,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bbaj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #c1 #bjad ,ms4 ,collins 7for herself and ,ms4 ,heitkamp7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act to require the ,secretary of ,agriculture to make loan guarantees and grants to finance certain improvements to school lunch facilities1 to train school food service personnel1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,school ,food ,modernization ,act4 #b4 ,loan guarantees and grants to finance certain improvements to school lunch facilities ,the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act is amended by inserting after section #bf 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agfi;g7 the following3 #bg4 ,loan guarantees and grants to finance certain improvements to school lunch facilities 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,durable equipment ,the term durable equipment means durable food preparation1 handling1 cooking1 serving1 and storage equipment greater than #ejj in value4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a local educational agency or a school food authority administering or operating a school lunch program2 7,b7 a tribal organization2 or 7,c7 a consortium that includes a local educational agency or school food authority described in subparagraph 7,a71 a tribal organization1 or both4 7#c7 ,infrastructure ,the term infrastructure means a food storage facility1 kitchen1 food service facility1 cafeteria1 dining room1 or food preparation facility4 7#d7 ,local educational agency ,the term local educational agency has the meaning given the term in section #iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#e7 ,school food authority ,the term school food authority has the meaning given the term in section #baj4b of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation74 7#f7 ,tribal organization ,the term tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dej;b74 7b7 ,loan guarantees for assistance to schools for infrastructure improvements and durable equipment necessary ,to provide healthy meals through school lunch programs 7#a7 ,authority to guarantee loans ,the ,secretary shall issue a loan guarantee to an eligible entity for purposes of financing the construction1 remodeling1 or expansion of infrastructure or the purchase of durable equipment that the ,secretary determines will assist the eligible entity in providing healthy meals through a school lunch program4 7#b7 ,competitive basis ,subject to paragraph 7#c71 the ,secretary shall select eligible entities to receive a loan guarantee under this subsection on a competitive basis4 7#c7 ,preferences ,in issuing a loan guarantee under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall give a preference to an eligible entity that1 as compared with other eligible entities seeking a loan guarantee under this subsection1 the ,secretary determines demonstrates substantial or disproportionate-- 7,a7 need for infrastructure improvement2 or 7,b7 durable equipment need or impairment4 7#d7 ,oversight ,the ,secretary shall establish procedures to enable the ,secretary to oversee the construction1 remodeling1 or expansion of infrastructure or the purchase of durable equipment for which a loan guarantee is issued under this subsection4 7#e7 ,guarantee amount ,a loan guarantee issued under this subsection may not guarantee more than #hj percent of the principal amount of the loan4 7#f7 ,fees ,the ,secretary shall establish fees with respect to loan guarantees under this subsection that1 as determined by the ,secretary-- 7,a7 are sufficient to cover all the administrative costs to the ,federal ,government for the operation of the program2 7,b7 may be in the form of an application or transaction fee1 or interest rate adjustment2 and 7,c7 may be based on the risk premium associated with the loan or loan guarantee1 taking into consideration-- 7i7 the price of ,treasury obligations of a similar maturity2 7ii7 prevailing market conditions2 7iii7 the ability of the eligible infrastructure project to support the loan guarantee2 and 7iv7 the total amount of the loan guarantee4 7#g7 ,funding 7,a7 ,in general ,to provide loan guarantees under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall reserve #cjj1jjj1jjj of the loan guarantee authority remaining and unobligated as of the date of enactment of the ,school ,food ,modernization ,act under the program of community facility guaranteed loans under section #cjf7;a7 of the ,consolidated ,farm and ,rural ,development ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #aibf7;a774 7,b7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary may use not more than #e percent of the amount made available to carry out this subsection for each fiscal year to provide technical assistance to applicants and prospective applicants in preparing applications and creating financing packages that leverage a mix of public and private funding sources4 7c7 ,equipment grants 7#a7 ,authority to make grants ,beginning in fiscal year #bjae and subject to the availability of appropriations1 the ,secretary shall make grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible entities to assist the eligible entities in purchasing the durable equipment and infrastructure needed to serve healthier meals and improve food safety4 7#b7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall give priority to-- 7,a7 eligible entities in ,states that have enacted