A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
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 FRESH Act of 2026 amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to create a grant program. The Secretary of Agriculture would provide competitive grants to eligible entities to buy and install milk dispensers or cold storage equipment. These grants are for use in elementary and secondary schools. The federal government would cover up to 75 percent of project costs. The bill authorizes $4,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Yes· 3 of 17
- Scored +5
Would children be better off under this?
Improves the quality and availability of milk storage in elementary and secondary schools.
- Scored +5
Would students be better off under this?
Directly improves infrastructure for student nutrition.
- Scored +4
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
Specifically includes tribal organizations as eligible entities for grants.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The bill authorizes new federal spending of $4 million annually.
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill creates a new grant program requiring federal appropriations.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Access to Equipment: Local educational agencies, school food authorities, and tribal organizations can receive grants to acquire and install milk dispensers or cold storage equipment (SEC. 2 (a)).
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Financial Support: Eligible entities can have up to 75 percent of their project costs covered by the Federal share (SEC. 2 (c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limited Funding: The program is competitive and only authorizes $4,000,000 per year from 2027 through 2031, which may limit the number of entities that can receive help (SEC. 2 (d)).
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Cost Burden: Because the Federal share cannot be greater than 75 percent, eligible entities must provide the remaining funding for their projects (SEC. 2 (c)).
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? — Improves the quality and availability of milk storage in elementary and secondary schools. Would students be better off under this? — Directly improves infrastructure for student nutrition. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Specifically includes tribal organizations as eligible entities for grants. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Students in lower-income districts are more likely to rely on school meal programs. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Benefits secondary school students. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Potential benefit to students in underserved communities. Would business owners be better off under this? — Creates demand for manufacturers of milk dispensers and cold storage equipment. Would farmers be better off under this? — Increases the operational capacity for milk distribution in schools. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Potential benefit to students in underserved communities. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Provides some benefit to families with children in public schools. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Benefits rural school districts receiving grants. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Benefits urban school districts receiving grants.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — Provides federal grants to public schools for necessary refrigeration equipment.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill creates a new grant program requiring federal appropriations. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill authorizes new federal spending of $4 million annually.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Provides funding for equipment in schools, which may benefit rural school districts.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Expands the federal role in school equipment procurement via a new grant program.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Improves the ability of schools to store and provide milk, contributing to student nutritional health.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Supports nutritional infrastructure in schools which often serves low-income children.
- 6/4/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Joe CourtneyDemocrat · Connecticut