3316 (Related) 2015-11-16 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/540/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s540/BILLS-114s540is.pdf