HR 8728
Feed Our Kids Act of 2026
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Bill overview
The Feed Our Kids Act of 2026 aims to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all children enrolled in schools. It amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to achieve this goal, establishing a national average payment rate for free breakfasts and lunches, incorporating inflation adjustments, and addressing issues like debt collection and meal shaming. The bill also includes provisions for supporting locally-sourced farm products and conducting a report on the program’s impact.
Key provisions
- Makes breakfast and lunches free for all children enrolled in participating schools.
- Establishes a national average payment rate of $2.80 for free breakfasts and $4.63 for free lunches, adjusted annually for inflation.
- Prohibits schools from collecting debt for unpaid meal charges, effective upon enactment.
- Eliminates meal shaming practices and ensures children are not identified for unpaid debts.
- Includes a provision for locally-sourced farm products, with additional payments for schools using them.
- Requires a report on the program's impact on student academic outcomes and access to nutritious meals.
- Modifies the Child and Adult Care Food Program to provide free meals to all participants.
- Revises the Summer Food Service Program to ensure all children are eligible for meals.
Who is affected
- Students in elementary and secondary schools
- School food authorities
- State educational agencies
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] Norton
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 8728
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to make breakfasts and lunches free for all children, and for other purposes.
.Feed Our Kids Act of 2026
Unless otherwise provided, this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.
by striking is hereby
and inserting are
; and
to provide free breakfast to all children enrolled at those schoolsbefore
in accordance.
Section 4(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773(b)) is amended—
in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking subclause (II) and inserting the following:
by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
The national average payment for each free breakfast shall be $2.80, adjusted annually for inflation in accordance with clause (ii) and rounded in accordance with clause (iii).
The annual inflation adjustment under clause (i) shall reflect changes in the cost of operating the free breakfast program under this section, as indicated by the change in the Consumer Price Index for food away from home for all urban consumers.
Each inflation annual adjustment under clause (i) shall reflect the changes in the Consumer Price Index for food away from home for the most recent 12-month period for which that data is available.
On July 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the national average payment rate for free breakfast shall be—
adjusted to the nearest lower-cent increment; and
based on the unrounded amounts for the preceding 12-month period.
by striking subparagraphs (C) and (E); and
by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (C);
by striking paragraphs (2) and (3);
by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and
in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by striking paragraph (3) or (4)
and inserting paragraph (2)
.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) or any other provision of law, effective beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, as a condition of participation in the breakfast program under section 4 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1773), a school—
shall not collect any debt owed to the school for unpaid meal charges; and
shall continue to accrue debt for unpaid meal charges—
for the purpose of receiving reimbursement under section 211; and
until the effective date specified in section 2.
A school participating in the free breakfast program under this section shall not collect any debt owed to the school for unpaid meal charges.
Section 23(a) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1793(a)) is amended by striking school in severe need, as described in section 4(d)(1)
and inserting the following:
school—
that has a free breakfast program under section 4 or seeks to initiate a free breakfast program under that section; and
of which not less than 40 percent of the students are economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)))
in paragraph (1)(A), in the second sentence, by striking free or
and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting free to all children enrolled at a school participating in the school breakfast program.
; and
the full charge to the student for a breakfast meeting the requirements of this section or.
physically segregate for the purpose of debt shaming or otherwise discriminate against any child participating in the breakfast program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773); or
overtly identify a child described in clause (i) by a special token or ticket, an announced or published list of names, or any other means; and
shall provide the program meal to any child eligible under the program.
Section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) is amended by adding at the end the following:
physically segregate for the purpose of debt shaming or otherwise discriminate against any child participating in the free breakfast program under this section; or
overtly identify a child described in paragraph (1) by a special token or ticket, an announced or published list of names, or any other means.
Section 20(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1789(b)) is amended by striking by this section
and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting by this section.
.
by striking or reduced price
each place it appears;
by striking and reduced price
each place it appears; and
by striking a reduced price
each place it appears.
Section 4(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753(b)) is amended—
by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
The national average payment for each free lunch shall be $4.63, adjusted annually for inflation in accordance with subparagraph (C) and rounded in accordance with subparagraph (D).
is marketed to consumers—
directly; or
through intermediated channels (such as food hubs and cooperatives); and
with respect to the school food authority purchasing the farm product, is produced and distributed—
in the State in which the school food authority is located; or
not more than 250 miles from the location of the school food authority.
$0.21 for each free breakfast; and
$0.08 for each free supplement.
The State agency shall disburse funds made available under this clause to school food authorities eligible to receive additional reimbursement.
The annual inflation adjustment under subparagraphs (A) and (B)(iii) shall reflect changes in the cost of operating the free lunch program under this Act, as indicated by the change in the Consumer Price Index for food away from home for all urban consumers.
Each annual inflation adjustment under subparagraphs (A) and (B)(iii) shall reflect the changes in the Consumer Price Index for food away from home for the most recent 12-month period for which that data is available.
On July 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the national average payment rate for free lunch and the additional payment amount for free breakfast, lunch, supper, and supplement under subparagraph (B) shall be—
adjusted to the nearest lower-cent increment; and
based on the unrounded amounts for the preceding 12-month period.
by striking paragraph (3).
Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
All children enrolled in a school that participates in the school lunch program under this Act shall be eligible to receive free lunch under this Act.
or at a reduced cost; and
in subsection (e), by striking , reduced price,
.
Section 28 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769i) is amended—
by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).
by striking clause (i); and
by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively.
in accordance with section 9(b)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(1)).
Section 4301 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 1758a) is repealed.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) or any other provision of law, effective beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, as a condition of participation in the school lunch program under that Act, a school—
shall not collect any debt owed to the school for unpaid meal charges; and
shall continue to accrue debt for unpaid meal charges—
for the purpose of receiving reimbursement under section 211; and
until the effective date specified in section 2.
A school participating in the school lunch program under this Act shall not collect any debt owed to the school for unpaid meal charges.
physically segregate for the purpose of debt shaming or otherwise discriminate against any child participating in the school lunch program under this Act; or
overtly identify a child described in paragraph (1) by a special token or ticket, an announced or published list of names, or any other means.
Section 6 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1755) is amended—
in subsection (a)(2), by striking sections 11 and 13
and inserting section 13
; and
in subsection (e)(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking section 4, this section, and section 11
and inserting this section and section 4
.
Section 7(d) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1756(d)) is amended by striking or 11
.
Section 8(g) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1757(g)) is amended by striking and under section 11 of this Act
.
Section 12(f) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(f)) is amended by striking 11,
.
Section 7(a) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1766(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)(A), by striking 4, 11, and 17
and inserting 4 and 17
; and
in paragraph (2)(A), by striking sections 4 and 11
and inserting section 4
.
Section 1101(j)(3) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (7 U.S.C. 2011 note; Public Law 116–127) is amended—
or served under section 11(a)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(d), 1759(a)(1))and inserting
of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(d)); and
by striking or reduced price
.
Section 12 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760) is amended—
in subsection (l)(4)—
by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (M) as subparagraphs (D) through (L), respectively;
by striking subsection (p); and
by redesignating subsections (q) and (r) as subsections (p) and (q), respectively.
Section 13 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (1)(A)(i)—
have been determined eligible for free or reduced price school meals under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.)and inserting
are economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)));
in subclause (II), by striking are eligible for free or reduced price school meals under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.)
and inserting are economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)))
;
in subclause (III)(bb), by striking meet the income standards for free or reduced price school meals under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.)
and inserting are economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)))
;
in subclause (IV), by striking are eligible for free or reduced price school meals under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.)
and inserting are economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)))
; and
in subclause (V), by striking are eligible for free or reduced price school meals under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.)
and inserting are economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)))
;
in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following:
If the Secretary determines that a program requirement under this section limits the access of children to meals served under this section, the Secretary may waive that program requirement.
All children shall be eligible to participate in the program under this section.
in paragraph (5), by striking only for
and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting for meals served to all children.
; and
in paragraph (13)—
in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under this Act or a free or reduced price breakfast under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773)
and inserting an economically disadvantaged student (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)))
; and
eligible for free or reduced price lunch under this Act or free or reduced price breakfast under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773)and inserting
economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)));
in subsection (b)(2), by striking may only serve
and all that follows through migrant children
;
during school vacation at any time during an academic school year;
during a teacher in-service day; and
on days that school is closed due to a natural disaster, building repair, court order, or similar cause, as determined by the Secretary.
A service institution shall receive payments under this section for not more than 3 meals and 1 supplement per child per day.
, except thatand all that follows through
section.
