As millions of children across the country have lost access to school breakfast and lunch meals, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) joined a coalition of 48 Members of Congress in writing to Congressional leadership pushing for school meals funding in the upcoming government budget package.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), granted special flexibilities that allowed schools to provide breakfast and lunch to students for free, a lifeline for families struggling with rising food costs. These were extended through Summer 2022 by the Keep Kids Fed Act, which Rep. Axne voted to pass in June. The flexibilities cut bureaucratic red tape for school districts and allowed them to offer healthy meals to an additional 75,000 Iowa students since 2020.
“We know that healthy, nutritious meals are the foundation for the growth and development of students, and the USDA program allowed thousands in Iowa to have access to meals,” said Rep. Axne. “Providing funding for school meals will set students up for success both in the classroom and beyond while taking the financial burden off of parents navigating high costs. I’m urging my colleagues in Congress to take swift action ahead of this deadline to continue this successful program and let school districts focus on educating students.”
“Funding school meals and eliminating red tape and bureaucracy can help feed many children on the cusp of the federal threshold, while also supporting teachers and school staff who know their students best,” wrote the Members. “We cannot allow another day to pass by without providing for our hungry children. There is nothing partisan about this — feeding our children is key to our long-term competitiveness as a nation.”
Under the current red-tape-laced bureaucratic system, there are many kids on the cusp of the federal threshold who may now go hungry in school. Nationwide, the administrative costs of analyzing these calculations and processing can cost school districts up to $100,000 a year — more than a billion dollars nationwide.
Studies show that 3 out of 4 public school teachers say students regularly come to school hungry. Of those educators who see hunger regularly, 81% say it happens at least once a week. Hunger in the classroom leads to a decreased ability to focus, decreased physical activity, stomach aches, headaches, depression, and anxiety.
The full letter can be found here and below:
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McCarthy, and Leader McConnell:
We thank you for your extraordinary leadership in bringing our colleagues together to pass the Keep Kids Fed Act this summer to invest in our children and families. As the 2022-2023 school year begins, millions of children will lose access to school provided meals. We have a responsibility to ensure that no child goes hungry. We urge you to include funding for school meals for all in the next continuing resolution to fulfill the nutritional needs of our children and lower costs for our families.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress gave the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) authority to grant waivers to provide school meals for all. Congress extended school meals for all in the Keep Kids Fed Act through Summer 2022, moving quickly to support children and preserve flexibilities for summer meals.
However, these waivers have now reverted back to pre-pandemic policies, increasing red tape, administrative costs, and stigmas for children, families, and school districts. The administrative burden associated with delivering restricted school meals would be better spent providing meals for all children and ensuring that every child has the fuel they need to succeed in school. We know that children who are hungry have a decreased ability to focus, decreased physical activity, stomach aches, headaches, depression, and anxiety. There is every reason to support this critical measure, so that students can learn with a clear mind, healthy body, and better chance of a successful school day.
Nationwide, providing greater access to school meals would help feed an estimated 10 million students who would have previously not qualified — helping make life more affordable for families. Additionally, school districts spend, on average, $100,000 a year on administrative costs related to the federal school meals program. Funding school meals and eliminating red tape and bureaucracy can help feed many children on the cusp of the federal threshold, while also supporting teachers and school staff who know their students best.
We cannot allow another day to pass by without providing for our hungry children. There is nothing partisan about this — feeding our children is key to our long-term competitiveness as a nation.
We have a unique window of opportunity to ensure that no child goes unfed. Providing school meals for all K-12 students is a proven, commonsense way to help children succeed, and it will cut costs for our families who are currently facing higher prices. We strongly urge you to prioritize funding for school meals for all in the next continuing resolution.
Sincerely,
Original source can be found here.
