What does Preamble of HR 5731 do?

This bill, formally titled 'To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to make loan guarantees and grants to finance certain improvements to school lunch facilities, to train school food service personnel, and for other purposes,' proposes amendments to the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The bill would require the Secretary of Agriculture to provide loan guarantees and grants. These loan guarantees and grants would be used to finance improvements to school lunch facilities. The bill also aims to provide training for school food service personnel.

What does SHORT TITLE. of HR 5731 do?

This bill is formally titled the School Food Modernization Act.

What does LOAN GUARANTEES AND GRANTS TO FINANCE CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS TO of HR 5731 do?

This section amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish loan guarantees and grants for school lunch facility improvements. It defines key terms including 'durable equipment' (over $500), 'eligible entity' (local educational agencies, tribal organizations, or consortia), and 'infrastructure' (food-related facilities). The Secretary is authorized to issue loan guarantees to finance infrastructure construction or durable equipment purchases, prioritizing entities with demonstrated need. Loan guarantees may not exceed 80% of the loan principal, and fees will be established to cover costs under the Federal Credit Reform Act. The Secretary is required to reserve $300,000,000 of existing loan guarantee authority for this purpose. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, grants will be provided to State agencies for subgrants to local educational agencies and tribes to purchase equipment. State agencies will prioritize grant recipients demonstrating substantial or disproportionate need for infrastructure or equipment. A total of $35,000,000 is authorized for appropriations annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2031 for the grant program.

What does TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE of HR 5731 do?

This section amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a grant program for training and technical assistance for school food service personnel. The Secretary will award grants to eligible third-party institutions to develop and administer this training, focusing on meeting nutrition standards and improving program efficacy. Eligible institutions include nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, area career and technical education schools, or consortia thereof. Criteria for eligibility include demonstrated capacity to administer training, prior experience, and the ability to deliver cost-efficient training. The federal share of costs for training and technical assistance is capped at 80 percent, with eligible institutions required to provide matching support. The Secretary will oversee the administration of the grants and ensure consistency with the Act’s goals. A total of $10,000,000 is authorized for appropriation annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to carry out this section.

What does REPORT TO CONGRESS. of HR 5731 do?

This section requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report to Congress annually. The report concerns the progress of implementing sections 21A and 27 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The initial report is due within one year of funds being made available for those sections.

What does STUDY AND REPORT TO CONGRESS ON THE USE OF STATE ADMINISTRATIVE of HR 5731 do?

This section directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the use of State administrative expense funds by State agencies. The study will examine effective policies, practices, and training methods, as well as factors hindering effective use of these funds. The study specifically focuses on how these funds can support school nutrition workforce training and improve nutrition standards for foods sold in schools. The Secretary must develop an assessment tool to evaluate the effectiveness of State agencies in providing training and technical assistance using these funds. The assessment tool's development should consider public research, stakeholder input, and feedback from school nutrition personnel. Within 18 months of the Act's enactment, the Secretary must submit a report to Congress summarizing the study's findings and recommendations. The report should also include a plan for disseminating best practices to State agencies and recommendations for ongoing monitoring and improvement.

What does OFFSET. of HR 5731 do?

This section rescinds $45,000,000 from the unobligated balance available for administrative expenses of the Department of Education.

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School Food Modernization Act — HR. 5731

Last updated: 10/10/2025 · Introduced: 10/10/2025

Author: Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill establishes loan guarantees and grants to help schools improve their lunch facilities and purchase durable equipment, prioritizing those with the greatest need.
The bill creates a grant program to provide training and technical assistance for school food service personnel, focusing on nutrition standards and program effectiveness.
The Secretary of Agriculture must annually report to Congress on the implementation of the bill's provisions and conduct a study on how state administrative expense funds can be used to support school nutrition workforce training.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 5 more.

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