Section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766) is amended—
in subsection (a)(2), by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
an institution that serves those meals and supplements shall be reimbursed—
in the case of lunch, at the rate established for free lunch under section 4(b)(2)(A); and
in the case of a supplemental meal, $1.20, adjusted for inflation in accordance with section 4(b)(2)(C).
in subsection (f)—
in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
by striking paragraph (3); and
by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3);
by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and
in subsection (r)—
in the subsection heading, by striking Program for at-risk school children
and inserting Afterschool meal and snack program
;
by striking at-risk school
each place it appears and inserting eligible
;
in paragraph (1)—
in the paragraph heading, by striking at-risk school
and inserting eligible
; and
in subparagraph (B), by striking operated
and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting a period; and
in paragraph (4)(A), by striking only for
and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following:
for—
not more than 1 meal and 1 supplement per child per day served on a regular school day; and
not more than 3 meals and 1 supplement per child per day served on any day other than a regular school day.
in the section heading, by striking Meal supplements
and inserting Meals and supplements
;
in subsection (a)(1), by striking meal supplements
and inserting free meals and supplements
;
in subsection (b), by inserting meals and
before supplements
;
by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
A free meal provided under this section to a child shall be reimbursed at a rate of $4.63, adjusted annually for inflation in accordance with paragraph (3)(A) and rounded in accordance with paragraph (3)(B).
A free supplement provided under this section to a child shall be reimbursed at the rate at which free supplements are reimbursed under section 17(c)(2)(C).
The annual inflation adjustment under paragraph (1)(A) shall reflect changes in the cost of operating the program under this section, as indicated by the change in the Consumer Price Index for food away from home for all urban consumers.
Each inflation annual adjustment under paragraph (1)(A) shall reflect the changes in the Consumer Price Index for food away from home for the most recent 12-month period for which that data is available.
On July 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the reimbursement rate for a free meal under this section shall be—
adjusted to the nearest lower-cent increment; and
based on the unrounded amounts for the preceding 12-month period.
by adding at the end the following:
physically segregate for the purpose of debt shaming or otherwise discriminate against any child participating in the program under this section; or
overtly identify a child described in paragraph (1) by a special token or ticket, an announced or published list of names, or any other means.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) or any other provision of law, effective beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, as a condition of participation in the program under section 17A of that Act, a school—
shall not collect any debt owed to the school for unpaid meal supplement charges; and
shall continue to accrue debt for unpaid meal supplement charges—
for the purpose of receiving reimbursement under section 211; and
until the effective date specified in section 2.
A school participating in the program under this section shall not collect any debt owed to the school for unpaid meal or meal supplement charges.
Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769) is amended—
serve a high proportion of economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)));
in subsection (h)(1)(A)(ii), by striking eligible for free or reduced price meals under this Act
and inserting economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)))
;
by redesignating subsection (k) as subsection (j).
Section 19(d) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769a(d)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking paragraph (2) of this subsection and
;
in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking school—
and all that follows through submits
in clause (ii) and inserting school that submits
;
in subparagraph (B), by striking schools
and all that follows through Act
and inserting high-need schools (as defined in section 2211(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6631(b)))
; and
in subparagraph (D)—
by striking clause (i); and
by redesignating clauses (ii) through (iv) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively; and
by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the following:
Section 21(a)(1)(B) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769b–1(a)(1)(B)) is amended in the matter preceding clause (i) by striking certified to receive free or reduced price meals
and inserting who are economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)))
.
In this section:
The term delinquent debt means the debt owed by a parent or guardian of a child to a school—
as of the effective date specified in section 2; and
for meals or meal supplements served by the school under—
the school breakfast program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773);
the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.); or
The term program means the program established under subsection (b)(1).
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
Not later than 60 days after the effective date specified in section 2, the Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary shall reimburse each school participating in a program described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subsection (a)(1)(B) for all delinquent debt.
To carry out the program, the Secretary shall design and distribute a form to State agencies to collect data on all delinquent debt in applicable schools in the State, grouped by school food authority.
The Secretary shall provide all reimbursements under the program not later than 180 days after the effective date specified in section 2.
Not later than 2 years after the effective date specified in section 2, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report that describes the successes and challenges of the program.
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) is amended—
by striking or reduced price
each place it appears;
by striking or a reduced price
each place it appears;
by striking and reduced price
each place it appears; and
by striking a reduced price
each place it appears.
Not later than 1 year after the effective date of this Act, the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service shall submit to Congress a report on how the school lunch program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school breakfast program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) impact students who participate in such programs, including—
whether the amendments made by this Act to such programs have resulted in any measurable positive academic outcomes for such students, including any increase in test scores or graduation rates;