Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3367
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-13: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-30T08:07:07Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act of 2025" (H.R. 3367) aims to update the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 by setting clearer rules for training programs for school food service workers. It ensures that such training is accessible, fairly scheduled, and supportive of workers' rights, ultimately improving the quality of school meal programs.
Key Provisions
- Training Program Requirements: Training must generally occur during regular, paid working hours; be offered in-person when suitable; include hands-on (experiential) learning; and be provided at no cost to the workers.
- Handling Training Outside Working Hours: If training must be scheduled outside regular paid hours, schools or programs must:
- Explain why it's necessary.
- Consult workers to minimize disruption in scheduling.
- Pay workers their regular rate, including overtime if applicable.
- Avoid any penalties or discrimination against workers who cannot attend.
- Preservation of Existing Laws: The new rules do not override any federal, state, or local laws related to employee-employer relationships, such as wage or labor protections.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 7(g)(2)(B) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1776(g)(2)(B)) by adding two new clauses. Previously, the law required training for food service personnel but lacked specifics on timing, cost, format, or protections for off-hours sessions. The additions introduce mandatory standards to make training more worker-friendly and equitable, without altering core certification requirements.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees child nutrition programs, may need to update guidelines and provide resources to schools for compliant training, potentially increasing administrative oversight but improving program effectiveness.
- On Citizens: School food service workers benefit from better access to free, convenient training, which could enhance job satisfaction and skills. Students may indirectly gain from higher-quality, safer school meals due to better-trained staff.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic education and labor-focused bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- School Food Service Workers: Primary beneficiaries, gaining protections for training access and compensation.
- School Districts and Local Education Agencies: Responsible for implementing the training rules, which may require adjustments to schedules and budgets.
- Federal Government (USDA and Education Department): Tasked with enforcing and funding compliant programs under federal child nutrition initiatives.
- Students and Families: Indirectly affected through improved school nutrition services.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Reinforces labor protections by aligning training with fair labor practices, but explicitly defers to existing employment laws to avoid conflicts (e.g., with the Fair Labor Standards Act). No challenges to enforceability are evident.
- Constitutional Implications: None significant; the bill supports equal protection under the law by preventing discrimination in training access, without infringing on free speech, due process, or other rights.
- Political Implications: Bipartisan support (introduced by Rep. Pocan, a Democrat, and Rep. Stefanik, a Republican) suggests broad appeal in education and workforce policy. It could set a precedent for worker-friendly updates in federal nutrition programs, potentially influencing future labor reforms in public sectors.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (31)
Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-13: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-05-13: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-13: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act of 2025 — issued 2025-05-13 — PDF (3 pages)