“We have to inform Congress that $2.92 is not enough,” said Sen Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Democrat, referring to the average reimbursement from USDA for a meal served for free to a poor child. She urged an increase of 35 cents to help schools serve the healthier meals mandated by 2010 reforms. After listening to a panel of school food directors and analysts, Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Democrat, said it sounded like additional resources were needed.
Republican Sens Mike Johanns of Nebraska, John Hoeven of North Dakota and John Boozman of Arkansas cited complaints about the rules that call for more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Boozman, for example, said “the things I hear about are the waste and expenses.” Hoeven sought support for his amendment to allow more leeway for schools in meeting a requirement to sere more whole grains.
Julia Bauscher, president of the School Nutrition Association, said flexibility was needed but her group does not want to rollback school food requirements. The SNA is a prominent backer of a House Republican proposal to give schools a one-year waiver if they lost money on their food program for six months in a row.
Click here to read testimony prepared for the hearing or to watch a video recording of it.