Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022

Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022

This bill provides funding for and makes changes to school meal programs and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). It also rescinds certain funds provided under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021; and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

Specifically, the bill increases the reimbursement rate for school lunches by 40 cents and for school breakfasts by 15 cents for the school year beginning in July 2022.

The bill extends the authority of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to waive certain requirements for the school meal programs and the CACFP to address COVID-19. In particular, the bill extends authority

• through September 30, 2022, for USDA to grant waivers related to summer food service programs;
• through June 30, 2022, for USDA to grant waivers of requirements to allow non-congregate feeding in the CACFP for purposes of providing meals and snacks with appropriate safety measures with respect to COVID-19; and
• through June 30, 2023, for USDA to grant waivers related to the nutritional content of meals served in child nutrition programs if it determines the waiver is necessary to provide meals and snacks, and there is a food supply chain disruption due to COVID-19.

The bill authorizes USDA to establish a nationwide waiver of statutory and regulatory requirements under child nutrition programs for the 2022-2023 school year.

Additionally, the bill increase the reimbursement rate for meals and snacks under the CACFP by 10 cents for the school year beginning in July 2022. Further, the bill increases the reimbursement of tier II family or group day care homes to tier I amounts for the 2022-2023 school year.

The bill rescinds certain funding provided to USDA, the Department of Education, and the Small Business Administration.

Finally, the bill requires USDA to ensure that technical assistance is made available to states and school food authorities for assisting parents and school leaders with transitioning to the operation of school meal programs without certain waivers.

Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021

This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from establishing a condition for a cemetery grant that restricts the ability of a state to inter certain reservists (or their spouses and children) at a state-owned veterans' cemetery solely because such individuals are ineligible for burial in an open national cemetery.

Specifically, as a condition for grants, the VA cannot restrict the ability of a state to inter a

• member of a reserve component, the Army National Guard, or the Air National Guard who, while a member, was discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable or whose death occurred under conditions other than dishonorable;
• member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of the Army, Navy, or Air Force whose death occurred under conditions other than dishonorable while a member; and
• spouse, minor child, or unmarried adult child of any member described above.

The VA is prohibited from (1) denying an application for a grant solely on the basis that the recipient state may use funds to expand, improve, operate, or maintain a veterans' cemetery in which interment of the specified individuals is allowed; and (2) enforcing certain conditions on grants for state veterans' cemeteries that were established before the date of enactment of this bill.

The bill also provides for plot allowances for the burial of veterans at cemeteries that allow the internment of individuals listed in the bill, including on trust land owned by or held in trust for a tribal organization.

Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021

This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from establishing a condition for a cemetery grant that restricts the ability of a state to inter certain reservists (or their spouses and children) at a state-owned veterans' cemetery solely because such individuals are ineligible for burial in an open national cemetery.

Specifically, as a condition for grants, the VA cannot restrict the ability of a state to inter a

• member of a reserve component, the Army National Guard, or the Air National Guard who, while a member, was discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable or whose death occurred under conditions other than dishonorable;
• member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of the Army, Navy, or Air Force whose death occurred under conditions other than dishonorable while a member; and
• spouse, minor child, or unmarried adult child of any member described above.

The VA is prohibited from (1) denying an application for a grant solely on the basis that the recipient state may use funds to expand, improve, operate, or maintain a veterans' cemetery in which interment of the specified individuals is allowed; and (2) enforcing certain conditions on grants for state veterans' cemeteries that were established before the date of enactment of this bill.

The bill also provides for plot allowances for the burial of veterans at cemeteries that allow the internment of individuals listed in the bill, including on trust land owned by or held in trust for a tribal organization.

Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021

This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from establishing a condition for a cemetery grant that restricts the ability of a state to inter certain reservists (or their spouses and children) at a state-owned veterans' cemetery solely because such individuals are ineligible for burial in an open national cemetery.

Specifically, as a condition for grants, the VA cannot restrict the ability of a state to inter a

• member of a reserve component whose service was terminated under honorable conditions;
• member of the Army National Guard or Air National Guard whose service was terminated under honorable conditions;
• member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps of the Army, Navy, or Air Force who died under honorable conditions while a member; and
• spouse, minor child, or unmarried adult child of any member described above.

The VA is prohibited from (1) denying an application for a grant solely on the basis that the recipient state may use funds to expand, improve, operate, or maintain a veterans' cemetery to allow for the internment of the specified individuals; and (2) enforcing certain conditions on grants for state veterans' cemeteries that were established before the date of enactment of this bill.

The bill also provides for plot allowances for the burial of veterans at cemeteries that allow the internment of the individuals listed in the bill.