At the local level, program benefits are provided to more than 39million children and infants, and some 2 million lower-income pregnant and postpartumwomen, through just over 100,000 public and private schools and residential child careinstitutions, about 200,000 child care centers and family day care homes, approximately30,000 summer program sites, and, in the case of the WIC program, some 10,000 local healthcare clinics/sites operated by nearly 2,000 health agencies. In the meal service programs like the School Lunch and School Breakfast programs,summer programs, and assistance for child care centers and day care homes, federal aid is inthe form of legislatively set subsidies paid for each meal/snack served that meets federalnutrition guidelines. While all meals/snacks served are subsidized, those served free or at a reducedprice to lower-income children are supported at higher rates. (3) However, federal subsidies do not necessarily cover the fullcost of the meals and snacks offered by participating providers, and states and localitiescontribute significantly to cover program costs -- as do children's families (by paying chargesfor nonfree or reduced-price meals and snacks). Participating schools/RCCIs alsomust guarantee to offer free/reduced-price meals to lower-income children, adhere tofederally set administrative standards (under state oversight), and follow "BuyAmerican" rules. For the2006-2007 school year, these subsidies are 23 cents a lunch. (See the later discussionof the Child and Adult Care Food program for the various federal subsidy rates forsnacks, as well as separate authority for child care organizations, including schools,to get subsidies for snacks and, in some cases, meals served free in after-schoolprograms.) Commodity Assistance(20)

The Agriculture Department provides commodity support for School Lunchprogram schools, the CACFP, and the Summer Food Service program. In addition to cash subsidies, schools (which receive the bulk of federallydonated commodities) and other providers are "entitled" to a specific dollar value ofcommodities based on the number of meals they serve. The WIC and WIC Farmers' Market Programs(22)

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, andChildren (the WIC program) provides nutritious foods and other support tolower-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, and to infants andchildren (up to age 5). Special FNS projects -- "TeamNutrition" nutrition education projects, a food safety project, technical assistance toprogram operators, food service training grants, aid with electronic food serviceresource systems, "program integrity" initiatives -- are aimed at helping schools andother providers with nutrition education materials, assisting them to improve theirmeal service operations and the quality of meals, and ensuring federal support is spentcorrectly; they are typically funded at about $10-$20 million a year. (31) 

	Funding for Child Nutrition and WIC Programs

Federal support for child nutrition and WIC programs is derived from fundingprovided out of (1) annual Agriculture Department appropriations, (2) permanentappropriations not included in the annual appropriations laws (e.g., money directlyappropriated for the Food Service Management Institute under its authorizing law andother spending mandated by law), (3) unused money available (carried over) fromprior years' appropriations, transferred from other Agriculture Departmentappropriations accounts, or recovered from states and operators, and (4) funds paidfor child nutrition initiatives from budget accounts separate from appropriations to thechild nutrition and WIC accounts (e.g., a large share of commodity assistance). 5384 ; H.Rept.109-463 ), and the Senate-reported FY2007 appropriations measure (H.R.5384; S.Rept. Added funds for a free fresh fruit and vegetable program in selected schools are not includedin the House bill amounts shown here (they are appropriated separately), but are included in the Senate child nutritionappropriation. The Administration's request for FY2007 includesonly the $9 million mandated amount.
Federally supported child nutrition programs/initiatives and the Special SupplementalNutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (the WIC program) reach more than 39million children and 2 million lower-income pregnant/ postpartum women. In FY2006,spending on them is anticipated to be $18.4 billion, supported by new appropriations of alesser amount ($17.9 billion). The Administration's FY2007 budget request envisionsspending a total of $19.1 billion, with new appropriations of $18.8 billion. For FY2007, theHouse and Senate appropriations bills ( H.R. 5384 ) call for spending $19.2billion, supported by new appropriations of $18.6 billion in the House and $18.9 billion inthe Senate.
Child Nutrition Programs. The School Lunch and School Breakfast programs provide cash subsidies for all meals they serve to schools choosing to participate; largersubsidies are granted for free and reduced-price meals offered to lower-income children. The Child and Adult Care Food program subsidizes meals/snacks served by child care centersand day care homes; federal subsidy rules differ significantly between those provided tocenters and those for day care homes. Schools and organizations operating programs forchildren also can receive subsidies for snacks (and, in some cases, meals) served in after-school and other outside-of-school settings . The Summer Food Service program subsidizes food service operations by public/private nonprofit sponsors volunteering tooperate projects during the summer; all meals/snacks they serve are free. The Special Milkprogram operates in schools and other venues without a lunch program and subsidizes allmilk served. All these subsidies are inflation-indexed and are paid only where themeals/snacks meet federal nutrition and other standards. In addition to cash aid, manyproviders receive food commodities from the Agriculture Department, at a set value per meal(and may receive "bonus" commodities from Department surplus stocks). Grants also aremade to help cover state administrative expenses . Other significant federalprograms/activities include a free fresh fruit and vegetable program in selected schools,money for a Food Service Management Institute, a small nutrition education initiative,activities to improve program integrity, meal quality, food service and safety, and support forlocal school "wellness policies." Separately, the WIC program provides nutrition services(e.g., nutrition education, breastfeeding support) and tailored food packages to lower-incomepregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children who are judged to be at nutritionalrisk. And a WIC farmers' market program offers vouchers to WIC recipients for the purchaseof fresh fruit and vegetables at farmers' markets.
These are administered by the Agriculture Department's Food and Nutrition Serviceand state education, health, social service, and agriculture agencies. They actually areoperated, under state oversight, by over 300,000 local providers (such as schools, child carecenters, health clinics). Federal payments do not necessarily cover all program costs, andnonfederal support is significant (e.g., children's families' school meal payments, state/localcontributions).
This report will be updated as warranted.