H.R.3944 - Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026 119th Congress (2025-2026) Section Summary:

Food And Nutrition Service child nutrition programs (including transfers of funds) For necessary expenses to carry out the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), except section 21, and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), except sections 17 and 21; $36,285,902,000 to remain available through September 30, 2027, of which such sums as are made available under section 14222(b)(1) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–246), as amended by this Act, shall be merged with and available for the same time period and purposes as provided herein: Provided, That of the total amount available, $18,004,000 shall be available to carry out section 19 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.): Provided further, That of the total amount available, $21,918,000 shall be available to carry out studies and evaluations and shall remain available until expended: Provided further, That of the total amount available, $5,000,000 shall remain available until expended to carry out section 18(g) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769(g)): Provided further, That notwithstanding section 18(g)(3)(C) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769(g)(3)(c)), the total grant amount provided to a farm to school grant recipient in fiscal year 2026 shall not exceed $500,000: Provided further, That of the total amount available, $10,000,000 shall be available to provide competitive grants to State agencies for subgrants to local educational agencies and schools to purchase the equipment, with a value of greater than $1,000, needed to serve healthier meals, improve food safety, and to help support the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of the school breakfast program: Provided further, That of the total amount available, $1,500,000 shall remain available until expended to carry out activities authorized under subsections (a)(2) and (e)(2) of section 21 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769b–1(a)(2) and (e)(2)): Provided further, That section 26(d) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769g(d)) is amended in the first sentence by striking “2010 through 2026” and inserting “2010 through 2027”: Provided further, That section 9(h)(3) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(h)(3)) is amended in the first sentence by striking “For fiscal year 2025” and inserting “For fiscal year 2026”: Provided further, That section 9(h)(4) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(h)(4)) is amended in the first sentence by striking “For fiscal year 2025” and inserting “For fiscal year 2026”. special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (wic) For necessary expenses to carry out the special supplemental nutrition program as authorized by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), $8,200,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2027: Provided, That notwithstanding section 17(h)(10) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(h)(10)), not less than $90,000,000 shall be used for breastfeeding peer counselors and other related activities, and $14,000,000 shall be used for infrastructure, including investments to develop strategies to improve timely program data collection and reporting: Provided further, That funds made available under this heading may be used to award grants and cooperative agreements to State agencies or other entities: Provided further, That the Secretary shall use funds made available under this heading to maintain the amount for the cash-value voucher for women and children participants at an amount recommended by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine and adjusted for inflation: Provided further, That none of the funds provided in this account shall be available for the purchase of infant formula except in accordance with the cost containment and competitive bidding requirements specified in section 17 of such Act: Provided further, That none of the funds provided shall be available for activities that are not fully reimbursed by other Federal Government departments or agencies unless authorized by section 17 of such Act: Provided further, That upon termination of a federally mandated vendor moratorium and subject to terms and conditions established by the Secretary, the Secretary may waive the requirement at 7 CFR 246.12(g)(6) at the request of a State agency. supplemental nutrition assistance program For necessary expenses to carry out the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), $118,139,341,000, of which $3,000,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2027, shall be placed in reserve for use only in such amounts and at such times as may become necessary to carry out program operations: Provided, That funds provided herein shall be expended in accordance with section 16 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008: Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading, $998,000 may be used to provide nutrition education services to State agencies and Federally Recognized Tribes participating in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations: Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading, $3,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027, shall be used to carry out section 4003(b) of Public Law 115–334 relating to demonstration projects for tribal organizations: Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading, $3,000,000 shall be used to carry out section 4208 of Public Law 115–334: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be subject to any work registration or workfare requirements as may be required by law: Provided further, That funds made available for Employment and Training under this heading shall remain available through September 30, 2027: Provided further, That funds made available under this heading for section 28(d)(1), section 4(b), and section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 shall remain available through September 30, 2027: Provided further, That none of the funds made available under this heading may be obligated or expended in contravention of section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1183A): Provided further, That funds made available under this heading may be used to enter into contracts and employ staff to conduct studies, evaluations, or to conduct activities related to program integrity provided that such activities are authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. commodity assistance program For necessary expenses to carry out disaster and commodity assistance, $516,070,000, to remain available through September 30, 2027, of which $425,000,000 shall be for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, as authorized by section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note), $80,000,000 shall be for the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983, $1,070,000 shall be for assistance for the nuclear affected islands, as authorized by section 103(f)(2) of the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–188), and $10,000,000 shall be for the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, as authorized by section 17(m) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966: Provided, That none of these funds shall be available to reimburse the Commodity Credit Corporation for commodities donated to the program: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective with funds made available in fiscal year 2026 to support the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, as authorized by section 4402 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, such funds shall remain available through September 30, 2027: Provided further, That of the funds made available under section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036(a)), the Secretary may use up to 20 percent for costs associated with the distribution of commodities. nutrition programs administration For necessary administrative expenses of the Food and Nutrition Service for carrying out any domestic nutrition assistance program, $177,348,000: Provided, That of the funds provided herein, $2,000,000 shall be used for the purposes of section 4404 of Public Law 107–171, as amended by section 4401 of Public Law 110–246.