A Democratic bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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 "Feeding Our Rural Kids Act of 2026" or "FORK Act of 2026" amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. It creates a pilot program to provide grants to service institutions. These grants help entities buy, retrofit, or repair vehicles to distribute noncongregate meals during the summer. The program prioritizes areas with poor economic conditions, rural areas, and those serving socially disadvantaged students.
Yes· 3 of 14
- Scored +8
Would children be better off under this?
Directly increases access to meals for children during the summer.
- Scored +8
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Specifically targets non-core based statistical areas for meal delivery vehicle grants.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Prioritizes areas with poor economic conditions and socially disadvantaged students.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Meal Access: Service institutions can receive grants up to $100,000 to get vehicles for distributing meals, which helps get food to children (Section 2(B) and 2(E)(ii)).
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Support for Vulnerable Areas: The program gives priority to people in areas with poor economic conditions, areas outside core-based statistical areas, and students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds (Section 2(C)).
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Geographic Fairness: The Secretary must try to ensure that grants are given to entities located in different States (Section 2(D)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limited Funding: Only $1,000,000 is authorized for the pilot program for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2029, which may limit how many people can actually be helped (Section 2(H)).
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Administrative Caps: Entities cannot use more than 10 percent of their grant funds for administrative expenses, which might burden the organization managing the meals (Section 2(E)(iii)).
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? — Directly increases access to meals for children during the summer. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Specifically targets non-core based statistical areas for meal delivery vehicle grants. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Prioritizes areas with poor economic conditions and socially disadvantaged students. Would students be better off under this? — Increases access to summer meals for students. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Benefits populations in socially disadvantaged areas who may be disproportionately affected. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Benefits populations in socially disadvantaged areas who may be disproportionately affected. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Benefits populations in socially disadvantaged and rural areas.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Addresses food insecurity in economically disadvantaged areas. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Prioritizes grants for students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Provides funding for delivery vehicles specifically in rural and non-core areas.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — Provides supplemental funding via grants to school service institutions.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires periodic reporting on the use and impact of grant funds. Does this give the federal government more power? — Creates a new federal grant program administered by the Secretary.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Improves nutritional access which is a fundamental component of public health and healthcare.
- 7/30/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont