Apportionment to States

Section 4(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753(b)) is amended— (1) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) Payment amounts (A) In general The national average payment for each free lunch shall be $4.86, adjusted annually for inflation in accordance with subparagraph (B) and rounded in accordance with subparagraph (C). (B) Inflation adjustment (i) In general The annual inflation adjustment under subparagraph (A) shall reflect changes in the cost of operating the free lunch program under this Act, as indicated by the change in the Consumer Price Index for food away from home for all urban consumers. (ii) Basis Each annual inflation adjustment under subparagraph (A) shall reflect the changes in the Consumer Price Index for food away from home for the most recent 12-month period for which that data is available. (C) Rounding On July 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the national average payment rate for free lunch shall be— (i) adjusted to the nearest lower-cent increment; and (ii) based on the unrounded amounts for the preceding 12-month period.; and (2) by striking paragraph (3).