Quarterly Policy Update: April 2025
April 23, 2025
The start of 2025 has come with many changes as a new administration has taken office and a new Congress has began. So far in 2025, two important CACFP bills have been re-introduced, CACFP Week was recognized nationwide, and a USDA request for information was completed. Keep reading to see what you’ve missed and stay up to date with CACFP policy!
CACFP Bills Re-introduced in Congress
On April 10, 2025, two bills were re-introduced in Congress to make critical improvements to the CACFP.
Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act
Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), in addition to several co-sponsors, have re-introduced this legislation to:
- Allow providers who are open for more than 8 hours in a day to be reimbursed for an additional meal (up to 3 meals and 1 snack).
- Align the calculation of reimbursement rates for family child care homes with that of centers by shifting to “food away from home.”
- Allow annual eligibility for for-profit child care centers to streamline program operations.
- Require a review of the CACFP Serious Deficiency process.
- Establish an advisory committee on CACFP paperwork reduction.
Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act
Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), along with multiple co-sponsors, have re-introduced this legislation to:
- Provide an additional 10 cent reimbursement for each meal and snack served in the CACFP.
- Eliminate tiering of family day care homes.
- Allow family day care home providers to claim their own children’s meals for reimbursement.
CACFP Week Celebrated Nationwide
National CACFP Week took place from March 16th to March 22nd, 2025. During the week, a congressional resolution was introduced in the House and Senate of Congress to recognize the importance of the CACFP and show appreciation for the thousands of providers nationwide. In addition, proclamations were signed by elected officials in 14 States.
USDA Requests for Information (RFI)
NCA provided a response to USDA’s RFI on Grain-based Desserts and High-Protein Yogurt. After meeting with NCA members and extensive research, NCA submitted a response stating that we recommend maintaining current grain-based dessert policy, but recommend that cereal bars, breakfast bars, and granola bars be re-categorized as creditable items in the CACFP. NCA also recommended that USDA does not create a separate crediting standard for high-protein yogurt that is different from regular yogurt, in order to avoid confusion. In addition, NCA recommended that USDA should never create any policies that do not align with the current age groups as outlined in the meal patterns.
NCA also supported over 470 community members in submitting their personalized responses to USDA on this RFI.
Executive Orders
Federal Funding Freeze
NCA closely monitored and executive order from President Trump that called for a temporary pause to federal funding. The executive order was quickly rescinded after concern from individuals and organizations across the nation. NCA continues to believe that funding for child nutrition programs is secure.
Make America Healthy Again
On February 13, President Trump signed an executive order to establish the Make America Healthy Again Commission. The executive order gives the Commission 100 days to conduct a Make our Children Healthy Again Assessment. The order also gives the Commission 180 days to submit a Make our Children Healthy Again Strategy to the President with recommendations to address childhood chronic disease.
Additional Updates
Local Food Funding Terminated
In December 2024, USDA released a Notice of Funding opportunity for State agencies to access funds to purchase and distribute local foods for schools and CACFP child care providers in their State. However, on March 7, 2025 the Agricultural Marketing Service at USDA released a memo to implementing agencies announcing the termination of Local Food for Schools and Child Care funding agreements. NCA’s partners at the National Farm to School Network have an action center where individuals can contact their legislators to ask for this funding to be re-instated.
Patrick Leahy Grant 2025 Competition Cancelled
Each year, USDA conducts a competitive grant cycle to provide funding for child nutrition program operators to incorporate local food and agricultural education into their programs. However, on March 31, 2025, USDA notified all applicants that the Fiscal Year 2025 grant competition has been paused. USDA has stated that they plan to have an improved grant competition for FY 2026. NCA has signed-on to a letter, lead by our partners at the School Nutrition Association, urging Congress and USDA to restore funding for the Patrick Leahy Grant as well as the Local Food for Schools and Child Care program.
Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is a bi-partisan bill that would update the National School Lunch Act to State that schools participating in NSLP may offer flavored and unflavored organic or non-organic whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free fluid milk and lactose-free fluid milk. It also States that schools shall provide substitutes for fluid milk for students with disabilities. The bill has been considered in a hearing of the House and the Senate. While the bill does not make any updates to milk requirements in the CACFP, if passed, this would likely trickle down to all child nutrition programs.
For more information contact policy@cacfp.org.