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Updated March 8, 2019
An Introduction to Child Nutrition Reauthorization
The child nutrition programs and the Special Supplemental
Categorization of Programs’ Funding
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
were last reauthorized in 2010. Some of the authorities
Most of the WIC and child nutrition programs’ funding
created or extended in that law (Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids
requires annual appropriations:
Act of 2010, P.L. 111-296) expired on September 30, 2015.
Most child nutrition program funding is appropriated
However, the vast majority of program operations have
mandatory spending based on formulas and criteria in
continued with funding provided by appropriations acts.
the authorizing laws (e.g., the programs’ per-meal
Child nutrition reauthorization refers to Congress’s
reimbursements).
process of making changes, additions, and deletions to the
Some smaller child nutrition grants and activities are
permanent statutes that authorize the child nutrition
funded with discretionary appropriations (e.g., Team
programs, WIC, and related policies: (1) Richard B. Russell
Nutrition).
National School Lunch Act, (2) Child Nutrition Act, and
WIC and WIC FMNP funds are discretionary.
sometimes (3) Section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935.
During the 114th Congress, committees of jurisdiction
The child nutrition programs also receive support from
marked up bills but reauthorization was not completed (see
sources outside the appropriations process. Particularly,
CRS Report R44373, Tracking the Next Child Nutrition
USDA’s Section 32 program, a permanent appropriation of
Reauthorization: An Overview).
30% of the previous year’s customs receipts, transfers
certain funds to the child nutrition programs annually.
Major Programs Typically Amended in a
Last Reauthorization
Child Nutrition Reauthorization
The 2010 reauthorization, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids
Table 1 summarizes the major programs that have been
Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-296), included a number of new and
part of a child nutrition reauthorization. There are smaller
revised policies, particularly for the school meals programs
grant programs or school meals’ support functions that are
(NSLP and SBP). In some cases, the new policies’ details
not listed. The five main child nutrition programs are the
are largely described within the statute (e.g., community
eligibility provision, an option for eligible schools to
National School Lunch Program (NSLP);
provide all meals for free). In other cases, the details of the
School Breakfast Program (SBP);
policy were laid out in USDA-promulgated regulations
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP);
(e.g., updated school meals nutrition standards and new
nutrition standards for other foods sold in schools).
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP); and
Special Milk Program (SMP).
Have the Programs Expired?
Participating children (and adults for CACFP) receive
Many of these programs’ authorizations are permanent
subsidized meals, snacks and/or milk, which may be free or
(they have no expiration date). This is the case for the main
at reduced price for those eligible. States and food-serving
functions of NSLP, SBP, CACFP, and SMP.
institutions (e.g., schools) receive federal reimbursements
In other cases, while the authority for the program itself is
for the food served. Some programs also receive USDA
permanent, the program’s authorization of appropriations
commodity food assistance. Details vary by program.
expired on September 30, 2015 (e.g., SFSP, WIC, WIC
WIC provides eligible low-income women, infants, and
FMNP, and State Administrative Expenses, which funds
children (under five years old) with specific supplemental
states’ operation of certain programs). In such cases, the
foods as well as certain services. The WIC Farmers
program may still operate if funding is provided in
Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) provides vouchers
appropriations laws, which has been the case for these
redeemable at farmers markets to WIC participants.
programs in FY2016 (P.L. 114-113), FY2017 (P.L. 115-
31), FY2018 (P.L. 115-141), and FY2019 (P.L. 116-6) (as
Related Programs and Policies in the Farm Bill
well as FY2016, FY2017, FY2018, and FY2019 continuing
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable (“Snack”) Program
resolutions).
(FFVP) is authorized in the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act. Omnibus farm bill legislation in 2008
A few pilot programs and temporary activities expired on
and 2014 amended the program. No amendments to FFVP
September 30, 2015, and were not always extended. A
were made in the 2010 child nutrition reauthorization or the
California program to provide SFSP snacks year-round has
2018 farm bill. The 2018 farm bill (P.L. 115-334)
not been extended. Currently, federal authority to conduct
reauthorized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
food safety audits and mandatory funding for a National
Program (SNAP) as well as USDA’s purchase of foods for
Hunger Clearinghouse have been extended by FY2017,
the child nutrition programs.
