Congress works to address summer and school meal challenges before end of month deadline

Update (6/24): After the Senate passed an amended version of the Keep Kids Fed Act (removing the provision that would have allowed reduced price meals to be free next school year), on June 24 the House followed the Senate and passed the bipartisan Keep Kids Fed Act sending it to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

Since March 2020, community-based afterschool and summer program providers as well as school nutrition programs have provided nutritious meals to students through Summer Food Program and CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) Afterschool Meal flexibility waivers authorized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under authority granted by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Those waivers are set to expire June 30^th of this year, even though ongoing staffing, food cost, and supply chain challenges have continued to make traditional meal service exceedingly difficult for many programs and schools. The pending waiver deadline has prompted extensive work over the past six months by advocates and Congressional champions to advocate for an extension to the waivers.

This week it appears the advocacy has paid off as there is hope that a solution to the immediate waiver deadline is at hand. On June 21, Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Senate Agriculture Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR), House Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and House Education and Labor Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-NC) released the bipartisan, bicameral Keep Kids Fed Act (H.R. 8150) which extends the summer meals waiver as well as providing needed funding and flexibility for the coming school year. The bill is on a fast track with a House floor vote possible today as Congress scrambles to finish critical bills before a planned recess. 

The Keep Kids Fed Act is an important first step that would increase reimbursements to schools, afterschool programs providers, and child care centers; support access to summer meals; allow children who are eligible to receive reduced-price school meals to receive free school meals; and streamline access to healthy meals for children in family child care. The bill makes $3 billion available and includes the following provisions:

Provisions in The Keep Kids Fed Act

• Extends USDA’s authority to issue Summer Nutrition waivers through September 30, 2022; and non-cost nationwide waivers through school year 2022-2023.  
• Increases the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Reimbursements by 10 cents for each meal and snack for afterschool programs and child care providers.  This will help to stem participation declines, support good nutrition, and provide relief for struggling program providers to cope with supply chain and cost issues. These enhanced reimbursements will make it more affordable to provide the healthy foods required by CACFP.
• Extends the Area Eligibility waiver allowing family child care homes to receive the higher Tier 1 reimbursements through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Streamlines access to healthy meals for children in family child care homes by extending the area eligibility test waiver.  This year, one of the most pressing problems is that schools do not have the income data needed to establish area eligibility.  In addition, this test is not an effective mechanism. It misses many providers serving low-income children, especially in rural and suburban areas.  
• Increases the school breakfast reimbursement by 10 cents and the school lunch reimbursement by 40 cents. 
• Allows children eligible for reduced-price school meals to receive free school meals. 

During the past two and a half years as COVID-19 impacted schools and work, afterschool and summer learning programs stepped up by helping to provide meals to children and families in need. Last spring 57 percent of programs were providing meals to families at sites or through delivery; and last summer 65 percent of programs provided on-site snack or meals to students, according to the Afterschool Alliance program provider tracking survey. The Keep Kids Fed Act will allow programs to continue to provide the meals students need, however Congress must pass this legislation quickly to support access to summer meals and child care this summer.

Now is the time to weigh-in with your Congressional Delegation. Call your Senators, then call your House Member and urge them to “Vote Yes” on The Keep Kids Fed Act, a bill that will begin to provide much-needed relief to providers and families across the country. To easily connect with your Congressional delegation, call the Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121