A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 11 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
This bill is known as the Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act. It requires the Secretary to establish a pilot program that awards competitive grants to school food authorities to promote scratch cooking. Scratch cooking means preparing food using unprocessed or minimally processed ingredients. These grants will last for a period of two school years. The bill gives the highest priority to school food authorities that serve a large proportion of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch. It also authorizes an appropriation of $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out this subsection.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +6
Would children be better off under this?
The legislation provides healthier, scratch-cooked meals for students in participating school food authorities.
- Scored +6
Would students be better off under this?
Students benefit from improved nutritional standards and freshly prepared meals in school cafeterias.
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Priority is given to schools serving high proportions of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(a)(1)(A) creates a pilot program to award competitive grants to school food authorities to promote scratch cooking. This is positive because it helps schools prepare meals using unprocessed or minimally processed ingredients for students.
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Section 2(a)(3)(B) allows grant funds to be used for purchasing cafeteria equipment or making infrastructure modifications necessary for scratch cooking. This is a good thing for schools that currently lack the proper facilities to cook meals from scratch.
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Section 2(a)(3)(C) permits grant money to be used for employee compensation for additional food preparation necessary for scratch cooking. This benefits school food service workers by providing pay for the extra work required to make fresh meals.
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Section 2(a)(4) gives the highest priority for these grants to school food authorities that serve the greatest proportion of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch. This ensures that the children who rely most on school meals get the benefits of this program.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain any specific sections or provisions that outline potential negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
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 legislation provides healthier, scratch-cooked meals for students in participating school food authorities. Would students be better off under this? — Students benefit from improved nutritional standards and freshly prepared meals in school cafeterias. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Priority is given to schools serving high proportions of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Would union members be better off under this? — The bill provides preference to school food authorities with union-represented employees or collective bargaining commitments. Would farmers be better off under this? — The emphasis on unprocessed and whole ingredients may increase demand for locally produced agricultural products. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Families with children in participating schools benefit from healthier meal options.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — Priority for grants is given to school food authorities with union representation or commitments to collective bargaining. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill permits grant funds to be used for employee compensation for additional food preparation required for scratch cooking.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill authorizes $20 million annually for pilot grants to help schools improve meal preparation and cafeteria equipment.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Grant recipients are required to submit reports measuring changes in whole ingredient expenditures and scratch cooking percentages. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill creates a federally administered grant program through the Department of Agriculture.
- 10/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/6/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/10/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/21/2026
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- 5/20/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Alma AdamsDemocrat · North Carolina
Julia BrownleyDemocrat · California
Christopher DeluzioDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Zoe LofgrenDemocrat · California
Sarah McBrideDemocrat · Delaware
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Chellie PingreeDemocrat · Maine
Kim SchrierDemocrat · Washington
Andrea SalinasDemocrat · Oregon