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H.R. 4684 116th Congress House

Universal School Meals Program Act of 2019

Official title: To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to make breakfasts and lunches free for all children, and for other purposes.

Introduced: October 15, 2019 Introduced by: Ilhan Omar Democratic · Minnesota See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 8, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
Oct 15, 2019
Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Oct 15, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Latest action November 8, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Universal School Meals Program Act of 2019

This bill revises requirements under the food and nutrition programs of the Department of Agriculture, such as the school lunch and breakfast programs.

For example, the bill provides free meals to all school children regardless of income.

The bill increases the reimbursement rate for school food authorities participating in the food and nutrition programs.

The bill also prohibits school food authorities from (1) physically segregating or otherwise discriminating against any child participating in the free lunch or breakfast program, or (2) overtly identifying a child participating in either program with a special token or announcement.

Additionally, the bill expands the summer food service program by making all children eligible for participation in the program.

Further, the bill revises eligibility determinations for measuring poverty to include runaway or homeless youth, foster children, migratory children, and children participating in specified programs (e.g., Head Start).

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 3115 Reintroduced Bill Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021
  • S 2609 Universal School Meals Program Act of 2019
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 17
All 17 Democratic 12
D
Khanna, Ro
California · Oct 20, 2020
 D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Sep 15, 2020
 D
Vargas, Juan
California · Sep 15, 2020
 D
Pressley, Ayanna
Massachusetts · Mar 11, 2020
Lee, Barbara
· Feb 25, 2020
 D
Watson Coleman, Bonnie
New Jersey · Nov 18, 2019
 D
Beatty, Joyce
Ohio · Nov 14, 2019
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Nov 13, 2019
Bass, Karen
· Nov 8, 2019
 D
Grijalva, Raúl M.
Arizona · Nov 8, 2019
Jackson Lee, Sheila
· Oct 31, 2019
 D
Carson, André
Indiana · Oct 15, 2019
Haaland, Debra
· Oct 15, 2019
 D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · Oct 15, 2019
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Oct 15, 2019
 D
Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria
New York · Oct 15, 2019
 D
Tlaib, Rashida
Michigan · Oct 15, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4684: Universal School Meals Program Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4684/
MLA
"H.R. 4684: Universal School Meals Program Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4684/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4684, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4684/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4684: Universal School Meals Program Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4684/)
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