§ 1751. Congressional declaration of policy

§ 1751. Congressional declaration of policy

It is declared to be the policy of Congress, as a measure of national security, to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation’s children and to encourage the domestic consumption of nutritious agricultural commodities and other food, by assisting the States, through grants-in-aid and other means, in providing an adequate supply of foods and other facilities for the establishment, maintenance, operation, and expansion of nonprofit school lunch programs.

(June 4, 1946, ch. 281, § 2, 60 Stat. 230; Pub. L. 101–147, title III, § 312(1), Nov. 10, 1989, 103 Stat. 916.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1989—Pub. L. 101–147 substituted “school lunch” for “school-lunch”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–296, title IV, § 445, Dec. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 3266, provided that: “Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Act [see Short Title of 2010 Amendment note below] or any of the amendments made by this Act, this Act and the amendments made by this Act take effect on October 1, 2010.”

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–147, § 2, Nov. 10, 1989, 103 Stat. 878, provided that: “Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the amendments made by this Act [see Short Title of 1989 Amendment note below] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1989].”

Short Title of 2026 Amendment

Pub. L. 119–69, § 1, Jan. 14, 2026, 139 Stat. 1997, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 1758, 1762a, 1769b, and 1776 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025’.”

Short Title of 2022 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–158, § 1, June 25, 2022, 136 Stat. 1309, provided that: “This Act [amending section 2254c of Title 7, Agriculture, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1753, 1760, and 1766 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 1760 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022’.”

Short Title of 2020 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–127, div. B, title I, § 2101, Mar. 18, 2020, 134 Stat. 184, provided that: “This title [enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1760 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Maintaining Essential Access to Lunch for Students Act’ or the ‘MEALS Act’.”

Pub. L. 116–127, div. B, title II, § 2201, Mar. 18, 2020, 134 Stat. 185, provided that: “This title [enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1760 and 1786 of this title] may be cited as the ‘COVID–19 Child Nutrition Response Act’.”

Short Title of 2010 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–296, § 1(a), Dec. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 3183, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 1758b, 1769d, 1769e, 1769j, and 1793 of this title and sections 2036a and 3179 of Title 7, Agriculture, amending sections 1396a, 1753, 1755, 1758, 1759a, 1760, 1761, 1762a, 1766, 1769, 1769b–1, 1769c, 1769g, 1769i, 1776, 1779, and 1786 of this title, sections 2013 and 2020 of Title 7, and section 1232g of Title 20, Education, repealing section 1769h of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 1396a, 1758, and 1766 of this title and section 3179 of Title 7, and repealing provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the ‘Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010’.”

Short Title of 2004 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–265, § 1(a), June 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 729, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 1754 and 1769i of this title, amending sections 1396a, 1758, 1759a, 1760, 1761, 1762a, 1766, 1769, 1769b–1, 1769c, 1769g, 1773, 1776, 1786, and 1788 of this title and section 2020 of Title 7, Agriculture, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 1754, 1758, 1766, 1769c, 1773, and 1786 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 612c of Title 7] may be cited as the ‘Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004’.”

Short Title of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–336, § 1(a), Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3143, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 1755, 1758, 1759a to 1761, 1762a, 1765 to 1766a, 1769, 1769b–1, 1769c, 1769f to 1769h, 1773, 1776, 1784, 1786, and 1788 of this title, repealing section 1766b of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1755, 1761, and 1786 of this title, and amending provisions set out as notes under section 1769 of this title and section 612c of Title 7, Agriculture] may be cited as the ‘William F. Goodling Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 1998’.”

Short Title of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–149, § 1, May 29, 1996, 110 Stat. 1379, provided that: “This Act [amending section 1758 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Healthy Meals for Children Act’.”

Short Title of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–448, § 1(a), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4699, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 1766b and 1769f to 1769h of this title, amending sections 280c–6, 1396a, 1755, 1756, 1758, 1759a, 1760, 1761, 1762a, 1766, 1769, 1769a, 1769b–1, 1769c, 1773, 1776, 1779, 1786, and 1788 of this title, section 2018 of Title 7, Agriculture, section 1484a of Title 20, Education, and section 3803 of Title 31, Money and Finance, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 1755, 1758, 1760, 1761, 1762a, 1769f, and 1786 of this title, amending provisions set out as notes under section 1786 of this title and section 612c of Title 7, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section 1786 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act of 1994’.”

