Mary Alice Reporting – A bill introduced by United State Senator Sherrod Brown and colleagues is looking to extend the flexibility of meals to kids.
Support Kids Not Red Tape Act is currently sitting in the Senate before it potentially could pass onto the US House of Representatives.
Senator Brown explains that this measure would extend the USDA school meals from June 30th to September 30, 2023, since summer meals are important to many youths.
“You don’t want children hungry or not getting enough and not being able to do what they need to do. It’s a basic human need and we’re a rich country and just no excuses for not feeding children.”
One important component, he says, is that the meal program offerings will be left to the consideration of school districts.
“I’ve been to Dover, New Philadelphia lots of times. I’ve been to Tuscarawas County lots of times but the people in Dennison and Uhrichsville know about Dennison and Uhrichsville more than I do and I want them to make those decisions.”
Brown adds that roughly 90% of schools are facing challenges as they work to return to normal operations and the meal flexibility will support food service issued while keeping kids fed.
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