Strongly Oppose The Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act

May 18, 2016

Feeding America today issued the following statement attributable to CEO Diana Aviv.

“Feeding America strongly opposes The Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016, which passed the House Education and Workforce Committee today. We are deeply disappointed that at a time when more than 15 million children are struggling with food insecurity, the House Committee voted to reduce access to school meals rather than making the critical investment necessary for our nation’s future. With only 18 percent of kids receiving free or reduced price meals getting meals in the summer, we have an opportunity and an obligation to strengthen these critical programs to ensure that every child in America can reach his or her full potential.

“Given the fact that school lunch and breakfast provide a critical lifeline to low-income children whose families continue to struggle in the wake of the great recession, it is inconceivable that Committee members chose at the 11th hour to add a harmful proposal to block grant the school meal programs in three states. This provision would erode  the long-standing federal commitment to ensuring all children, whether they live in Maine or Montana, have the nutrition they need to grow and thrive and would leave programs unable to respond to changes in need in those three states.

“We urge Congress to come together and pass a strong, bipartisan child nutrition reauthorization that ensures that all children have access to healthy meals they need at home, at school, and during out-of-school times.”

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About Feeding America

Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.3 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.