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A group of bipartisan senators have introduced a bill to expand the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm to School Grant Program.
The Farm to School Act of 2021 would increase annual mandatory funding for the program to $15 million, boost the maximum grant award to $500,000 and give priority to proposals that serve high-need schools. In addition, the bill aims to engage new, veteran and socially disadvantaged farmers, boost Native schools' access to traditional foods and fully include sites providing early care and education, summer foodservice and after-school programs.
The bill is sponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy, Thom Tillis, Sherrod Brown and Susan Collins.