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Child Nutrition Programs

The federal child nutrition programs play a critical role in ensuring that millions of kids have access to the nutritious food they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

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The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act
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CNR is federal legislation that authorizes nearly all child nutrition programs, including school meals, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and WIC.

The federal child nutrition programs are permanently authorized, meaning that Congress does not have to take any ongoing action for the programs to continue. However, there is a regular process to revise the legislation, known as Child Nutrition Reauthorization, in order to make needed updates and changes. This traditionally occurs every five years, though the last Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act was the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which passed in 2010 and expired in 2015.