Sheehy Introduces the American Food for American Schools Act

U.S. SENATE - Today, U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced the American Food for American Schools Act to strengthen the "Buy American" requirement and ensure American-grown and American-processed food is served in school meals. U.S. Representatives James Gallagher (R-Calif.) and John Garamendi (D-Calif.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"It doesn't make sense for American schools to purchase imported food when the very best beef and agricultural products are produced right here at home, including in my home state of Montana. Buying U.S.-grown agricultural products not only protects the health and wellbeing of American kids, but also supports our nation's economy, American farmers and ranchers, and small and local agricultural businesses," said Senator Sheehy. "The American Food for American Schools Act strengthens the 'Buy American' requirement for schools to build a more secure domestic food chain and ensures federal policies back the producers who feed our nation, not foreign competitors."

"Ensuring that our schools purchase as much American produce as possible is crucial to supporting our farmers and economy," said Senator Schiff. "I'm proud to lead this bipartisan and bicameral bill with Senator Sheehy and Representatives Garamendi and Gallagher."

"Our farmers should be at the forefront as we improve school meal programs. The American Food for American Schools Act puts American-grown food on our children's lunch trays while creating new opportunities for the farmers who feed our nation," said Congressman Gallagher. "Northern California produces some of the highest-quality food in the world, and it is common sense to buy from our own farmers instead of importing food from foreign countries. This bipartisan bill strengthens American agriculture and gives students access to nutritious meals made with products grown right here at home."

"California is the largest agricultural producer in the United States, providing produce for the entire country and parts of the world. Yet, school districts in our own farming communities still use taxpayer dollars to buy imported food. Some of those imported products have even been recalled due to safety concerns, when they could have been sourced locally in California," said Congressman Garamendi. "That's why I'm proud to once again introduce the American Food for American Schools Act, with my colleagues Congressman James Gallagher, Senator Sheehy and Senator Schiff, which would ensure that our schoolchildren are served nutritious, American-grown food produced under the strictest safety standards in the world."

Statements of Support:
"Increasing imports of canned fruits and vegetables are one of the greatest threats to our industry given lower labor and steel costs in other parts of the world. We have also observed that fruit and vegetable imports continue to be a driving force behind our nation's increased dependence on foreign food imports. We applaud this critical effort to empower and support our schools, parents, and American businesses with common-sense, modernized Buy America policies." - Paul Palmby, President & CEO of Seneca Foods, speaking as a founding leader of the American Fruit & Vegetable Coalition

"Farm Bureau applauds Senators Sheehy and Schiff, and Representatives Garamendi and Gallagher, for advancing legislation that supports both American agriculture and child nutrition. By expanding access to high-quality, domestically grown food in school meal programs, this bill will help ensure students receive nutritious meals while also supporting U.S. farmers." - Dr. John Newton, AFBF Vice President of Public Policy and Economic Analysis

"American farmers and ranchers raise the highest quality crops and livestock in the world. Just like farmers nationwide, we here in Montana we are proud of the products we grow so we appreciate the effort to highlight the importance of delivering this healthy, delicious food to kids in our local schools and beyond. We applaud Senator Sheehy, his co-sponsors and counterparts in the House, for bringing this legislation, which will bring more of these high-quality, American raised foods to school children across the United States." - Cyndi Johnson, Montana Farm Bureau Federation President and farmer from Conrad

Background:
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act of 1946 established the National School Lunch Program to improve child nutrition while supporting American agricultural products. In 1988, Congress passed a provision requiring schools participating in the program to purchase domestic food products "to the maximum extent practicable." However, limited oversight, inconsistent reporting, and a lack of transparency have allowed schools to purchase imported food even when they could have met the domestic sourcing requirement.

The American Food for American Schools Act would strengthen the "Buy American" requirement to ensure schools build a more reliable and resilient domestic food supply chain while directing a greater share of federal school meal purchases toward American-grown and American-processed foods. This supports market opportunities for U.S. farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and food processors; bolsters rural economies; and reinforces the original purpose of the National School Lunch Actby ensuring that taxpayer-funded nutrition programs continue to invest in American agriculture.

What the bill does:

• Requires school food authorities to obtain a waiver from the Department of Agriculture before purchasing most foreign food products
• Expands American-made requirements to additional federal child nutrition programs beyond school lunches and breakfasts, including the Summer Food Service Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Special Milk Program
• Increases transparency by requiring annual reporting and a publicly available database of waivers and supplier noncompliance

Read more on the bill HERE. Read the full text of the bill HERE.