H.R. 8798

Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026

Sponsor: Ilhan Omar

103 cosponsors
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I School Breakfast Program

II School Lunch Program

Sec. 205. Summer food service program for children

Section 13 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (1)(A)(i)—

(i) in subclause (I), by striking have been determined eligible for free or reduced price school meals under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) and inserting are economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)));

(ii) in subclause (II), by striking are eligible for free or reduced price school meals under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) and inserting are economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)));

(iii) in subclause (III)(bb), by striking meet the income standards for free or reduced price school meals under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) and inserting are economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)));

(iv) in subclause (IV), by striking are eligible for free or reduced price school meals under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) and inserting are economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5))); and

(v) in subclause (V), by striking are eligible for free or reduced price school meals under this Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) and inserting are economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)));

(B) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(C) Waiver. If the Secretary determines that a program requirement under this section limits the access of children to meals served under this section, the Secretary may waive that program requirement.

(D) Eligibility. All children shall be eligible to participate in the program under this section.

(C) in paragraph (5), by striking only for and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting for meals served to all children.; and

(D) in paragraph (13)—

(i) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under this Act or a free or reduced price breakfast under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) and inserting an economically disadvantaged student (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5))); and

(ii) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking eligible for free or reduced price lunch under this Act or free or reduced price breakfast under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) and inserting economically disadvantaged students (as identified under a measure described in section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)));

(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking may only serve and all that follows through migrant children;

(3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(c) Payments

(1) In general. Payments shall be made to service institutions for meals served—

(A) during the months of May through September;

(B) during school vacation at any time during an academic school year;

(C) during a teacher in-service day; and

(D) on days that school is closed due to a natural disaster, building repair, court order, or similar cause, as determined by the Secretary.

(2) Limitation on payments. A service institution shall receive payments under this section for not more than 3 meals and 1 supplement per child per day.

; and

(4) in subsection (f)(3), by striking , except that and all that follows through section.

III Elementary and Secondary Education Data

IV Amendments to Other Programs and Laws