,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ghca ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bi1 #bjbj,mr4 ,delgado 7for himself and ,mr4 ,sensenbrenner7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act to establish a pilot program to provide selected ,states with an increased reimbursement for school lunches that are comprised of locally-grown and unprocessed foods1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,small ,farm to ,school ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,findings and purpose 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,across the ,united ,states1 school food service directors of school lunch programs face very tight budgets1 and many find it challenging to shift their procurement practices without additional support4 7#b7 ,one way to encourage school food service directors to procure more locally-produced and unprocessed foods is to offer reimbursements to provide financial incentives for purchases and ease the process of shifting existing procurement practices4 7#c7 ,research suggests that providing financial incentives to school food service directors for purchasing of locally-produced and unprocessed foods1 can result in an overall positive economic effect for farmers and local economies4 7#d7 ,in one such study1 ,cornell ,university researchers found that providing an additional #j4je-per-lunch subsidy incentive to school food service directors in ,new ,york ,state that use local fruits or vegetables one day per week would have an overall positive economic effect for farmers and local economies4 7#e7 ,in a report on ,michigan's #aj ,cents a ,meal for ,school ,kids and ,farms ,state pilot program1 researchers found that providing schools with up to #j4aj-per-meal in incentive match funding to purchase and serve ,michigan-grown fruits1 vegetables1 and dry beans resulted in an overall positive economic effect for the ,state's economy1 doubling the investment of such ,state in the program4 7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to provide incentives for school food service directors of school lunch programs to increase purchases of locally-produced and unprocessed foods from small farmers1 thereby providing healthier lunches for children and creating a positive economic effect for small farmers and local economies4 #c4 ,locally-produced and unprocessed foods pilot program ,section #ah of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agfi7 is amended by inserting before subsection 7b7 the following3 7a7 ,locally-,produced and unprocessed foods pilot program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall carry out a grant program to make #c-year grants to #h ,states or ,indian tribal organizations to provide school food authorities with an increased reimbursement for free and reduced price lunches that are qualified lunches 7as defined in paragraph 7#aj774 7#b7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection1 a ,state or ,indian tribal organization shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#c7 ,selection of ,states 7,a7 ,regional requirement ,in awarding grants to ,states or ,indian tribal organizations under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall select at least one ,state or ,indian tribal organization located in each of the following regions designated by the ,administrator of the ,food and ,nutrition ,service3 7i7 ,the ,mid-,atlantic ,region4 7ii7 ,the ,midwest ,region4 7iii7 ,the ,mountain ,plains ,region4 7iv7 ,the ,northeast ,region4 7v7 ,the ,southern ,region4 7vi7 ,the ,southwest ,region4 7vii7 ,the ,western ,region4 7,b7 ,priority 7i7 ,highest priority ,to the maximum extent practicable1 in awarding grants under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall give the highest priority to a ,state or ,indian tribal organization that proposes in an application under paragraph 7#b7 to carry out a project that1 as determined by the ,secretary-- 7,i7 makes local food products available on the menu of the eligible institution2 7,,ii7 serves a high proportion of children who are eligible for free or reduced price meals2 7,,iii7 incorporates experiential1 and traditional and culturally appropriate nutrition1 food1 or agricultural education activities in curriculum planning2 7,,iv7 serves a high proportion of children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds2 7,v7 demonstrates collaboration between ,state and local agencies1 ,tribal organizations and agencies1 agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers1 land-grant colleges and universities1 and nonprofit entities2 7,,vi7 includes adequate and participatory evaluation plans1 as determined by the ,secretary2 7,,vii7 demonstrates the potential for long-term sustainability2 7,,viii7 increases the availability of locally-produced and unprocessed foods to children2 and 7,,ix7 meets any other criteria that the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7ii7 ,additional priority ,in awarding grants to ,states or ,indian tribal organizations under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall1 in addition to the priority described in clause 7i71 give priority to-- 7,i7 a ,state or ,indian tribal organization with a high quantity and variety of growers of local fruits and vegetables on a per capita basis2 and 7,,ii7 a ,state or ,indian tribal organization with a demonstrated commitment to farm-to-school activities4 7#d7 ,use of funds 7,a7 ,in general ,a ,state or ,indian tribal organization that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to