2002 Farm Bill

SECTION-BY-SECTION SUMMARY 
OF PROVISIONS AFFECTING CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

Section 1507 – Study of National Dairy Policy – This provision requires the Secretary to conduct a comprehensive economic evaluation of the effects of the national dairy policy on (a) farm price stability,profitability, and viability; (b) child, senior and low income nutrition programs; and (c) the wholesale and retail cost of fluid milk, dairy farms and milk utilization. National dairy policy includes federal milk marketing orders; interstate dairy compacts; over order premiums and state pricing programs; etc. A report to Congress is due 1 year after date of enactment.

Section 1508 – Studies of Effects of Changes in Approach to National Dairy Policy and Fluid Milk Identity Standards – This provision requires the Secretary to study (a) the effects of terminating all Federal programs relating to price support and supply management for milk and establishing regional compacts, and (b) the effects of establishing minimum protein standards to be included in the standard of identity for fluid milk. A report to Congress is due 1 year after date of enactment.

Section 3107 – McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program – This provision authorizes the President to provide U. S. agricultural commodities and financial and technical assistance for (a) preschool and school food for education programs in foreign countries to improve food security, reduce hunger, and improve literacy and (b) for maternal, infant and child nutrition programs for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and infants and children. The provision authorizes $100 million of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation for fiscal year 2003 and authorizes such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2007. The provision authorizes the Food and Nutrition Service to provide technical advice on the establishment of programs and on implementation of the programs in the field in recipient countries.

Section 4302 – Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price Meals (effective upon enactment) – This provision requires that in cases where military personnel live in “privatized” housing (as defined in subchapter IV of Chapter 169 of Title 10, U.S.C.), their housing allowance not be counted as income in determining eligibility for free and reduced price lunches for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003.

Section 4303 – Purchases of Locally Produced Foods (effective date October 1, 2002) – This provision requires the Secretary to encourage institutions participating in the school lunch and breakfast programs to purchase locally produced foods, to the maximum extent practicable; advise institutions of the locally produced food policy; and provide startup grants to up to 200 institutions to defray initial costs of equipment, materials, storage facilities, and similar costs. It authorizes $400,000 a year for each of fiscal years 2003-2007.

Section 4304 – Applicability of Buy American Requirement to Puerto Rico (effective date October 1, 2002) – This provision extends the Buy American provision to Puerto Rico. Under this provision, products from Puerto Rico will have an advantage over foreign products, but will not have an advantage over products produced or grown in one of the 48 contiguous states or Hawaii.

Section 4305 – Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program (effective upon enactment) – This provision requires the Secretary to make free fresh and dried fruits and fresh vegetables available to students in 25 schools in each of 4 states and students in schools on one Indian reservation, in the 2002-2003 school year. A report to Congress is due May 1, 2003. Section 32 funds are authorized to carry out the pilot program (not more than $6 million). The Managers recommended the selection of four states: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio.

Section 4404 – Hunger Fellowship Program (effective October 1, 2002) – This provision establishes, as an independent entity of the legislative branch, the Congressional Hunger Fellows Program. This provision sets forth the organizational structure, purpose, and responsibilities of the Program.