National School Lunch and Child Nutrition Act Amendments of 1973
Public Law 93-150 · H.R. 9639 · 93rd Congress · began in the House
Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on Nov 7, 1973 · Education
Sponsor: Rep. Carl Perkins (D-KY-7)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
National School Lunch and Child Nutrition Act Amendments - Increases to 10 cents per lunch (presently 8 cents) the national average payment established under the National School Lunch Act.
Provides that in any fiscal year in which the national average payment per lunch is increased above the previous fiscal year, the maximum Federal food-cost contribution rate, for the type of lunch served, shall be increased by a like amount.
Requires that each State educational agency shall receive special-assistance payments in an amount equal to the sum of the product obtained by multiplying the number of lunches served free to eligible children by the special-assistance factor for free lunches prescribed by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and the product obtained by multiplying the number of lunches served at a reduced price to eligible children by the special-assistance factor for reduced-price lunches prescribed by the Secretary for such fiscal year. Provides for semi-annual adjustments in rates for changes in the cost of operating school lunch and breakfast programs, as indicated by the change in the series for food away from home of the Consumer Price Index.
Establishes minimum national average payments for all breakfasts served to eligible children under the Child Nutrition Act.
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to make an estimate of the value of agricultural commodities and other foods that will be delivered during that fiscal year to States for school food service programs and if such value is less than 90 percent of the value of such deliveries initially programmed for that fiscal year, the Secretary shall pay a calculated sum to State educational agencies.
Extends for one year to June 30, 1975, the special supplemental food program of the Child Nutrition Act.
Expands the eligibility for special milk programs to include school or nonprofit child care institutions. Increases the size of the National Advisory Council under the National School Lunch Act from thirteen to fifteen. Provides income guidelines for reduced price lunches.
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a study to determine if the benefits of programs carried out under the National School Lunch Act and Child Nutrition Act are accruing to the maximum extent possible to all of the nation's school children.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 27 actions.
- Nov 7, 1973Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 93-150.
- Oct 26, 1973PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Oct 24, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Oct 23, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments with an amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate receded from its amendments to the House amendments.
- Oct 18, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · House disagreed to Senate amendments, roll call #542 (145-218).House roll call 542
- OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: House disagreed to Senate amendments, roll call #542 (145-218).House roll call 542
- Oct 16, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate receded and agreed to certain House amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- FloorFloor · Senate disagreed to certain House amendments with an amendment.
- Oct 12, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred with an amendment in certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report.
- Oct 3, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-540.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 93-540.
- Sep 25, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Sep 24, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #412 (82-4).Senate roll call 412
- Sep 21, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Sep 17, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
- Sep 13, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #456 (389-4).House roll call 456
- Sep 11, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Education and Workforce Committee
- Jul 26, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Education and Workforce Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.