To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to increase reimbursement rates of school meals, and for other purposes.
Summary
H.R. 5753, the "Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act of 2025," aims to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. The primary goal is to increase reimbursement rates for school meals. This increase includes both school lunches and breakfasts served in school food authorities.
Expected Effects
The bill will increase the reimbursement rate for each lunch served by an additional 45 cents, starting November 1, 2025. Similarly, it will increase the reimbursement for each free, reduced-price, and regular-price breakfast by 28 cents. These amounts will be adjusted beginning July 1, 2026, in accordance with section 11(a)(3) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.
Potential Benefits
- Improved nutrition for children through increased access to school meals.
- Potential reduction in food insecurity among students.
- Increased financial support for school food authorities, enabling them to provide higher-quality meals.
- Possible positive impact on student health and academic performance.
- May encourage greater participation in school meal programs.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased government spending, potentially adding to the national debt.
- Possible administrative challenges in implementing the new reimbursement rates.
- Risk of fraud or misuse of funds by school food authorities.
- Potential for the increased reimbursement rates to be insufficient to cover the actual costs of providing nutritious meals.
- The adjustment mechanism in section 11(a)(3) could lead to unpredictable changes in reimbursement rates.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the "general Welfare" clause of the Constitution's preamble, as it aims to improve the health and well-being of children through better nutrition. Additionally, Article I, Section 8 grants Congress the power to collect taxes and provide for the general welfare of the United States, which could be interpreted to include funding for school meal programs. However, the specific details of how the increased reimbursement rates are funded would need to be examined to ensure full constitutional compliance.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).