U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) on Sept. 30 introduced a bipartisan bill that would create a new grant program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support schools working on food waste reduction programs.
Rep. Newhouse joined fellow cosponsor U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) in introducing the School Food Recovery Act, H.R. 5459, which has been referred to the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee for consideration.
“This bill will give our school boards and administrations the resources they need to educate staff and students on proper sustainability and prevention,” Rep. Newhouse said. “I’m proud to partner with Representatives Pingree and Bonamici as we continue to support important reforms that will reduce food loss and ensure our students have access to the healthy food American farmers and ranchers work so hard to provide.”
Reps. Newhouse and Pingree recently relaunched the bipartisan Food Recovery Caucus, which is committed to reducing food waste nationwide in recognition of the environmental and economic harms of food waste.
“Most Americans are shocked when they discover 40 percent of the food in this country goes to waste,” said Rep. Newhouse. “The School Food Recovery Act can help alleviate this by empowering our schools to lead on food recovery.”
Under an enacted H.R. 5459, schools would be eligible for the newly created grant program if they participate in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program. The federal funds would support capacity-building and implementation of food waste measurement and reduction programs in schools, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Eligible grant activities would include food waste measurement and reporting, prevention, education, and reduction projects, including purchasing equipment and providing training, the summary says, noting that federal grants would not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the project.
The World Wildlife Foundation, the Natural Resources Defense Council, ReFED, and the Harvard Food Law Policy Center recently released a food loss and waste policy plan for Congress and the Biden administration that includes an endorsement of H.R. 5459.