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1 [1] (August 25, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govemrm0001 and id is 1 raw text is: A Congr ssional Resear h Service Inforrning the IegsIitive debate since 1914 Updated August 25, 2023 Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR): An Overview Introduction Child nutrition reauthorization (CNR) refers to Congress's process of making changes to the permanent statutes that authorize the child nutrition programs, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and related activities: 0 0 0 the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and (less often) Section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, which transfers funds to the child nutrition programs annually. The most recent CNR was the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-296). Some of the authorities created or extended in that law expired on September 30, 2015. However, the vast majority of program operations have continued with funding provided by appropriations acts. Programs Typically Included in C N R CNR typically includes WIC, the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), and the following child nutrition programs: * National School Lunch Program (NSLP); * School Breakfast Program (SBP); * Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP); * Summer Food Service Program (SFSP); and * Special Milk Program (SMP). CNR also covers a number of smaller grant programs and support activities, such as the Farm to School Grant Program and funding for states' administrative expenses associated with operating certain programs. Table 1 provides a short description of each of the major programs typically included in CNR. Related Policies in the Farm Bill The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), authorized in the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, has been amended by both CNR and farm bills, including the 2004 CNR and farm bills in 2008 and 2014. The 2010 CNR and the 2018 farm bill did not amend FFVP. In addition, farm bills sometimes include provisions related to food purchasing and distribution in child nutrition programs. The 2018 farm bill (P.L. 115-334), the most recent farm bill, extended funding for USDA's purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables for child nutrition programs and required USDA to enforce Buy American (domestic purchasing) rules for schools participating in NSLP/SBP. Last Reauthorization The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-296) included a number of new and revised policies. For example, the law created the Community Eligibility Provision, an option within NSLP/SBP that allows eligible schools to provide free meals to all students. The law also required USDA to update the nutrition standards for school meals and establish nutrition standards for other foods sold in schools during the school day. For WIC, the law included the requirement that states transition, by October 1, 2020, from their primarily paper voucher-based WIC benefits to Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT). In some cases, the new policies were described within the statute; in other cases, the details were laid out in USDA-promulgated regulations. Reauthorization Efforts During the 117th Congress, the House Education and Labor Committee reported a CNR bill (H.R. 8450) out of committee. The Congress ended without further action on the bill. Likewise, during the 114th Congress the committees exercising jurisdiction reported CNR bills but reauthorization was not completed (see CRS Report R44373, Tracking Child Nutrition Reauthorization in the 114th Congress: An Overview). Categorization of Programs' Funding Most of the WIC and child nutrition programs' funding requires annual appropriations: * Most child nutrition program funding is appropriated mandatory spending based on formulas and criteria in the authorizing laws (e.g., the programs' per-meal reimbursements). * Some smaller child nutrition grants and activities (e.g., Team Nutrition) are funded with discretionary appropriations. * WIC and WIC FMNP funds are discretionary. H ave the Prograrms Expired? Many child nutrition programs are permanently authorized and have permanent authorizations of appropriations (they have no expiration date). This is the case for the main functions of NSLP, SBP, CACFP, and SMP. In other cases-such as SFSP, WIC, WIC FMNP, and funding for states' administrative expenses-the authority for the programs themselves is permanent, but their authorizations of appropriations expired on September 30, 2015. In such cases, the programs and activities may still operate if funding is provided in appropriations acts, which has been the case in each of FY2016 through FY2023. A few pilot programs and activities expired on September 30, 2015, and were not always extended. A California program to provide SFSP snacks year-round was not extended. USDA's authority to conduct food safety audits and funding for a National Hunger Clearinghouse was not extended in FY2016 but was subsequently extended by appropriations acts in each of FY2017 through FY2023.