,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #edcb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ag1 #bjbf,mr4 ,schiff 7for himself and ,mr4 ,welch7 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 authorize the ,secretary of ,agriculture to make grants to certain institutions of higher education to provide free meals to low-income students1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,food for ,thought ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,free meals for low-income college students ,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 ,free meals for low-,income college students 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,community college ,the term community college means-- 7i7 a public institution of higher education at which the highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an associate degree1 including ,tribal ,colleges or ,universities receiving grants under section #caf of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;c7 that offer a #b-year program for completion of such degree and ,state public institutions of higher education that offer such a #b-year program2 and 7ii7 a public postsecondary vocational institution 7as defined in section #ajb7;c7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb7;c7774 7,b7 ,eligible entity 7i7 ,in general ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,i7 an eligible institution of higher education that has an on-campus meal program2 7,,ii7 an institutionally operated food service1 contracted prepared-meal provider1 mobile meal distribution1 food hub1 food pantry1 food hall1 or community-based meal partnership1 as determined by the ,secretary2 or 7,,iii7 a consortium of eligible institutions of higher education1 of which at least #a eligible institution of higher education-- 7aa7 has an on-campus meal program2 and 7bb7 is geographically accessible to the students of each eligible institution of higher education in the consortium that does not have an on-campus meal program4 7ii7 ,geographic accessibility ,for purposes of clause 7i77,,iii77bb71 geographic accessibility shall be based on the location of1 the availability of public transit to1 and the meal service hours of each eligible institution of higher education within the consortium4 7,c7 ,eligible institution of higher education ,the term eligible institution of higher education means an institution of higher education 7as defined in sections #aja and #ajb7;a77#a77;,b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja1 #ajjb7;a77#a77;,b7771 including a minority-serving institution1 in which at least #bj percent of the undergraduate students enrolled are eligible to receive a ,federal ,pell ,grant under subpart #a of part ,a of title ,,iv of that ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;a et seq474 7,d7 ,historically ,black college or university ,the term historically ,black college or university has the meaning given the term part ,b institution in section #cbb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfa74 7,e7 ,minority-serving institution ,the term minority-serving institution means an institution described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#g7 of section #cga7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfgq7a774 7,f7 ,on-campus meal program ,the term on-campus meal program means a meal program on the campus of an eligible institution of higher education that is provided through an institutionally owned or operated food service or #a or more third-party food service vendors4 7,g7 ,program ,the term program means the program established under paragraph 7#b77;,a74 7,h7 ,tribal college or university ,the term ,tribal college or university means a ,tribal ,college or ,university 7as defined in section #caf7;b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;c7b777 that is chartered by the governing body of the applicable ,indian ,tribe or by the ,federal ,government4 7#b7 ,establishment 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,food and ,nutrition ,service1 shall establish a program under which the ,secretary shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible institutions of higher education to provide free meals1 including snacks1 to low-income students4 7,b7 ,duration of grant ,the duration of a grant awarded under the program shall not exceed #b years4 7#c7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under the program1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including-- 7,a7 a plan for identifying and conducting outreach to low-income students2 and 7,b7 an assurance that the eligible entity will-- 7i7 conduct outreach to students with respect to the program1 encourage student participation in the program1 and inform students of-- 7,i7 their potential eligibility for participation in other ,federal1 ,state1 and local benefit and support programs1 including means-tested ,federal benefits programs1 such as the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq472 and 7,,ii7 the processes for obtaining more information1 confirming eligibility1 and accessing benefits under those programs2 7ii7 evaluate institutional policies relating to the purchase of meal plans under on-campus meal programs and whether those policies create barriers to enrollment and persistence for low-income students2 7iii7 identify ways to mitigate any barriers under institutional policies that are found1 through the evaluation described in clause 7ii71 to create barriers described in that clause2 and 7iv7 in the case of an eligible entity that is a consortium of eligible institutions of higher education that includes #a or more eligible institutions of higher education that do not have an on-campus meal program1 provide an explanation with respect to how the eligible entity will ensure that low-income students attending those institutions of higher education that do not have an on-campus meal program will be notified of available free meals provided under the program and available transportation options to be able to easily access those free meals4 7#d7 ,award administration 7,a7 ,in general ,in awarding grants under the program1 the ,secretary shall ensure that the eligible entities receiving grants reflect-- 7i7 varying student body size2 7ii7 part-time and full-time student enrollment2 7iii7 diverse geographic locations and regional costs of living1 including urban1 rural1 or suburban campuses2 and 7iv7 diverse residential character1 including race1 ethnicity1 and socioeconomic status4 7,b7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under the program1 the ,secretary may give priority to eligible entities-- 7i7 with prepared food infrastructure or that can identify an outside source of support to develop that infrastructure2 7ii7 that are community colleges1 historically ,black colleges and universities1 ,tribal colleges and universities1 ,hispanic-serving institutions 7as defined in section #ejb7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja;a7a7771 or other minority-serving institutions or consortia of minority-serving institutions2 or 7iii7 that are located within proximity of a school that elects to receive special assistance payments under section #aa7;a77#a77;,f74 7#e7 ,use of funds 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under the program shall use the grant-- 7i7 to establish a program to provide free meals1 including snacks1 to low-income students1 subject to the condition that the eligible entity shall provide not fewer than #a and not more than #aj