FORK Act of 2026

Jeff Merkley

Democrat · OR · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Peter Welch (D-VT)Original· 2026-07-30
• Ron Wyden (D-OR)Original· 2026-07-30

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

2026-07-30

Source: Congress.gov

Feeding Our Rural Kids Act of 2026 or the FORK Act of 2026 This bill establishes a summer meal delivery vehicle pilot program as part of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). (The SFSP is a federally funded, state-administered program that reimburses providers that serve no-cost, healthy meals and snacks to children and teens at summer sites in low-income communities.) Under the bill, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must award one-year grants of up to $100,000 for service institutions (e.g., school food authorities) to purchase, retrofit, or repair vehicles to facilitate noncongregate meal distribution. This is meal distribution outside of the typically required group, or congregate, setting (e.g., grab-and-go meal service). Among other things, USDA must give priority to service institutions located in an area in which poor economic conditions exist and that serve a high proportion of students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. USDA must also ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that service institutions receiving grants are located in different states.

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 5184 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5184 To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a summer meal delivery vehicle pilot program, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 30, 2026 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Welch, and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a summer meal delivery vehicle pilot program, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Feeding Our Rural Kids Act of 2026'' or the ``FORK Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. SUMMER MEAL DELIVERY VEHICLE PILOT PROGRAM. Section 13(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(14) Summer meal delivery vehicle pilot program.-- ``(A) Definition of eligible entity.--In this paragraph, the term `eligible entity' means a service institution. ``(B) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a pilot program (referred to in this paragraph as the `pilot program'), to be carried out beginning with the first summer following the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, to award grants to eligible entities to purchase, retrofit, or repair vehicles to facilitate the distribution of noncongregate meals made available pursuant to this section. ``(C) Priority.--In awarding grants under the pilot program, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities located in-- ``(i) an area in which poor economic conditions exist; ``(ii) an area outside a core-based statistical area (as defined in section 4 of the MAPS Act of 2021 (31 U.S.C. 6102 note; Public Law 117-219)); and ``(iii) an area that serves a high proportion of students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. ``(D) Locations.--In awarding grants under the pilot program, the Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that eligible entities receiving grants are located in different States. ``(E) Grants.-- ``(i) Term.--The term of a grant awarded under the pilot program shall be 1 year. ``(ii) Maximum amount.--The amount of a grant awarded under the pilot program shall not exceed $100,000. ``(iii) Administrative expenses.--An eligible entity awarded a grant under the pilot program shall use not more than 10 percent of grant funds for administrative expenses. ``(iv) Report requirement.--An eligible entity awarded a grant under the pilot program shall periodically submit to the Secretary, at such intervals as determined by the Secretary, a report describing the use and impact of the grant funds, including-- ``(I) the number of sites, and type of sites, that benefitted from the grant funds; ``(II) the number of children served as a result of the grant funds; and ``(F) Technical assistance; best practices.--The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to, and share best practices with, eligible entities that receive grants under the pilot program. ``(G) Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date of establishment of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the administration of the pilot program, including a summary of the reports received by the Secretary under subparagraph (E)(iv). ``(H) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the pilot program $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2029.''. <all>

• SJRES221A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the agreement for civilian nuclear cooperation between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pursuant to section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-10-15
• S5602No Funds for Trump’s Illegal Arch Act
  Introduced · 2026-09-30
• S5603Protecting Presidential Memorials Act
  Introduced · 2026-09-30
• S5624Honoring Fallen Wildland Firefighters Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-09-30