provide to an additional #b4e cents reimbursement to each school food authority located in such ,state for each qualified lunch served by such school food authority4 7,b7 ,matching funds requirement ,a ,state or ,indian tribal organization that receives a grant under this subsection shall provide1 toward the cost of the activities assisted under the grant1 from non-,federal sources1 an amount equal to #ajj percent of the amount of the grant4 7#e7 ,reports 7,a7 ,state report ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this subsection1 a ,state or ,indian tribal organization awarded a grant under this subsection shall submit a report to the ,secretary that includes-- 7i7 the quantity of locally-grown and unprocessed foods annually purchased and served prior to a grant under this subsection2 7ii7 the locally-grown and unprocessed foods purchased and served pursuant to a grant under this subsection2 7iii7 the source1 quantity1 and cost of each such food described in clauses 7i7 and 7ii72 and 7iv7 an assessment of the activities carried out by such ,state pursuant to such grant4 7,b7 ,department report ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this subsection1 the ,secretary shall submit a report to ,congress that includes-- 7i7 an analysis of the pilot project under this subsection2 7ii7 the data reported to the ,secretary by participating ,states and ,indian tribal organizations under subparagraph 7,a72 and 7iii7 a benefit-cost ratio analysis taking into account the increased economic activity on farms1 input suppliers1 and others employed in the food distribution sector4 7#f7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,grant funds provided under this subsection shall be used to supplement1 not supplant1 other ,federal or ,state funds available to carry out activities described in this subsection4 7#g7 ,allocation of funds 7,a7 ,in general ,of the funds made available to carry out this subsection in a fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall make an allocation to the #h ,states or ,indian tribal organizations awarded a grant under this subsection4 ,such allocation shall be made on a pro rata basis determined by the total number of reimbursable meals served during the previous school year4 7,b7 ,administrative ,of the funds made available to a ,state or ,indian tribal organization under this subsection1 not more than #c percent may be used for administrative expenses4 7#h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection #bj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj and each succeeding fiscal year1 to remain available until expended4 7#i7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,farm-to-school activities ,the term farm-to-school activities includes the following activities3 7i7 ,planting and maintenance of farms or gardens4 7ii7 ,procurement from local agricultural producers4 7iii7 ,educational activities relating to agriculture1 nutrition1 or food4 7,b7 ,locally-produced ,the term locally-produced means food that is-- 7i7 raised1 produced1 and distributed in a locality that is less than #djj miles from the point of sale of such food1 or 7ii7 raised1 produced1 distributed1 and sold within the same ,state1 territory1 or ,tribal land4 7,c7 ,majority-controlled producer-based business venture ,the term majority-controlled producer-based venture has the meaning given the term in section #baj;,a for the ,agricultural ,marketing ,act of #aidf 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #afbg7;c774 7,d7 ,qualified lunch ,the term qualified lunch means a lunch served by a school food authority under this ,act of which at least one component of such lunch is comprised entirely of locally-produced and unprocessed foods procured directly from-- 7i7 an independent producer2 7ii7 an agricultural producer group1 farmer1 or rancher cooperative or majority-controlled producer-based venture-- 7,i7 that is privately held and incorporated within a #djj-mile radius of the school food authority procuring such locally-produced and unprocessed foods2 and 7,,ii7 of which the majority of the owners are located within a #djj-mile radius of such school food authority2 or 7iii7 an intermediary-- 7,i7 that is privately held and incorporated within a #djj-mile radius of the school food authority procuring such locally-produced and unprocessed foods2 and 7,,ii7 of which the majority of the owners are located within a #djj-mile radius of such school food authority4 7,e7 ,unprocessed ,the term unprocessed means only those agricultural products that retain their inherent character4 ,the effects of the following food handling and preservation techniques shall not be considered as changing an agricultural product into a product of a different kind or character3 cooling2 refrigerating2 freezing2 size adjustment made by peeling1 slicing1 dicing1 cutting1 chopping1 shucking1 and grinding2 forming ground products into patties without any additives or fillers2 drying_/dehydration2 washing2 packaging 7such as placing eggs in cartons71 vacuum packing and bagging 7such as placing vegetables in bags or combining #b or more types of vegetables or fruits in a single package72 the addition of ascorbic acid or other preservatives to prevent oxidation of produce2 butchering livestock and poultry2 cleaning fish2 and the pasteurization of milk4 7,f7 ,state ,the term ,state means any of the several ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 or any other territory or possession of the ,united ,states4 4