Stop Child Hunger Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3217
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-06: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-30T08:06:05Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Stop Child Hunger Act of 2025 aims to expand access to food benefits for children by modifying the existing Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) program. This program provides electronic benefits (similar to SNAP, or food stamps) to help low-income families buy food for children when school meals are unavailable. The bill extends these benefits to periods when schools are closed or operating remotely due to disruptions, such as emergencies, to prevent child hunger year-round.
Key Provisions
- Expansion to School Closures: The program now covers "school closure periods," defined as times when elementary or secondary schools are fully closed, operating remotely (online only), or in a hybrid model (mix of in-person and remote) for 5 or more consecutive weekdays in a calendar year.
- Benefit Amounts: Eligible children receive benefits equivalent to the free rate value of one breakfast, one lunch, and one snack per day during summer months or school closure periods. The "free rate" refers to the federally set maximum reimbursement for free school meals.
- Eligibility and Targeting: Benefits target children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals and are enrolled in eligible schools during the relevant period. States and certain Indian Tribal organizations administer the program.
- Administrative Funding: The federal government covers a decreasing share of state administrative costs: 100% in fiscal year 2026, dropping by 10% each year until reaching 50% in fiscal year 2031 and beyond.
- Implementation Support: Provides $50 million in mandatory funding (transferred from the Treasury on October 1, 2025) for grants to states to build or upgrade data systems needed to run the expanded program. Additional funding would come from future appropriations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previous Law: The Summer EBT program (under Section 13A of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act) was limited to summer months (June through August) and provided benefits based on a fixed amount per child, with federal administrative support at 50%.
- New Changes:
- Broadens coverage to include non-summer school disruptions, removing the summer-only restriction.
- Increases the minimum benefit level to match full free school meal values (previously a set dollar amount).
- Temporarily boosts federal administrative funding to 100% starting in 2026 to ease implementation, then phases it down.
- Adds new definitions for "free rate" (cross-referencing a COVID-19 response law) and "school closure period."
- Introduces one-time grants for technology upgrades, which were not previously available.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the program, will manage expanded operations, including more frequent benefit distributions and data coordination with states. States may face initial setup costs but gain federal grants; long-term, they will cover half of administrative expenses.
- On Citizens: Low-income families with school-age children could receive up to $120 per child per month (based on current free meal rates) during disruptions, helping cover grocery costs and reducing food insecurity. This could benefit millions of children, especially in areas prone to weather events, pandemics, or other closures.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic child nutrition programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Children and Families: Primarily low-income households eligible for free or reduced-price school meals, who gain reliable food support during school interruptions.
- State and Local Agencies: Education departments, social services, and Tribal organizations responsible for enrolling families, issuing benefits, and managing data systems.
- Schools: Public elementary and secondary schools, which must report closure periods and student eligibility.
- Federal Government: USDA for program oversight and funding; the Treasury for initial grant transfers.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens the National School Lunch Act by integrating lessons from past emergencies (e.g., COVID-19 school closures under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act). It mandates specific benefit calculations, potentially reducing disputes over eligibility, but requires states to align data systems with federal privacy standards (e.g., protecting student information).
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I to promote general welfare through nutrition programs; no apparent conflicts with federalism, as states retain implementation flexibility.
- Political: Could face debate over federal spending (estimated at hundreds of millions annually for benefits and admin), with supporters viewing it as essential child welfare investment and critics potentially concerned about long-term costs or program expansion. The phased federal funding encourages state buy-in while providing startup support.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-06: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-05-06: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-06: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop Child Hunger Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-06 — PDF (6 pages)