,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #aidi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #bd1 #bjai,ms4 ,collins 7for herself and ,ms4 ,smith7 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 ,act of #bjai4 #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 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 #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 ,in general ,subject to the availability of appropriations provided in advance in an appropriations ,act specifically for the purpose of carrying out this subsection1 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 will assist the eligible entity in providing healthy meals through the school meal program 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 that1 to the maximum extent practicable1 are equal to the total cost of the loan guarantees 7as defined in section #ejb7e7 of the ,federal ,credit ,reform ,act of #aiij 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #ffa;a7#e7771 as determined by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,fee shortfall ,if the fees established under subparagraph 7,a7 are not equal to the total cost of the loan guarantees described in that subparagraph1 the ,secretary may use the funds made available under paragraph 7#f77;,a7 to pay for the costs of loan guarantees not covered by the fees4 7#f7 ,authorization of appropriations 7,a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd4 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 ,in general ,subject to the availability of appropriations provided in advance in an appropriations ,act specifically for the purpose of carrying out this subsection1 the ,secretary shall award competitive grants to ,state agencies to award subgrants to eligible entities to purchase the durable equipment needed to serve healthy meals1 improve food safety1 and help support the establishment1 maintenance1 or expansion of school meal programs4 7#b7 ,preferences ,in awarding a subgrant under this subsection1 the ,state agency shall give preference to an eligible entity that1 as compared with other eligible entities seeking a subgrant 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 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd4 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 meal 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 ,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 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 each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd4 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