S. 1639 — Introduced in Senate

II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1639 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 17, 2023Mr. Rubio introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to increase funding for the purchase of specialty crops, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Nutrition Act of 2023. 2. Fresh fruits and vegetables (a) Purchase of specialty crops Section 10603 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 612c–4) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking $200,000,000 and inserting $300,000,000; and (2) in subsection (b), by striking $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2023 and inserting $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. (b) Section 32 funds Section 4404(a) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 612c–5(a)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (5), by inserting through fiscal year 2023 after thereafter; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (6) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter. . (c) Domestic food assistance program Section 14222(b)(2) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 612c–6(b)(2)) is amended by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following: (A) (i) in the case of fiscal year 2024, $2,500,000,000; (ii) in the case of fiscal year 2025, $2,525,000,000; (iii) in the case of fiscal year 2026, $2,550,000,000; (iv) in the case of fiscal year 2027, $2,575,000,000; and (v) for fiscal year 2028 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount made available for the preceding fiscal year, as adjusted to reflect changes for the 12-month period ending on the preceding November 30 in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor; and . (d) Fresh fruit and vegetable program Section 19 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769a) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking 2008 and inserting 2024; and (B) by inserting and secondary schools after schools; (2) in subsection (d)(1)(C), by striking (as defined and inserting or secondary school (as those terms are defined; (3) in subsection (f)(2), by striking $75 and inserting $100; (4) in subsection (i)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting (7 U.S.C. 612c–6) after 2008; and (B) by striking subparagraphs (A) through (E) and inserting the following: (A) On July 1, 2024, $800,000,000. (B) On July 1, 2025, $825,000,000. (C) On July 1, 2026, $850,000,000. (D) On July 1, 2027, $875,000,000. (E) On July 1, 2028, and each July 1 thereafter, the amount made available for the preceding fiscal year, as adjusted to reflect changes for the 12-month period ending the preceding April 30 in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor, for items other than food. ; and (5) by adding at the end the following: (j) High-Poverty communities Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the program shall be directly available to any local educational agency identified by the Secretary as being eligible for meal service under section 11(a)(1)(F). (k) Buy America (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), fruits and vegetables purchased under the program shall be grown in the United States. (2) Waiver The requirement in paragraph (1) may be waived if a product grown in the United States cannot be purchased for less than 25 percent more than a foreign-sourced product. .