Sheehy, Schiff bill would require waiver before schools buy foreign food products

Saying it is an effort to support American agriculture, a new piece of legislation from U.S. Sens. Tim Sheehy, a Montana Republican, and Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, would require schools to submit a waiver to the federal government before buying food not produced in the United States.

Two previous laws create incentives for schools to participate in the National School Lunch Program, which requires them to purchase food from American producers to the maximum extent possible.

The United States Department of Agriculture would be in charge of the new waiver process, as the school lunch program is part of that agency. The bill would additionally expand the American produced requirement to the Summer Food Service Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Special Milk Program. It would also add additional reporting requirements.

In a press release, Sheehy said it will help build a “more secure” domestic food chain and said it backed food producers, “not foreign competitors.”

“It doesn’t make sense for American schools to purchase imported food when the very best beef and agricultural products are produced right here at home, including in my home state of Montana,” Sheehy said in a press release. “Buying U.S.-grown agricultural products not only protects the health and well-being of American kids, but also supports our nation’s economy.”

Schiff, also quoted in the Sheehy release, said schools purchasing American produce is “crucial” to supporting farmers and the country’s economy.

Agricultural lobbying groups have lined up behind the bill, including the Farm Bureau Federation, which represents many large agricultural producers. “Buy American” is a key policy area for the Farm Bureau.

“American farmers and ranchers raise the highest quality crops and livestock in the world,” Cyndi Johnson, Montana Farm Bureau Federation president, said in a statement in the press release. “Just like farmers nationwide, we here in Montana are proud of the products we grow so we appreciate the effort to highlight the importance of delivering this healthy, delicious food to kids in our local schools and beyond.”

The bill also comes as a cyclospora infection has impacted much of the country this summer, with the source of the outbreak potentially from Mexico, according to the Associated Press, sourcing federal officials. Food illness outbreaks can be difficult to source, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.