Child Nutrition Initiatives Act

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: National School Lunch Act Title II: Child Nutrition Act of 1966 Child Nutrition Initiatives Act - Title I: National School Lunch Act - Amends the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to three selected private organizations or institutions to integrate food and nutrition projects with elementary school curricula. (Sec. 102) Revises, expands, and extends the authorization of appropriations for the summer food service program for children. Increases the number of areas which may be considered as having poor economic conditions, for purposes of program coverage. Allows use of commercial vendors. Increases the allowable number of sites run by private nonprofit organizations in rural areas. Increases program reimbursement rates. Directs the Secretary to provide an additional reimbursement to each eligible service institution located in a very rural area for the cost of transporting each child to and from a feeding site. Increases the number of meals and supplements allowed daily. Allows a camp or migrant program to serve a breakfast, lunch, supper, and meal supplement. (Sec. 103) Revises the child and adult care food program. Extends authority for: (1) automatic eligibility of Head Start program child-participants whose families meet low-income criteria; (2) grants to States to provide assistance to family or group day care homes; and (3) demonstration projects for program qualification of private for-profit organizations providing nonresidential services. Provides funding for an additional meal or meal supplement for children who are in a child care center for eight hours or more. Increases the amount of base funding to each State for grants to provide assistance to family or group day care homes. (Sec. 104) Provides for the eligibility of additional schools for the program of meal supplements for children in after-school care. (Sec. 105) Extends and increases the authorization of appropriations for the homeless children nutrition program for projects to provide food service throughout the year to homeless children under the age of six in emergency shelters. (Sec. 106) Extends authority for: (1) the demonstration food and nutrition program for boarder babies, and allows use of program funds for support staff; and (2) use of funds for the pilot program to help schools offer increased choices of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, and grain-based products. Extends the authorization of appropriations for: (1) the demonstration program to provide meals and supplements outside of school hours; and (2) pilot projects for reduced paperwork and application requirements and increased participation in school lunch and breakfast programs. (Sec. 107) Extends the authorization of appropriations for the information clearinghouse for nongovernmental groups that provide food assistance and self-help activities for low-income individuals and communities. Title II: Child Nutrition Act of 1966 - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an Area Grant Program to assist eligible schools and service institutions to initiate or expand programs under the school breakfast program and the summer food service program for children. Requires such payments to be made: (1) on a competitive basis; (2) in a specified order of priority; (3) in addition to other payments under CNA and NSLA; and (4) with preference given to a school food authority that meets certain criteria. (Sec. 202) Extends the authorization of appropriations for the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC program). Extends specified authority relating to funds for nutrition services and administration. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the WIC program should be fully funded for FY 1998 and each subsequent fiscal year for all eligible applicants. Extends the authorization for funding for the WIC Farmers' Market Program. Entitles the Secretary to receive such program funds. (Sec. 203) Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Nutrition Education and Training Program. Increases the minimum amount of a State grant under such program.