Chairman Scott Applauds Key Child Nutrition Provisions in Continuing Resolution
WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement in response to the final text of the Continuing Resolution, which extended and expanded key child nutrition measures.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered several parallel crises for communities and industries across this country, but few are as urgent as the current child hunger crisis. Despite the two substantial COVID-19 relief packages that Congress passed in the early weeks of the pandemic, as many as 17 million children went hungry this summer. Allowing these emergency measures to expire would be disastrous for struggling families.
“I am pleased that Democrats were able to negotiate the extension and expansion of key child nutrition measures in the Continuing Resolution. The compromise struck tonight will extend and expand the Pandemic-EBT program, which prevented at least 2.7 million children from going hungry in the first week after it was implemented. It also extends the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s authority to continue offering school districts greater flexibility through the 2020-2021 school year.
“As a result, schools will have the flexibility to continue operating summer meal programs during the school year, and schools can setup meal sites in more accessible locations without requiring students and families to fill out paperwork to receive meals.
“Passing these critical child nutrition provisions is an important step toward ending our child hunger crisis, but it is not sufficient. It is telling that Senate Republicans feel the urgency to confirm a Supreme Court justice but are content to sit back while millions of children do not have enough to eat. We must pass a comprehensive COVID-19 package that provides immediate relief to struggling families in our communities.”
###
Press Contact
Democratic Press Office, 202-226-0853
Next Article Previous Article