FORK Act of 2026

This Act may be cited as the “Feeding Our Rural Kids Act of 2026” or the “FORK Act of 2026”.

Section 13(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1761(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(14) Summer meal delivery vehicle pilot program.—

(A) Definition of eligible entity.— In this paragraph, the term eligible entity means a service institution.

(B) Establishment.— The Secretary shall establish a pilot program (referred to in this paragraph as the “pilot program”), to be carried out beginning with the first summer following the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, to award grants to eligible entities to purchase, retrofit, or repair vehicles to facilitate the distribution of noncongregate meals made available pursuant to this section.

(C) Priority.— In awarding grants under the pilot program, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities located in—

(i) an area in which poor economic conditions exist;

(ii) an area outside a core-based statistical area (as defined in section 4 of the MAPS Act of 2021 (31 U.S.C. 6102 note; Public Law 117–219)); and

(iii) an area that serves a high proportion of students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

(D) Locations.— In awarding grants under the pilot program, the Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that eligible entities receiving grants are located in different States.

(E) Grants.—

(i) Term.— The term of a grant awarded under the pilot program shall be 1 year.

(ii) Maximum amount.— The amount of a grant awarded under the pilot program shall not exceed $100,000.

(iii) Administrative expenses.— An eligible entity awarded a grant under the pilot program shall use not more than 10 percent of grant funds for administrative expenses.

(iv) Report requirement.— An eligible entity awarded a grant under the pilot program shall periodically submit to the Secretary, at such intervals as determined by the Secretary, a report describing the use and impact of the grant funds, including—

(I) the number of sites, and type of sites, that benefitted from the pilot program; and

(II) the number of children served as a result of the pilot program.

(F) Technical assistance; best practices.— The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to, and share best practices with, eligible entities that receive grants under the pilot program.

(G) Report.— Not later than 4 years after the date of establishment of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the administration of the pilot program, including a summary of the reports received by the Secretary under subparagraph (E)(iv).

(H) Authorization of appropriations.— There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the pilot program $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2029.”.