S. 5432 — Food for Thought Act of 2026

This section establishes a competitive grant program to provide free meals, including snacks, to low-income students at eligible institutions of higher education. Eligible institutions are those where at least 20 percent of undergraduate students receive Federal Pell Grants, including community colleges, minority-serving institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, and Tribal colleges and universities; grants last up to 2 years and require outreach plans plus evaluations of meal plan policies that may create enrollment barriers.

This section excludes benefits received under the Summer Food Service Program from treatment as other financial assistance when determining a student's financial need under section 471(3) of the Higher Education Act.