Act Now: Don't let Congress deny meals to children

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Federal safety-net programs like the free- and reduced-price lunch program helps keep families out of poverty. Photo by Joseph Molieri/Bread for the World

By Christine Melendez Ashley

On Wednesday morning, the House Education and Workforce Committee is meeting to consider a harmful child nutrition bill. As written, this bill would deny untold numbers of children access to the meals they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

Your representative needs to hear from you! Call 800-826-3688 or email and urge him/her to oppose H.R. 5003. The committee is voting on the bill on Wednesday

The Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016 is anything but an improvement. The bill would make it harder for children to access free school meals and fails to adequately close the summer hunger gap. We can’t let this happen in a country where currently only one of every six low-income children receiving school lunch also gets a meal during summer vacation.

Congress should pass a child nutrition bill that connects more hungry children with more nutritious meals. Congress shouldn’t be denying meals to eligible children. Call and urge your representatives to oppose H.R. 5003.

Christine Melendez Ashley is a senior policy analyst at Bread for the World. 

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