Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act
A Democratic bill with 4 Republican cosponsors · See all 20 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act aims to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve the child and adult care food program. This bill directs the Secretary to review and modernize the serious deficiency process to ensure fairness and distinction between human error and intentional noncompliance. It also introduces provisions for meal reimbursements and mandates a study on the impact of additional meals. Furthermore, the legislation establishes an Advisory Committee on Paperwork Reduction to minimize unnecessary recordkeeping burdens. Finally, it updates how certain adjustments are calculated.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +5
Would children be better off under this?
The bill aims to improve nutrition programs and support through a study on additional meals for children.
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill supports the stability and effectiveness of nutrition programs used by low-income families.
- Scored +4
Does this make child care cost less?
The bill studies the economic viability of childcare and the impact of an additional meal on supporting working families.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Fairer Treatment for Care Providers: The Secretary is required to review the "serious deficiency process" to differentiate between "a reasonable margin of human error" and "systematic or intentional noncompliance" (Section 3).
-
Reduced Paperwork for Families: The bill seeks to "reduce the paperwork burden on parents" through the issuance of new guidance and regulations (Section 3).
-
Streamlined Administrative Processes: The creation of an Advisory Committee on Paperwork Reduction aims to reduce "unnecessary or duplicative paperwork" for participants, including State agencies, family child care homes, and child care centers (Section 6).
-
Modernized Recordkeeping: The bill includes recommendations to modernize applications and allows for the use of "digital forms, digitized and electronic signatures, and electronic records" (Section 6).
-
Support for Working Families: The Secretary is tasked with conducting a study on how an additional meal can effectively support "working families" (Section s4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Potential for Increased Costs: While the bill aims to limit unnecessary costs, it mandates a study to determine the contribution of additional meals to the "economic viability of child care and afterschool programs" (Section 4).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill aims to improve nutrition programs and support through a study on additional meals for children. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill supports the stability and effectiveness of nutrition programs used by low-income families. Would business owners be better off under this? — It seeks to reduce administrative and paperwork burdens for program operators. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill includes a study specifically addressing the economic viability of childcare in rural areas.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — The bill studies the economic viability of childcare and the impact of an additional meal on supporting working families. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By improving nutrition programs and reducing administrative burdens, it provides indirect support for low-income families.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill introduces a formal appeals and mediation process to provide fairer hearings for institutions. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill implements a formal appeals and mediation process to improve transparency in the deficiency process.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill aims to reduce administrative burdens and paperwork for small program operators like family day care homes.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill specifically mandates a study of how additional meals contribute to the economic viability of programs in rural areas.
- 8/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/11/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/8/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/19/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/21/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/3/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/24/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/10/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 11 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Robert BresnahanRepublican · Pennsylvania
Judy ChuDemocrat · California
Joaquin CastroDemocrat · Texas
Veronica EscobarDemocrat · Texas
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Jahana HayesDemocrat · Connecticut
Greg LandsmanDemocrat · Ohio
James McGovernDemocrat · Massachusetts
Ryan MackenzieRepublican · Pennsylvania
John MannionDemocrat · New York
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Zachary NunnRepublican · Iowa
Josh RileyDemocrat · New York
Linda SánchezDemocrat · California
Andrea SalinasDemocrat · Oregon
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Bonnie Watson ColemanDemocrat · New Jersey
George WhitesidesDemocrat · California