04/05/2022
๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ: ๐จ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ต๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฑ ๐ก๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ช๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐-๐ญ๐ต ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น
The Senate is currently negotiating a COVID-19 relief package that canโand mustโinclude an extension of USDAโs authority to issue critical child nutrition waivers that have enabled access to meals amid ongoing operational challenges and economic fallout from COVID-19. Without an extension, the waivers will expire June 30, 2022, jeopardizing summer meal program operations and leaving 800,000 New York students without access to free school meals next school year.
While our Senators have shown continued support on this issueโincluding by cosponsoring the Support Kids Not Red Tape Act of 2022 introduced last weekโwe need their vocal leadership to ensure the Senate prioritizes waiver extensions in this COVID-19 relief package, and that the extensions cover both the summer and the 2022-2023 school year.
Summer meal sponsors, school districts, and most importantly, New Yorkโs children, cannot wait. A recent USDA survey showed that 90% of school food authorities are relying on the waivers to operate nutrition programs this school year. As 97% of schools struggle with rising food costs, and 95% report staffing shortages, continued flexibilities are vital to keep nutrition programs afloat and ensure childrenโs access to healthy food amid economic and educational recovery.
๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ต๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟโ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐ณ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธโ๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป.
Call, email, and tag the Senator on social media. Share how the waivers have enabled meal access in your school district and community, why extensions are needed through the summer and the 2022-2023 school year, and why those extensions must be secured as quickly as possible to allow preparation for upcoming summer and school year operations.
Resources:
โข FRAC Leave-Behind on Urgent Child Nutrition Priorities: https://frac.org/research/resource-library/leave-behind-2022-urgent-child-nutrition-priorities-waivers-cep-summer-ebt
โข Sign-On Letter from 2,000 Organizations Urging Waiver Extensions: https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/CN_Waiver_SignOnFeb2022.pdf
โข Op-Ed: Child Hunger Wonโt End With COVID: Congress Must Extend Nutrition Waivers: https://thehill.com/opinion/education/600395-child-hunger-wont-end-with-covid-congress-must-extend-nutrition-waivers
