Sponsors (3)
Creates a one-year pilot granting up to $100,000 to buy/repair vehicles for noncongregate summer meal delivery and authorizes $1M annually for FY2027–FY2029.
The bill funds a small, targeted pilot to expand noncongregate summer meal delivery—improving access for low-income and rural children—while its limited funding, short grant terms, and administrative costs constrain scale and long-term sustainability and add modest federal expense.
Low-income children gain increased access to summer meals because service providers can buy or repair vehicles to deliver noncongregate meals.
Rural and remote communities see improved meal access because the pilot prioritizes entities outside core-based statistical areas and requires geographic diversity.
A dedicated federal pilot fund provides up to $1,000,000 per year for three summers (FY2027–FY2029) to test and expand meal delivery models.
Many eligible children and areas may remain unserved because the pilot's $1,000,000 per year funding is limited in scope.
One-year grant terms hamper long-term planning and vehicle maintenance after the pilot, risking service continuity.
Grantees may use up to 10% of awards for administrative costs, reducing funds available for vehicles, repairs, or meals.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Official title: Amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a summer meal delivery vehicle pilot program, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 30, 2026 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress July 30, 2026
Creates a one-year Summer Meal Delivery Vehicle Pilot Program that awards grants to service institutions to purchase, retrofit, or repair vehicles used to distribute noncongregate summer meals to children. The pilot prioritizes geographically diverse, economically distressed, rural, and high-need areas, requires reporting and technical assistance, and authorizes $1,000,000 per year for FY2027–FY2029. Grants are capped at $100,000 and may use up to 10% for administrative costs; the program starts the first summer after 180 days post-enactment and the Secretary must report to Congress within four years of establishment.