Fresh Regional Eating for Schools and Health Act of 2011
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (16 Dec 2011): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
What this bill does
The Fresh Regional Eating for Schools and Health Act of 2011 proposes several changes to federal food assistance and agriculture programs. For the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), it would allow pilot programs to help beneficiaries meet nutrition guidelines and promote local food projects. It also aims to enable smartphone and tablet use for electronic benefit transfers and require larger retail stores to report food purchased by SNAP recipients. Additionally, it would allow online retailers to participate in SNAP, excluding delivery fees.
For the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the bill would permit smartphone and tablet technology for electronic benefit transfers and allow alternative training methods, like videoconferencing, for retail stores. Schools participating in federal food programs could use half of their USDA funds for agricultural commodities to buy local foods. The bill also seeks to expand eligibility for direct agricultural real estate loans to new farmers with relevant degrees and suspend loan time limits. Furthermore, it would allow food banks and other nonprofit hunger assistance organizations to be eligible for operating loans and would establish a microloan program for them.
This bill, S. 2016, was introduced in the Senate in December 2011 by Senator Ron Wyden. As of its introduction, it has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Further legislative action would depend on the committee's review and any subsequent votes by the Senate and House of Representatives.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Fresh Regional Eating for Schools and Health Act of 2011 - Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (formerly known as the Food Stamp Act of 1977) regarding the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP, formerly food stamp program) to: (1) authorize pilot programs that will assist SNAP beneficiaries in meeting federal nutrition guidelines and promote innovative local projects, (2) implement smartphone and tablet technology for acceptance of electronic benefit transfers, (3) require retail stores with gross annual SNAP sales in excess of $1 million to report food purchased by program recipients to the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and (4) include qualifying online food retailers within SNAP.
Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 regarding the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children program (WIC) to: (1) implement smartphone and tablet technology for acceptance of electronic benefit transfers; and (2) permit retail stores to receive alternative program training, including through videoconferencing.
Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to permit schools to use 50% of USDA funds for agricultural commodities to purchase locally grown food for food service programs under such Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act regarding direct agricultural real estate loans to: (1) extend eligibility to a new farmer who has obtained a baccalaureate degree related to farm management (including horticulture and agricultural business management), and (2) suspend loan time limits.
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to extend operating loan eligibility to food banks and other nonprofit hunger assistance organizations.
Timeline
16 Dec 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Common questions
- What does S. 2016 do?
- The Fresh Regional Eating for Schools and Health Act of 2011 proposes several changes to federal food assistance and agriculture programs. For the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), it would allow pilot programs to help beneficiaries meet nutrition guidelines and promote local food projects. It also aims to enable smartphone and tablet use for electronic benefit transfers and require larger retail stores to report food purchased by SNAP recipients. Additionally, it would allow online retailers to participate in SNAP, excluding delivery fees. For the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the bill would permit smartphone and tablet technology for electronic benefit transfers and allow alternative training methods, like videoconferencing, for retail stores. Schools participating in federal food programs could use half of their USDA funds for agricultural commodities to buy local foods. The bill also seeks to expand eligibility for direct agricultural real estate loans to new farmers with relevant degrees and suspend loan time limits. Furthermore, it would allow food banks and other nonprofit hunger assistance organizations to be eligible for operating loans and would establish a microloan program for them. This bill, S. 2016, was introduced in the Senate in December 2011 by Senator Ron Wyden. As of its introduction, it has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Further legislative action would depend on the committee's review and any subsequent votes by the Senate and House of Representatives.
- Has S. 2016 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 2016. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 2016?
- S. 2016 was sponsored by Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 2016?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (16 Dec 2011).
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