free meals per week per student2 7ii7 to conduct outreach to students to encourage participation in the program2 7iii7 to prepare meals to be provided for free under the program2 7iv7 to purchase meals from vendors to be provided for free under the program2 7v7 to provide information to students regarding potential eligibility for assistance under ,federal1 ,state1 and local benefit and support programs and the processes for obtaining more information1 as described in paragraph 7#c77;,b77i72 7vi7 to conduct evaluations of institutional policies described in paragraph 7#c77;,b77ii72 7vii7 to identify ways to mitigate barriers described in paragraph 7#c77;,b77iii72 and 7viii7 to provide an explanation described in paragraph 7#c77;,b77iv74 7,b7 ,priority ,in selecting low-income students to participate in the program established by the eligible entity under subparagraph 7,a77i71 an eligible entity shall give priority to low-income students who-- 7i7 receive a ,federal ,pell ,grant under subpart #a of part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;a et seq472 7ii7 indicate that they are experiencing or at risk of experiencing food insecurity1 housing insecurity1 homelessness1 or other insecurity with respect to basic needs2 or 7iii7 participate in a ,state or federally financed work-study program during the regular school year1 as determined by the eligible institution of higher education4 7,c7 ,limitation on purchase of equipment ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under the program may use not more than #bj percent of the grant to purchase equipment4 7,d7 ,eligibility for ,,snap ,receipt of a meal under the program shall not be considered for the purposes of determining eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq474 7#f7 ,requirement ,meals served by an eligible entity using a grant under the program shall meet the nutritional requirements developed under paragraph 7#i77;,c74 7#g7 ,report ,each eligible entity that receives a grant under the program shall1 not later than #a year after the end of the grant term1 submit to the ,secretary a report containing-- 7,a7 a description of the prevalence of food insecurity among students enrolled in the eligible entity2 7,b7 an evaluation of the use of the grant funds by the eligible entity1 including-- 7i7 in addressing challenges with food insecurity2 and 7ii7 with respect to the degree completion rates of students served by the eligible entity2 and 7,c7 information on the population of students served by the grant funds1 disaggregated by-- 7i7 part-time or full-time status2 7ii7 eligibility to receive the ,federal ,pell ,grant under subpart #a of part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;a et seq472 7iii7 estimates of eligibility to receive benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq472 and 7iv7 dependency status4 7#h7 ,duties of the ,secretary 7,a7 ,consultation ,in carrying out the program1 the ,secretary shall consult with eligible entities and ,state social service agencies4 7,b7 ,technical assistance 7i7 ,in general ,not later than #abj days after the date of enactment of the ,food for ,thought ,act of #bjbf1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,food and ,nutrition ,service1 and the ,secretary of ,education shall enter into a memorandum of understanding that-- 7,i7 authorizes the regular sharing of ,department of ,education data and resources to assist with identifying eligible institutions of higher education and low-income students2 7,,ii7 contains a plan to assist ,state social services agencies and ,state higher education agencies in improving outreach to students eligible to enroll in the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq472 and 7,,iii7 requires the development of an annual plan for the ,administrator of the ,food and ,nutrition ,service and the ,secretary of ,education to provide technical assistance1 as applicable1 to eligible entities-- 7aa7 to develop prepared-meal infrastructure2 7bb7 to carry out the activities described in paragraph 7#e77;,a71 including training the employees of the eligible entity to carry out those activities2 and 7cc7 to develop outreach to students who are likely to be eligible for benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq474 7ii7 ,data privacy ,data sharing pursuant to the memorandum of understanding under clause 7i7 shall-- 7,i7 comply with all applicable ,federal privacy protections1 including section #ddd of the ,general ,education ,provisions ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #abcb;g7 7commonly known as the ,family ,educational ,rights and ,privacy ,act of #aigd72 and 7,,ii7 be used only for the purpose of assisting eligible institutions of higher education in conducting outreach to low-income students4 7,c7 ,nutritional requirements ,not later than #abj days after the date of enactment of the ,food for ,thought ,act of #bjbf1 the ,secretary shall develop nutritional requirements for meals served pursuant to grants under the program that are consistent with the goals of the most recent ,dietary ,guidelines for ,americans published under section #cja of the ,national ,nutrition ,monitoring and ,related ,research ,act of #aiij 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ecda74 7,d7 ,report 7i7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress-- 7,i7 not later than #b years after the date of enactment of the ,food for ,thought ,act of #bjbf1 a report evaluating the program1 including-- 7aa7 how the program addressed food insecurity2 and 7bb7 recommendations with respect to expanding the program2 and 7,,ii7 not later than #d years after the date of enactment of the ,food for ,thought ,act of #bjbf1 a report on the effect of the program on retention and completion rates for low-income students served by the program4 7ii7 ,disaggregation ,information contained in the reports submitted under clause 7i7 shall be disaggregated1 where possible1 by-- 7,i7 sectors and types of institutions of higher education1 including whether an institution of higher education is a minority-serving institution2 7,,ii7 the number of eligible students who-- 7aa7 are part-time1 half-time1 or full-time2 7bb7 are eligible to receive the ,federal ,pell ,grant under subpart #a of part ,a of title ,,iv of that ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;a et seq472 7cc7 are eligible to receive benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq472 7dd7 have indicated that the student or a member of the family of the student previously received benefits under-- 7,,aa7 the program described in item 7cc72 or 7,,bb7 the temporary assistance for needy families program established under part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fja et seq472 7ee7 7,,aa7 reside in an institution or boarding house2 or 7,,bb7 live with other individuals and pay compensation to those individuals for meals2 and 7ff7 are first-generation college students2 and 7,,iii7 whether an institution of higher education has an open admissions policy4 7#i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjcb4 4 #c4 ,amendment to the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife ,section #dhj7;i7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgvv7i77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#f7 ,notwithstanding paragraph 7#a71 benefits received under subsection 7a7 of section #ah of the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agfi7 shall not be treated as other financial assistance for purposes of section #dga7c74 4