,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #efi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #be1 #bjae ,mr4 ,leahy 7for himself and ,mr4 ,cochran7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to reauthorize the farm to school program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,farm to ,school ,act of #bjae4 #b4 ,access to ,local ,foods3 ,farm to ,school ,program ,section #ah7;g7 of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agfi7;g77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through ,in this subsection1 the and inserting the following3 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,agricultural producer ,the term agricultural producer means a farmer1 rancher1 or fisher 7including of farm-raised fish74 7,b7 ,eligible school ,the 2 and 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,b7 7as so redesignated71 by inserting 1 including the summer food service program for children under section #ac and the early care and afterschool portions of the child and adult care food program under section #ag1 after under this ,act2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking and nonprofit entities through grants and technical assistance and inserting land-grant colleges and universities1 and nonprofit entities through grants1 technical assistance1 and research2 7#c7 in paragraph 7#c7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 in clause 7i71 by inserting and technical assistance after training2 7ii7 by redesignating clauses 7vi7 and 7vii7 as clauses 7vii7 and 7viii71 respectively2 and 7iii7 by inserting after clause 7v7 the following3 7vi7 implementing agricultural literacy and nutrition education2 2 and 7,b7 by striking subparagraph 7,c7 and inserting the following3 7,c7 ,improved procurement and distribution 7i7 ,in general ,in awarding grants under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall seek to improve local food procurement and distribution options for agricultural producers and eligible schools4 7ii7 ,aggregation1 processing1 transportation1 and distribution ,in advancing local food procurement options and other farm to school objectives1 the ,secretary may provide funding for projects that include innovative approaches to aggregation1 processing1 transportation1 and distribution4 7,d7 ,awards 7i7 ,maximum amount ,the total amount provided to a grant recipient under this subsection shall not exceed #bjj1jjj4 7ii7 ,term ,the term of an award shall not exceed #c years4 7iii7 ,purpose and scope ,in making awards under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall seek to make awards of diverse amounts and duration in order to best match the award to the purpose and scope of the project to be funded4 7,e7 ,limitation ,the ,secretary may not award a grant under this subsection if the grant funds would be used solely for the purpose of carrying out a conference4 2 7#d7 in paragraph 7#e7-- 7,a7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,g7 as clauses 7i7 through 7vii71 respectively1 and indenting the clauses appropriately2 7,b7 in clause 7ii7 7as so redesignated71 by striking lunches and inserting meals2 7,c7 in the matter preceding clause 7i7 7as so redesignated71 by striking ,to the maximum extent practicable and inserting the following3 7,a7 ,in general ,to the maximum extent practicable 2 7,d7 in clause 7vi7 7as so redesignated71 by striking and at the end2 7,e7 by redesignating clause 7vii7 7as so redesignated7 as clause 7viii72 7,f7 by inserting after clause 7vi7 7as so redesignated7 the following3 7vii7 expand the selection of local commodities for eligible schools2 and 2 and 7,g7 by adding at the end the following3 7,b7 ,tribal community projects ,in the case of projects serving tribal communities1 the ,secretary shall1 to the maximum extent practicable1 give highest priority to projects that best use products from tribal agricultural producers1 as determined by the ,secretary4 2 7#e7 in paragraph 7#g7-- 7,a7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,c7 as clauses 7i7 through 7iii71 respectively1 and indenting appropriately2 7,b7 by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through nonprofit entities-- and inserting the following3 7#g7 ,technical assistance and research 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall provide technical assistance1 research1 and information to assist eligible schools1 ,state and local agencies1 ,indian tribal organizations1 agricultural producers or agricultural producer groups1 and nonprofit entities-- 2 7,c7 in subparagraph 7,a7 7as so designated7-- 7i7 in clause 7ii7 7as so redesignated71 by striking and at the end2 7ii7 in clause 7iii7 7as so redesignated71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7iii7 by adding at the end the following3 7iv7 to increase awareness of1 and participation in1 farm to school programs among agricultural and aquaculture producers or agricultural producer groups1 including beginning1 veteran1 and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers4 2 and 7,d7 by adding at the end the following3 7,b7 ,review 7i7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,farm to ,school ,act of #bjae and every #c years thereafter1 the ,secretary shall review and submit to the ,committee on ,agriculture and the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate a report that describes the progress that has been made in identifying and eliminating regulatory and other barriers related to developing farm to school programs4 7ii7 ,requirements ,in preparing the report1 the ,secretary shall examine-- 7,i7 the direct and indirect regulatory compliance costs affecting the production and marketing of locally or regionally produced agricultural food products to school food programs2 and 7,,ii7 barriers to local and regional market access for small-scale production4 2 7#f7 in paragraph 7#h7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking #e1jjj1jjj and inserting #ae1jjj1jjj2 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 ,administration ,of the funds provided to the ,secretary under subparagraph 7,a71 not more than #e percent may be used to pay administrative costs incurred by the ,secretary in carrying out this subsection4 2 and 7#g7 in paragraph 7#i71 by striking #bjaa through #bjae and inserting #bjaf through #bjba4