Short Title of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–342, § 1, Aug. 14, 1992, 106 Stat. 911, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 1790 of this title, amending sections 1766, 1769, and 1786 of this title, enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1769 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 612c of Title 7, Agriculture] may be cited as the ‘Child Nutrition Amendments of 1992’.”

Short Title of 1989 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–147, § 1(a), Nov. 10, 1989, 103 Stat. 877, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 1766a, 1769b–1, 1769c, 1769d, and 1769e of this title, amending this section and sections 1753, 1755–1758, 1759a, 1760, 1761, 1762a, 1765, 1766, 1769–1769b, 1772, 1773, 1776, 1779, 1783, 1784, 1786, and 1788 of this title, repealing sections 1762 and 1763 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 1755, 1758, 1761, 1762a, 1766, 1766a, 1769, 1769c, 1773, 1776, and 1786 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 1766 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 1989’.”

Short Title of 1986 Amendments

Pub. L. 99–661, § 4001(a), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 4070, provided that: “This division [div. D (§§ 4001–4503) of Pub. L. 99–661, amending sections 1752, 1755, 1758, 1760, 1761, 1762a, 1766, 1769 to 1769b, 1772, 1773, 1776, 1784, 1786, 1788, and 1789 of this title, repealing sections 1767, 1768, and 1769c of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1758, 1760, 1766, 1772, 1773, and 1786 of this title and section 1431e of Title 7, Agriculture] may be cited as the ‘Child Nutrition Amendments of 1986’.”

Pub. L. 99–500, title III, § 301(a), Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–359, and Pub. L. 99–591, title III, § 301(a), Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–362, provided that: “This title [amending sections 1752, 1755, 1758, 1760, 1761, 1762a, 1766, 1769 to 1769b, 1772, 1773, 1776, 1784, 1786, 1788, and 1789 of this title and section 1929a of Title 7, Agriculture, repealing sections 1767, 1768, and 1769c of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1758, 1760, 1766, 1772, 1773, and 1786 of this title and sections 1431e and 1929a of Title 7] may be cited as the ‘School Lunch and Child Nutrition Amendments of 1986’.”

Short Title of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–627, § 1, Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3603, provided: “That this Act [enacting section 1769c of this title, amending sections 1755, 1757, 1758, 1759a to 1761, 1762a, 1766, 1769, 1772 to 1774, 1776, 1784, and 1786 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1755, 1773 and 1786 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Child Nutrition Amendments of 1978’.”

Short Title of 1977 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–166, § 1, Nov. 10, 1977, 91 Stat. 1325, provided: “That this Act [enacting sections 1769, 1769a, and 1788 of this title, amending sections 1754 to 1758, 1759a, 1760, 1761, 1762a, 1763, 1766, 1772 to 1774, 1776, 1779, 1784, and 1786 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1755 and 1772 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National School Lunch Act and Child Nutrition Amendments of 1977’.”

Short Title of 1975 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–105, § 1, Oct. 7, 1975, 89 Stat. 511, provided: “That this Act [enacting sections 1765, 1766, 1767, 1768, and 1787 of this title, amending sections 1752, 1755, 1756, 1758, 1759, 1759a, 1760, 1761, 1762a, 1772, 1773, 1774, 1784, and 1786 of this title, repealing section 1764 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1758, 1760, 1761, and 1786 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National School Lunch Act and Child Nutrition Act of 1966 Amendments of 1975’.”

Short Title of 1974 Amendment

Pub. L. 93–326, § 1, June 30, 1974, 88 Stat. 286, provided: “That this Act [enacting section 1762a of this title and amending sections 1752, 1755, 1758, 1763, 1774, and 1786 of this title] may be cited as the ‘National School Lunch and Child Nutrition Act Amendments of 1974’.”

Short Title of 1973 Amendment

Pub. L. 93–150, § 1, Nov. 7, 1973, 87 Stat. 560, provided: “That this Act [amending sections 1753, 1755, 1757, 1758, 1759, 1759a, 1763, 1772, 1773, and 1786 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 240 of Title 20, Education] may be cited as the ‘National School Lunch and Child Nutrition Act Amendments of 1973’.”

Short Title

Act June 4, 1946, ch. 281, § 1, 60 Stat. 230, as amended by Pub. L. 106–78, title VII, § 752(a), Oct. 22, 1999, 113 Stat. 1169, provided: “That this Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act’.”

Emergency Costs for Child Nutrition Programs During COVID–19 Pandemic