HR 2322 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a pilot program that requires schools to post nutritional content information regarding foods served at schools and to teach students how to make healthy food selections, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

May 7, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. BRALEY of Iowa (for himself, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. LOEBSACK, and Mr. HARE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and LaborCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a pilot program that requires schools to post nutritional content information regarding foods served at schools and to teach students how to make healthy food selections, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Healthy Food Choices for Kids Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. SCHOOL LUNCH LABELING AND NUTRITIONAL AWARENESS PILOT PROGRAM.

Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769) is amended by adding at the end the following--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(j) School Lunch Labeling and Nutritional Awareness Pilot Program-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to the availability of funds under paragraph (7), the Secretary shall award grants to not more than 10 States to assist not more than 10 schools in each of such States in carrying out a pilot program in accordance with paragraph (5) that requires schools--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) to post nutritional content information in school cafeterias regarding the food items served in the cafeterias; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) to teach students about how to make healthy food selections.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) GRANT AMOUNTS- The Secretary shall ensure that each grant awarded is of sufficient size and scope to carry out the pilot program described in this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) DURATION OF GRANTS- The Secretary may award grants for multiple years to States that meet the grant requirements described in paragraph (4).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) GRANT REQUIREMENTS- To qualify to receive a grant under this subsection, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) an assurance that the State will ensure that each school awarded a subgrant under this subsection meets the pilot program requirements described in paragraph (5) within 1 year of such subgrant award;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) a plan to inform all the schools within the State about the pilot program and the school application requirements described in paragraph (5);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) an assurance that the State will use not less than 95 percent of the grant funds to award subgrants to schools in accordance with this subsection;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) an assurance that the State will award such subgrants to at least 3, but not more than 5, schools in such State that have in effect at the date of the enactment of this subsection a program to provide nutritional content information regarding food items served in the cafeterias of such schools to students attending such schools; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) an assurance that the State will award such subgrants to at least 3, but not more than 5, schools that are located in the rural areas of such State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) SUBGRANT REQUIREMENTS- To qualify to receive a subgrant under this subsection, a school shall submit an application to a State receiving a grant under this subsection at such time, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) a plan for implementing the pilot program, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) efforts to ensure that nutritional content information, including caloric information, regarding the food items served in the school’s cafeteria is posted in a visible location at the point of decision in the cafeteria and that such information is readable and appropriate for the students who attend the school and the parents or legal guardians of such students;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) efforts to develop and implement, or expand a school wellness program or other nutritional awareness program in effect at the date of enactment of this subsection to include an educational program to teach students at the school about making healthy food selections; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) efforts to consult with a licensed nutritionist, registered dietitian, school nutrition specialist, or professional with similar qualifications at least once a year regarding the pilot program requirements described in clauses (i) and (ii) and any related nutritional matters;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) a certification of support for participation in the pilot program signed by the school food manager, school nurse, school principal, and district superintendent (or equivalent positions, as determined by the school); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) whether the school plans to post the nutritional content information described in subparagraph (A)(i) on the school’s website.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) GUIDANCE; ENCOURAGEMENT-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) GUIDANCE- The Secretary shall provide guidance to the States and schools receiving grants or subgrants under this subsection to assist such States and schools in meeting the requirements of this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) ENCOURAGEMENT- The Secretary shall encourage schools receiving subgrants under this subsection to post the nutritional content information, including caloric information, regarding food items served at the school on the school’s website.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(7) REPORTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) Each State receiving grant funds under this subsection shall submit a report at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) Not later than 1 year after the effective date of this subsection and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry of the Senate that contains--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) the number of schools receiving subgrants under this subsection; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) a detailed description of the status of the pilot program carried out by each school under this subsection, including a list of program accomplishments and challenges, and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program, in each school.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(8) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated such funds as necessary to carry out this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(9) DEFINITIONS- In this subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) LICENSED NUTRITIONIST- The term ‘licensed nutritionist’ means any person who meets the educational and training requirements under applicable State law and the credentialing requirements of the applicable professional association, if any, to become a licensed nutritionist.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) REGISTERED DIETITIAN- The term ‘registered dietitian’ means any person who meets the educational and training requirements to become credentialed as a registered dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) SCHOOL NUTRITION SPECIALIST- The term ‘school nutrition specialist’ means any person who meets the educational and training requirements to become credentialed as a school nutrition specialist by the School Nutrition Association.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink