H.R. 6795

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6795 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6795

To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve 
direct certification, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 17, 2025

Mrs. Hayes (for herself and Ms. Omar) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve 
direct certification, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``School Modernization and Efficient 
Access to Lunches for Students Act of 2025'' or the ``School MEALS Act 
of 2025''.

SEC. 2. EXPANDING DIRECT CERTIFICATION.

Section 9(b)(4)(F)(iii)(II)(bb) of the Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(4)(F)(iii)(II)(bb)) is amended by 
inserting ``in not more than 3 school years'' after ``measures''.

SEC. 3. DIRECT CERTIFICATION IMPROVEMENT GRANTS AND TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE.

Section 9(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1758(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(16) Direct certification improvement grants and 
technical assistance.--
``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible 
entity' means--
``(I) a State agency; and
``(II) a Tribal organization.
``(ii) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian 
Tribe' has the meaning given the term `Indian 
tribe' in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
U.S.C. 5304).
``(iii) Rate of direct certification.--The 
term `rate of direct certification' means the 
percentage of children eligible for direct 
certification under paragraphs (4) and (5) for 
a school year that were directly certified 
under those paragraphs for that school year.
``(iv) Tribal organization.--The term 
`Tribal organization' has the meaning given the 
term `tribal organization' in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
``(B) Grants.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall 
provide grants to eligible entities that 
administer the school lunch program under this 
Act to improve the rate of direct certification 
in the State in which the eligible entity is 
located.
``(ii) Priority.--In providing grants under 
clause (i), the Secretary shall give priority 
to States and Tribal organizations with the 
lowest rates of direct certification.
``(iii) Use of funds.--An eligible entity 
that receives a grant under clause (i) shall 
use the grant funds to pay costs relating to 
improving the rate of direct certification in 
the State or Indian Tribe, as applicable, 
including the cost of--
``(I) improving technology relating 
to direct certification;
``(II) providing technical 
assistance to local educational 
agencies;
``(III) newly implementing or 
revising a direct certification system 
or process in the State (including at 
local educational agencies in the 
State) or Indian Tribe, including the 
cost of equipment; and
``(IV) coordinating with multiple 
public benefits programs to increase 
the rate of direct certification, 
including by conducting feasibility 
studies and demonstration projects 
under section 18(c).
``(C) Food distribution program on indian 
reservations.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall 
provide grants to States and Tribal 
organizations administering the food 
distribution program on Indian reservations 
under section 4(b) of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b))--
``(I) in the case of a Tribal 
organization, if applicable, to 
establish a rate of direct 
certification of children that are 
members of households receiving 
assistance under that program; or
``(II) to improve the rate of 
direct certification of children that 
are members of households receiving 
assistance under that program.
``(ii) Use of funds.--A State or Tribal 
organization receiving a grant under this 
subparagraph shall use the funds to pay the 
costs described in subparagraph (B)(iii).
``(D) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall 
provide technical assistance to assist the recipients 
of grants under subparagraphs (B) and (C), and other 
eligible entities, as appropriate, in improving the 
rates of direct certification.
``(E) Funding.--
``(i) In general.--On October 1, 2025, out 
of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise 
appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury 
shall transfer to the Secretary to carry out 
this paragraph $28,000,000, to remain available 
until expended.
``(ii) Food distribution program on indian 
reservations.--Of the funds transferred to the 
Secretary under clause (i), the Secretary shall 
use not less than $2,000,000 to carry out 
subparagraph (C).
``(iii) Technical assistance.--Of the funds 
transferred to the Secretary under clause (i), 
the Secretary shall use not more than 
$3,000,000 to carry out subparagraph (D).
``(iv) Receipt and acceptance.--The 
Secretary shall be entitled to receive, shall 
accept, and shall use to carry out this 
paragraph the funds transferred under clause 
(i), without further appropriation.''.

SEC. 4. ENHANCING THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY OPTION.

Section 11(a)(1)(F) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1759a(a)(1)(F)) is amended--
(1) in clause (iv)--
(A) in subclause (I)(bb)--
(i) by striking ``as of April 1 of the 
prior school year'' and inserting ``during the 
period beginning on April 1 of the prior school 
year and ending on the last day of that school 
year''; and
(ii) by striking ``as of April 1 of the 
school year prior'' and all that follows 
through ``subparagraph'' and inserting ``during 
the period beginning on April 1 of the covered 
school year and ending on the last day of the 
covered school year''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(III) Definition of covered 
school year.--In this clause, the term 
`covered school year' means the school 
year prior to the first school year 
that a school or local educational 
agency elected to receive special 
assistance payments under this 
subparagraph.''; and
(2) in clause (x)--
(A) in subclause (I), by striking ``for the next 
school year if, not later than June 30 of the current 
school year,'' and inserting ``if'';
(B) in subclause (II)(aa), by inserting ``, based 
on counts conducted by schools of identified students 
beginning on or after April 1 of that school year,'' 
after ``clause (viii)''; and
(C) in subclause (IV)(aa), by inserting ``, based 
on counts conducted by schools of identified students 
beginning on or after April 1 of that school year,'' 
after ``clause (viii)''.

SEC. 5. ENHANCING DIRECT CERTIFICATION.

Section 9(b)(15)(B)(ii)(III) of the Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(15)(B)(ii)(III)) is amended by 
striking ``10'' and inserting ``20''.

SEC. 6. STATE PERFORMANCE ON ENROLLING CHILDREN RECEIVING PROGRAM 
BENEFITS FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS.

Section 4301(b) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 
(42 U.S.C. 1758a(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) in the case of a State identified under clause 
(ii)(I) of section 9(b)(4)(F) of the Richard B. Russell 
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(4)(F)), a 
description of--
``(A) the technical assistance provided to the 
State; and
``(B) the progress made by the State in 
implementing the measures and meeting the goals 
described in items (aa) through (cc) of clause 
(iii)(II) of that section.''.
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