Ahead of a House Education Committee vote today on child-nutrition programs, anti-hunger groups said the bill, written by Republicans, includes a test of a block grant program that removes most federal control over which children receive free meals, and how often the meals are provided. The committee says its bill would provide schools with the flexibility to serve nutritious meals “without additional or prohibitive costs.”
More than 750 national organizations signed a letter opposing the bill, according to the Food Research and Action Center. “The bill now includes a three-state school meal block grant demonstration pilot,” says the center. The proposal, involving the school breakfast, lunch and milk programs, would give states broad discretion to decide which children are eligible for free meals, how many days the meals are served and nutrition standards for the food.
“There would be no requirement to provide breakfast and lunch, but states would have to ensure that one meal is accessible for children,” said FRAC. “States would apply to be included in the demonstration pilot which would run for three years, with the option of renewing for an additional three years.”
Until now, critics have focused on a provision to greatly reduce the number of schools that use the “community eligibility provision,” which allows schools in poor neighborhoods to serve meals for free to all their students. Committee leaders say tighter rules will prevent the government from subsidizing food for children who don’t need help to buy food, and would save enough money to allow an increase in the reimbursement rate for schools that serve breakfast.
Child-nutrition programs, headlined by school lunch, cost $23 billion a year. In 2010, Congress said schools should serve more dairy, whole grains, fruits and vegetables and less fat, salt and sugar. The School Nutrition Association, representing food directors, said the 2010 law drove up costs and forced schools to serve food that students wouldn’t eat. The USDA says most schools are in compliance with the 2010 reforms. Neither the House bill nor a child nutrition bill awaiting a vote in the Senate offer increased funding.
To watch the committee session, scheduled for 11 a.m. ET, or to read the text of the child nutrition bill, click here.