July 28, 2015
An Introduction to Child Nutrition Reauthorization
The “child nutrition programs” (National School Lunch
Categorization of Programs’ Funding
Program and certain other institutional food service
programs) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
Most of the WIC and child nutrition programs’ funding is
for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs are up
provided by appropriation bills; this includes mandatory
for reauthorization during the 114th Congress. Some of the
and discretionary funds:
authorities created or extended in the last reauthorization
• The majority of the child nutrition programs’ funding
law (Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-
is mandatory, particularly the programs’ per-meal
296)) expire on September 30, 2015.
reimbursements.
Child nutrition reauthorization refers to Congress’s
• There are some smaller child nutrition grants and
process of making changes, additions, and deletions to the
activities that are funded with discretionary
permanent statutes that authorize the child nutrition
appropriations (e.g., Team Nutrition).
programs, WIC, and related policies: (1) Richard B. Russell
• WIC and WIC FMNP funds are discretionary.
National School Lunch Act, (2) Child Nutrition Act, and
The child nutrition programs also receive support from
sometimes (3) Section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935.
some sources outside the appropriations process. Most
Major Programs Typically Amended in a
significantly, USDA’s Section 32 program, a permanent
appropriation of 30% of the previous year’s customs
Child Nutrition Reauthorization
receipts, transfers certain funds to the child nutrition
programs annually.
Table 1 summarizes the major programs that have been
part of a child nutrition reauthorization. There are smaller
Last Reauthorization
grant programs or school meals’ support functions that are
not listed. The five main child nutrition programs are the
The 2010 reauthorization, Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act
•
of 2010 (P.L. 111-296), included a number of new and
National School Lunch Program (NSLP);
revised policies, particularly for the school meals programs
• School Breakfast Program (SBP);
(NSLP and SBP). In some cases, the new policies’ details
• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP);
are largely described within the statute (e.g., community
•
eligibility provision, an option for eligible schools to
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP); and
provide all meals for free). In other cases, the details of the
• Special Milk Program.
policy were laid out in USDA-promulgated regulations
Participating children (and adults for CACFP) receive
(e.g., updated school meals nutrition standards and new
subsidized meals, snacks and/or milk, which, if eligible,
nutrition standards for other foods sold in schools).
may be free or at reduced price. States and food-serving
institutions receive federal reimbursements for the food
Significance of September 30, 2015
served. Some programs also receive USDA commodity
Many of the programs’ authorizing provisions are
food assistance. Details vary by program.
permanent (i.e., they do not have an expiration date
associated with them). This is the case for the main
WIC provides eligible low-income women, infants, and
functions of NSLP, SBP, CACFP, and Special Milk.
children (under five years old) with specific supplemental
foods as well as certain services. The WIC Farmers
Other programs, including SFSP, WIC, WIC FMNP, and
Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) provides vouchers
the State Administrative Expenses (funding for states’
redeemable at farmers markets to WIC participants.
operation of certain programs), face an expiration date of
September 30, 2015, for the authorization of their
Related Programs and Policies in the Farm Bill
appropriations. However, even without an authorization
extension beyond that date, Congress can still choose to
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable (“Snack”) Program
provide funding via the appropriations process, allowing
(FFVP) is authorized in the Richard B. Russell National
these programs to continue to operate.
School Lunch Act. Since 2008 it has been amended, if at
all, during omnibus farm bill legislation. No amendments to
Several policies set to expire after September 30, 2015—
FFVP were made during the 2010 child nutrition
not authorizations of appropriations—could be affected if
reauthorization. The most recent farm bill (P.L. 113-79)
their authorizing dates are not changed. These are not major
reauthorized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
program functions, but have interested stakeholders. This
Program (SNAP) as well as USDA’s purchase of foods for
list includes a California program to provide SFSP food
the child nutrition programs.
year-round, certain food safety audits, and preappropriated
funds for a National Hunger Clearinghouse.
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An Introduction to Child Nutrition Reauthorization
Table 1. Child Nutrition and WIC Programs at a Glance
FY2014
FY2014
Expenditures
Average Daily
Authorizing Statute
(in millions)
Participation
(Year First
Distinguishing
exceptions
exceptions
Program
Authorized)
Characteristics
noted
noted
National School
Richard B. Russell
•
Lunches at school
$12,656
30.4 million
Lunch Program
National School Lunch
•
Typical y served in schools, to pre-K-12
Act (1946)
students, during the school day and year
•
Possible to provide meals during summer
and snacks.
School Breakfast
Child Nutrition Act
•
Breakfasts at school (also for pre-K-12)
$3,686
13.6 million
Program
(1966)
•
Typical y served in schools, to K-12
students, during the school day and year
Child and Adult Care
Richard B. Russell
•
Meals and snacks in early childhood and
$3,133
3.8 million
Food Program (child
National School Lunch
adult day care settings
(includes at-risk
children; 122,000
care center, day care
Act (1968)
•
Rules and funding differ based on type of
after-school
adults
homes, adult day care
institution
spending,
centers)
described below)
Child and Adult Care
Richard B. Russell
•
Supper and snacks for school-age children
(Not available;
977,000 children
Food Program (at-risk
National School Lunch
after-school
included in
(included in
after-school snacks
Act (1994)
•
Eligibility based on area eligibility
CACFP total
CACFP children
and meals)a
above)
above)
Summer Food Service
Richard B. Russell
•
Meals and snacks provided during summer $466
2.7 million (July
Program
National School Lunch
months
2014)
Act (1968)
•
Sites vary and include schools, community
centers, camps, parks, and others
•
Eligibility rules vary for “open” and
“closed” sites
Special Milk Program
Child Nutrition Act
•
Subsidizes milk, not meals or snacks
$11
222,000 half-pints
(1954)
•
Institutions eligible must not participate in
servedb
NSLP or SBP
Special Supplemental
Child Nutrition Act
•
Provides benefits redeemable for
$6,277
8.3 million
Nutrition Program for
(1974)
supplemental foods; and nutrition
average monthly
Women, Infants, and
counseling, and breastfeeding support, to
Children (WIC)
pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum
women; infants; and children (under five
years old).
WIC Farmers’ Market
Child Nutrition Act
•
Provides vouchers for WIC participants
$17
1.6 million
Nutrition Program
(1992)
to redeem at farmers’ markets.
recipients in
(WIC FMNP)
FY2013
Fresh Fruit and
Richard B. Russell
•
Provides free fresh fruit and vegetable
$168 (school
Not available
Vegetable Program
National School Lunch
snacks to elementary school students
year 2013-2014)
Act (2002)
Source: Except where noted, participation and funding data from USDA-FNS Key Data Report, generated July10, 2015, based on data through
April 2015. WIC costs figure subtracts WIC FMNP.
a. At-risk after-school snacks and meals are part of CACFP law and CACFP funding, but differ in their rules and the age of children served.
b. FY2016 congressional budget justification p. 32-63.
CRS Report R41354, Child Nutrition and WIC
CRS Reports for Further Detail:
Reauthorization: P.L. 111-296
CRS Report R42353, Domestic Food Assistance: Summary
of Programs
CRS Report RL34081, Farm and Food Support Under
USDA’s Section 32 Program
CRS Report R43783, School Meals Programs and Other
USDA Child Nutrition Programs: A Primer
Randy Alison Aussenberg, raussenberg@crs.loc.gov,
78641
CRS Report R44115, A Primer on WIC: The Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
IF10266
Children
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