,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cddd ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #bd1 #bjai,mr4 ,de,saulnier 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,thompson of ,pennsylvania1 ,ms4 ,kuster of ,new ,hampshire1 and ,mr4 ,kelly of ,pennsylvania7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,agriculture1 and ,appropriations1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,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 meal 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 #haja 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 any 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 #ecjd74 7b7 ,loan guarantees for assistance to schools for infrastructure improvements and durable equipment necessary ,to provide healthy meals through school meal programs 7#a7 ,authority to guarantee loans ,the ,secretary shall issue a loan guarantee to an eligible lender 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 meal program authorized under this ,act4 7#b7 ,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#c7 ,oversight ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,under ,secretary for ,rural ,development1 shall establish procedures to oversee any project or purchase for which a loan guarantee is issued under this subsection4 7#d7 ,guarantee amount ,a loan guarantee issued under this subsection may not guarantee more than #hj percent of the principal amount of the loan4 7#e7 ,fees and costs 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish fees for loan guarantees under this subsection that are1 to the maximum extent practicable1 equal to all costs of the loan guarantees as determined under the ,federal ,credit ,reform ,act of #aiij 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #ffa et seq471 as determined by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,fee shortfall ,to the extent that the ,secretary determines that fees described in subparagraph 7,a7 are not sufficient to pay for all of the costs for the loan guarantees pursuant to the ,federal ,credit ,reform ,act of #aiij 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #ffa et seq471 the ,secretary may use funds described in paragraph 7#f7 to pay for the costs of loan guarantees not paid for by the fees4 7#f7 ,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 #bjbj and subject to the availability of appropriations1 provide grants to ,state agencies for competitive subgrants to local educational agencies and schools 7tribes7 to purchase the equipment needed to serve healthy meals1 improve food safety1 and to help support the establishment1 maintenance and expansion of the school4 7#b7 ,preferences ,in issuing a grant under this subsection1 the ,state agency shall give a preference to an eligible entity that1 as compared with other eligible entities seeking a loan guarantee under this subsection1 the ,state agency determines demonstrates substantial or disproportionate-- 7,a7 need for infrastructure improvement2 or 7,b7 durable equipment need or impairment4 7#c7 ,authorization of appropriations 7,a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated #ce1jjj1jjj as may be necessary to carry out this subsection for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbe4 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 or exceed nutrition standards under section #d7;b77#c7 and improve efficacy and efficiency of the school lunch program under this ,act and the school breakfast program established by section #d of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aggc74 7b7 ,eligible ,third-,party ,institutions ,defined ,for purposes of this section1 the term eligible third-party institution means-- 7#a7 a nonprofit organization with demonstrated experience in food or nutrition services training and technical assistance2 7#b7 an institution of higher education as defined in section #ajb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb72 7#c7 an area career and technical education school as defined in section #c of the ,carl ,d4 ,perkins ,career and ,technical ,education ,act of #bjjf 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #bcjb72 or 7#d7 a consortium of entities described in paragraphs 7#a71 7#b71 and 7#c74 7c7 ,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-- 7,a7 at training sites that are located within a proximate geographic distance to schools1 central kitchens1 or other worksites2 or 7,b7 through an online training and assistance program on topics that do not require in-person attendance4 7d7 ,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 7e7 ,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 7f7 ,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 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated #aj1jjj1jjj to carry out this section for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbe4 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 sections #ba;,a and #bg of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7as added by this ,act71 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall submit to ,congress a report on the progress of the ,secretary in implementing such sections4 #e4 ,study and report to ,congress on the use of ,state administrative expense funds 7a7 ,study ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall conduct a study on-- 7#a7 the use of ,state administrative expense funds by ,state agencies2 7#b7 innovative1 effective1 replicable1 model policies1 practices1 and training methods that may be implemented using ,state administrative expense funds2 7#c7 factors that interfere with the ability of ,state agencies to use ,state administrative expense funds effectively2 and 7#d7 how ,state administrative expense funds may be used to encourage the implementation of effective and consistent school nutrition workforce training1 with particular emphasis on training and technical assistance to improve the implementation of nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools including-- 7,a7 nutrition standards for foods sold in schools other than foods provided under the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff and the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act2 7,b7 local school wellness policies2 7,c7 professional standards for school nutrition professionals2 and 7,d7 other school food service practices1 standards1 and operational requirements as the ,secretary may identify as requiring additional assistance4 7b7 ,development and use of assessment tool 7#a7 ,in ,general ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall develop an assessment tool for the purpose of carrying out the study under subsection 7a74 ,such tool shall include a general methodology for evaluating effectiveness of ,state agencies in providing training and technical assistance using ,state administrative expense funds4 7#b7 ,coordination with other ,entities ,in developing the assessment tool under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall consider public research1 stakeholder input1 and direct feedback from school nutrition personnel4 7c7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall prepare and submit to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives a report containing-- 7#a7 a summary of the study conducted under subsection 7a72 7#b7 any findings and recommendations resulting from such study2 7#c7 a plan for disseminating to ,state agencies best practices on the use of ,state administrative expense funds for training and technical assistance2 and 7#d7 recommendations1 if any1 for the ongoing monitoring and improvement of training and technical assistance carried out by ,state agencies using ,state administrative expense funds4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,state administrative expense funds ,the term ,state administrative expense funds means the ,state administrative expense funds described in part #bce of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation74 7#b7 ,state agency ,the term ,state agency has the meaning given the term in section #bce4b of title #g1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation74 #f4 ,offset ,of the unobligated balance available for administrative expenses of the ,department of ,education1 #de1jjj1jjj is rescinded4