The Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act

On July 20, 2022, House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act, the much-anticipated Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) bill. FRAC strongly supports the bill, which includes many critical provisions that will dramatically expand children’s access to the federal nutrition programs.

Learn more about the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act below:

What Is Child Nutrition Reauthorization?

Every five years, Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) provides Congress with an opportunity to improve and strengthen the child nutrition and school meal programs. Although the current law, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-296), expired on September 30, 2015, the programs continue to operate.

Congress has an important opportunity in 2021 to improve the health of millions of our nation’s children by passing a strong reauthorization bill that strengthens and expands the child nutrition programs.

What does “Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR)” mean and how does it impact child nutrition programs? Explore our CNR Primer to learn more.

Explore Bills We’re Watching to find the latest Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill status and actions.

More About the Programs

116th Congress Bills

During the 116th Congress (2019–2020), there were several bills that were introduced for consideration for Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR). The bills were not expected to become law, but by co-sponsoring these bills, Members of Congress show their support for the provisions of these bills to be included in the final CNR bill.

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Child Nutrition Reauthorization did not take place in 2016

The Child Nutrition Reauthorization did not take place in 2016, due in large part to stark policy differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. Although the reauthorization bill expired on September 30, 2015, all programs continue to operate.