02.04.22

Chairman Scott Statement on Extending COVID-19 School Meal Nutrition Standards

WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a “bridge” rule to extend emergency flexibilities for school meal nutrition standards by two years.

“I am pleased that the Biden-Harris Administration is continuing to provide flexibility for school meal nutrition standards as schools and families across the country confront the recent rise in COVID-19 infections. We look forward to working with the Administration to restore the full, evidence-based nutrition standards that our children need to grow healthy.

“Throughout the pandemic, school meal programs have faced steep obstacles to serving students and families —from challenges to safely delivering food during school closures to securing the supplies and ingredients that school meal staff need. That is why Congress must build on the critical support for child nutrition programs that we enacted in the American Rescue Plan. I am focused on securing the critical investments included in the House-passed Build Back Better Act and advancing a comprehensive reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs.”

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