FY2018, and FY2019 appropriations laws.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
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Table 1. Child Nutrition and WIC Programs at a Glance
FY2018
FY2018
Average Daily
Authorizing Statute
Expenditures
Participation
(Year First
Distinguishing
(exceptions
(exceptions
Program
Authorized)
Characteristics
noted)
noted)
National School Lunch Richard B. Russell
Lunches at school
$13.8 billion
29.7 million
Program
National School Lunch Act Typically served in schools, to pre-K-12
(1946)
students, during the school day and year
Possible to provide summer food and
afterschool snacks
School Breakfast
Child Nutrition Act
Breakfasts at school (also for pre-K-12)
$4.4 billion
14.7 million
Program
(1966)
Typically 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 adult $3.6 billion
4.5 million
Food Program (child
National School Lunch Act day care settings
(includes at-risk
children; 131,700
care center, day care
(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;
1.9 million
Food Program (at-risk
National School Lunch Act after-school
included in
children (included
after-school snacks and (1994)
CACFP total
in CACFP
meals)a
above)
children above)
Summer Food Service
Richard B. Russell
Meals and snacks provided during summer
$472 million
145.8 million
Program
National School Lunch Act months
meals served
(1968)
Sites vary and include schools, community
annuallyb
centers, camps, parks, and others
Eligibility rules vary by type of site
Special Milk Program
Child Nutrition Act
Subsidizes milk, not meals or snacks
$7.9 million
37.9 million half-
(1954)
Institutions eligible must not participate in
pints average
NSLP or SBP
monthly
Special Supplemental
Child Nutrition Act
Provides benefits redeemable for
$6.1 billion
6.9 million average
Nutrition Program for
(1974)
supplemental foods; and nutrition counseling, (FY2019
monthly
Women, Infants, and
and breastfeeding support, to pregnant,
appropriations)c
(preliminary
Children (WIC)
breastfeeding, and postpartum women;
FY2018 data)
infants; and children (under five years old).
WIC Farmers’ Market
Child Nutrition Act
Provides vouchers for WIC participants to
$18.5 million
1.7 million
Nutrition Program
(1992)
redeem at farmers’ markets.
(FY2019
recipients total in
(WIC FMNP)
appropriations)
FY2017
Fresh Fruit and
Richard B. Russell
Provides free fresh fruit and vegetable snacks $167.5 million
Not available
Vegetable Program
National School Lunch Act to elementary school students
(transfer from
(FFVP)
(2002)
Section 32)d
Source: Except as noted, participation and funding data from USDA-FNS Key Data Report, January 2019, based on data through November
2018. WIC, WIC FMNP FY2018 appropriations from P.L. 115-141 and related documents.
a. At-risk after-school snacks and meals are part of CACFP law and funding, but differ in their rules and the age of children served.
b. In a May 2018 report, GAO found that average daily participation estimates in SFSP were unreliable (for more information, see
GAO, Actions Needed to Improve Participation Estimates and Address Program Challenges, GAO-18-369, May 31, 2018).
c. Section 723 of P.L. 116-5 also rescinded $500 million in prior-year carryover funding.
d. FY2018 allocation, not expenditures. USDA-FNS policy memorandum SP 35-2017, FFVP FY2018 Funding Allocation, June 2017.
CRS Reports for Further Detail
CRS Report R44373, Tracking the Next Child Nutrition
Reauthorization: An Overview
CRS Report R42353, Domestic Food Assistance: Summary
of Programs
CRS Report R41354, Child Nutrition and WIC
Reauthorization: P.L. 111-296
CRS Report R43783, School Meals Programs and Other
USDA Child Nutrition Programs: A Primer
CRS Report RL34081, Farm and Food Support Under
USDA’s Section 32 Program
CRS Report R44115, A Primer on WIC: The Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
Kara Clifford Billings, Analyst in Social Policy
Children
Randy Alison Aussenberg,
CRS Report R45486, Child Nutrition Programs: Current
IF10266
Issues
https://crsreports.congress.gov
An Introduction to Child Nutrition Reauthorization
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