Bread Urges Congress to Quickly Pass “Keep Kids Fed Act”
Washington, D.C. – Bread for the World applauds introduction of the Keep Kids Fed Act, the bipartisan and bicameral agreement to extend school and summer meals for kids, and urges quick passage of the legislation. The following statement can be attributed to Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World:
“Bread for the World wholeheartedly welcomes this bipartisan and bicameral agreement and urges lawmakers to quickly pass the bill before the child nutrition waivers expire on June 30. Failing to do so would mean that many schools and summer meals programs will not be able to open their summer meals sites – leaving millions of kids without what is often the only nutritious meal of the day they receive in the summer. Children in rural communities will be at particular risk because summer meal providers will no longer be allowed to bring meals to them.
“These provisions will provide significant help for children who often do not know where they will get their next meal, particularly in communities of color who experience hunger at a disproportionate rate.
“As families face the crippling effects of higher prices on food, gas, and other basic expenses, the Keep Kids Fed Act will ensure the most vulnerable children receive the nutrition they need.”
The legislation will extend summer meals waivers through September 30 and allow children eligible for reduced-price school meals to receive free meals. It would also provide additional funding to schools and child care providers coping with supply chain challenges and high food costs so that they can continue to offer nutritious meals to the children they serve throughout the school year.
The Keep Kids Fed Act was introduced by Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR), and House Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-NC).
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