Duke Storen: “Hungry kids can’t wait. America’s children deserve nutrition programs that work.”
Contacts:
Christy Felling at 202.320.4483 or cfelling@strength.org
Read Mr. Storen’s full explanation of block grants: http://bit.ly/1TfWBf1
Read Mr. Storen’s full explanation of CEP: http://bit.ly/1Tkp79L
Washington, D.C. – The House Committee on Education and the Workforce today passed H.R. 5003, the "Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016", otherwise known as child nutrition reauthorization. The bill contains provisions that would make it harder to reach low-income children with the nutrition they need. The following is a statement from Duke Storen, Senior Director for Advocacy, Partner Development and Innovation at No Kid Hungry.
“For decades, there has been bipartisan agreement around a simple fact: Our nation must feed its hungry children. Today, the child nutrition bill that passed on partisan lines in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce would undermine that simple principle with an attack on school meals. It contains policies that are a bad idea for all those for whom policy is trying to help: hungry kids, schools, state agencies, and taxpayers.
The bill calls for block granting school meals in three states. It also would raise the threshold for schools to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) which would cut thousands of schools serving 3.4 million students from using CEP, leading to an unnecessary increase in administrative costs and paperwork as well as reducing participation in the school breakfast and lunch programs.
Good public policy creates programs that are effective and efficient. These provisions violate these basic principles and are poor public policy.
Recognizing the need to make critical improvements to the summer meals program, the Committee did make improvements to better reach children in rural communities; however, the bill needs to go further to address the summer hunger crisis and close the hunger gap for all kids in need.
It is time to pass strong, bipartisan legislation. We urge Congress to pass a Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill that improves the summer nutrition program, allowing it to reach more kids in need. Improvements to the summer meals program must not come at the expense of other child nutrition programs. Flexibility should not come at the cost of irresponsibility. We have an obligation to feed our hungry children and to use taxpayer dollars wisely.
Hungry kids can’t wait. America’s children deserve nutrition programs that work.”
To speak with Mr. Storen or another anti-hunger expert, contact Christy Felling at 202.320.4483 or cfelling@strength.org.
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ABOUT NO KID HUNGRY
No child should go hungry in America, but 1 in 5 kids will face hunger this year. Using proven, practical solutions, No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger today by ensuring that kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast, are able to get the nutrition they need during the summertime, and families learn the skills they need to shop and cook on a budget. When we all work together, we can make sure kids get the healthy food they need. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of national anti-hunger organization Share Our Strength.