comparable statutory grant funding mechanisms or that have otherwise appropriated funds to assist eligible entities in purchasing the durable equipment and infrastructure needed to serve healthier meals and improve food safety1 as determined by the ,secretary2 and 7,b7 eligible entities that have identified and are reasonably expected to meet an unmet local or community need1 including through-- 7i7 a public-private partnership or partnership with a food pantry or other low-income assistance agency2 or 7ii7 the provision for or allowance of kitchen or cafeteria usage by related or outside community organizations4 7#c7 ,federal share 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,federal share of costs for assistance funded through a grant awarded under this subsection shall not exceed #hj percent of the total cost of the durable equipment or infrastructure4 7,b7 ,matching ,as a condition on receiving a grant under this subsection1 an eligible entity shall provide matching support in the form of cash or in-kind contributions4 7,c7 ,waiver ,the ,secretary may waive or vary the requirements of subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 if the ,secretary determines that undue hardship or effective exclusion from participation in the grant program under this subsection would otherwise result4 7#d7 ,authorization of appropriations 7,a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection for fiscal year #bjae and each subsequent fiscal year4 7,b7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary may use not more than #e percent of the amount made available to carry out this subsection for each fiscal year to provide technical assistance to applicants and prospective applicants in preparing applications and creating financing packages that leverage a mix of public and private funding sources4 4 #c4 ,training and technical assistance for school food service personnel ,the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act is amended by inserting after section #ba 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agfi;b-#a7 the following3 #ba;,a4 ,training and technical assistance for school food service personnel 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall carry out a grant program under which the ,secretary shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to provide support to eligible third-party training institutions described in subsection 7b7 to develop and administer training and technical assistance for school food service personnel to meet updated nutrition standards under section #d7;b77#c7 for the school lunch program4 7b7 ,criteria for eligible third-,party institutions ,the ,secretary shall establish specific criteria that eligible third-party training institutions shall meet to qualify to receive grants under this section1 which shall include-- 7#a7 a demonstrated capacity to administer effective training and technical assistance programming to school food service personnel2 7#b7 prior1 successful experience in providing or engaging in training and technical assistance programming or applied research activities involving eligible entities1 school food service administrators1 or directors2 7#c7 prior1 successful experience in developing relevant educational training tools or course materials or curricula on topics addressing child and school nutrition or the updated nutrition standards under section #d7;b77#c72 and 7#d7 the ability to deliver effective and cost-efficient training and technical assistance programming to school food service personnel at training sites that are located within a proximate geographic distance to schools1 central kitchens1 or other worksites4 7c7 ,program assistance ,the ,secretary shall assist the institutions receiving grants under this section in publicizing and disseminating training and other project materials and online tools to the maximum extent practicable4 7d7 ,federal share 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,federal share of costs for training and technical assistance funded through a grant awarded under this section shall not exceed #hj percent of the total cost of the training and technical assistance4 7#b7 ,matching ,as a condition of receiving a grant under this section1 the eligible third-party training institution shall provide matching support in the form of cash or in-kind contributions4 7e7 ,oversight ,the ,secretary shall establish procedures to enable the ,secretary-- 7#a7 to oversee the administration and operation of training and technical assistance funded through grants awarded under this section2 and 7#b7 to ensure that the training and assistance is operated consistent with the goals and requirements of this ,act4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for fiscal year #bjae and each subsequent fiscal year4 7#b7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary may use not more than #e percent of the amount made available to carry out this section for each fiscal year to provide technical assistance to applicants and prospective applicants in preparing applications and creating financing packages that leverage a mix of public and private funding sources4 4 #d4 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #a year after funds are made available to carry out the amendments made by this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall submit to ,congress a report on the progress of the ,secretary in implementing the amendments made by this ,act4