1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Maintaining Essential Access to Lunch for Students Act or the MEALS Act . 2. Waiver exception for school closures due to COVID–19 (a) In general The requirements under section 12(l)(1)(A)(iii) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760(l)(1)(A)(iii) ) shall not apply to a qualified COVID–19 waiver. (b) Allowable increase in Federal costs Notwithstanding paragraph (4) of section 12(l) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760(l) ), the Secretary of Agriculture may grant a qualified COVID–19 waiver that increases Federal costs. (c) Termination after periodic review The requirements under section 12(l)(5) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760(l)(5) ) shall not apply to a qualified COVID–19 waiver. (d) Qualified COVID–19 waiver In this section, the term qualified COVID–19 waiver means a waiver— (1) requested by a State (as defined in section 12(d)(8) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760(d)(8) )) or eligible service provider under section 12(l) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1760(l) ); and (2) to waive any requirement under such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 ( 42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), or any regulation issued under either such Act, for purposes of providing meals and meal supplements under such Acts during a school closure due to COVID–19.